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| | [[#toc|►Go to Top]] | | [[#toc|►Go to Top]] |
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| | = Applications and Efficiency<br/> = | | = Applications and Efficiency<br/> = |
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| | + | <span style="color:#FF0000">test</span> |
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| | 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 Photovoltaics (BIPV)|building integrated systems]], miniature electronic devices and toys<ref name="Energy Technology">GTZ (2007): Eastern Africa Resource Base: GTZ Online Regional Energy Resource Base: Regional and Country Specific Energy Resource Database: I - Energy Technology</ref>: | | 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 Photovoltaics (BIPV)|building integrated systems]], miniature electronic devices and toys<ref name="Energy Technology">GTZ (2007): Eastern Africa Resource Base: GTZ Online Regional Energy Resource Base: Regional and Country Specific Energy Resource Database: I - Energy Technology</ref>: |
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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/> = |
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].
