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| [[#toc|►Go to Top]] | | [[#toc|►Go to Top]] |
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| <u>'''Off-grid domestic''' PV systems like [[Solar Home Systems (SHS)|solar home systems]]:</u> | | <u>'''Off-grid domestic''' PV systems like [[Solar Home Systems (SHS)|solar home systems]]:</u> |
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| *Provide electricity to households and villages that are not connected to the utility electricity network (also referred to as the [[Portal:Grid|grid]]) | | *Provide electricity to households and villages that are not connected to the utility electricity network (also referred to as the [[Portal:Grid|grid]]) |
| *Provide electricity for lighting, phone charging, refrigeration and other low power [[Lamps and Electric Appliances|loads]] | | *Provide electricity for lighting, phone charging, refrigeration and other low power [[Lamps and Electric Appliances|loads]] |
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| <u>'''Off-grid non-domestic''' PV installations:</u> | | <u>'''Off-grid non-domestic''' PV installations:</u> |
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| *Are used in locations where small amounts of electricity have a high value | | *Are used in locations where small amounts of electricity have a high value |
| *Were the first commercial application for terrestrial PV systems | | *Were the first commercial application for terrestrial PV systems |
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| <u>'''Grid-connected''' '''distributed''' PV systems:</u> | | <u>'''Grid-connected''' '''distributed''' PV systems:</u> |
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| *Provide power to grid-connected customers or directly to the electricity network (specifically where that part of the electricity network is configured to supply power to a number of customers rather than to provide a bulk transport function) | | *Provide power to grid-connected customers or directly to the electricity network (specifically where that part of the electricity network is configured to supply power to a number of customers rather than to provide a bulk transport function) |
| *May be on or integrated into the customer's premises, often on the demand side of the electricity meter, on public and commercial buildings, or elsewhere in the built environment | | *May be on or integrated into the customer's premises, often on the demand side of the electricity meter, on public and commercial buildings, or elsewhere in the built environment |
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| <u>'''Grid-connected''' '''centralized''' PV systems:</u> | | <u>'''Grid-connected''' '''centralized''' PV systems:</u> |
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| *Perform the functions of centralized power stations | | *Perform the functions of centralized power stations |
| *Supply power that is not associated with a particular electricity customer | | *Supply power that is not associated with a particular electricity customer |
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| [[Photovoltaic (PV)#toc|►Go to Top]] | | [[Photovoltaic (PV)#toc|►Go to Top]] |
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| = Capability and Limitations<br/> = | | = Capability and Limitations<br/> = |
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| [[Photovoltaic (PV)#toc|►Go to Top]] | | [[Photovoltaic (PV)#toc|►Go to Top]] |
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| = Quality Management = | | = Quality Management = |
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− | *For information about the quality of a photovoltaic system, see [[Quality_Management_for_Photovoltaic_Implementation|Quality Management for Photovoltaic Implementation]]. | + | *For information about the quality of a photovoltaic system, see [[Quality Management for Photovoltaic Implementation|Quality Management for Photovoltaic Implementation]]. |
| + | *For information about [[:File:PTB_Compact_Energy_EN.pdf|Quality Infrastructure for Renewable Energies]] and [[:File:Quality_Infrastructure_for_Renewables_in_the_Climate_Change_Context_SubSaharan_Africa.pdf|quality infrastructure for solar energy in the context of climate change]], please refer to the linked articles. |
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| [[Photovoltaic (PV)#toc|►Go to Top]] | | [[Photovoltaic (PV)#toc|►Go to Top]] |
Performance of PV modules depends on the amount of solar irradiation received which varies by location and season. For this reason, systems normally need to be carefully designed. A typical commercial solar cell has an efficiency of 15%. The first solar cells, built in the 1950s, had efficiencies of less than 4%[1].
PV technology can be employed in a variety of applications: Typical applications of PV technology include remote telecommunications, cathodic protection of pipelines, PV home systems, vaccine refrigeration, water pumping, grid connected or building integrated systems, miniature electronic devices and toys[1]:
To design a system for PV application the following information is required: daily energy requirement, voltage and current draw of appliances, average insolation (kWh/m2 day), the yearly variation in insolation levels for the specific area and the equipment type, availability and costs to enable appropriate selection[1].