22.4 Solar Cells
637
Fig. 22.70 Fraction of
photovoltaic power of the
total energy from power
plants in the public grid in
Germany. Data
from [1927]
to 1.5 y or less in southern Europe [1927]. Thin-film modules bring the payback down to one year or
less [1926, 1927]. However, market growth of thin-film modules is currently not faster than the total
marker. This means that these modules will produce ‘free’ and clean energy for the remaining 29 years
of their expected life.
PV technology can meet electricity demand on any scale. The solar energy resource in a 100 milesquare area of Nevada could supply the United States with all its electricity (about 800 GW), using
modestly efficient (10%) commercial PV modules. A more realistic scenario involves distributing these
same PV systems throughout the 50 states. Currently available sites, such as vacant land, parking lots,
and rooftops, could be used. The land requirement to produce 800 GW would average out to be about
17 × 17 miles per state. Alternatively, PV systems built in the ‘brownfields’, the estimated 5 million
acres of abandoned industrial sites in the US, could supply 90% of America’s current electricity. Solar
power is expected to contribute 10% of the US energy need in 2030. For Germany, more than 2% in
2020 was predicted (in 2004) to be probable. In the first half of 2019, photovoltaics actually contributed
a total of 9.5% (25.05 TWh); the historic increase is depicted in Fig.22.70. In June 2019, solar power
represented the largest fraction of all anergy carriers with 19.1% (7.17 TWh) in Germany [1927]. The
maximum harvested solar power was 33.4 GW (52.4%) on June 29, 2019.
In 2001, PV module shipments in the US approached the 400 MW mark, representing a $2.5 to
$3 billion market. The US-based industry itself is now approaching $1 billion per year and provides
25 000 jobs. It is expected to grow to the $10–$15 billion level in the next 20 years, providing 300 000
jobs by 2025. The actual number of jobs in 2018 was 242,000. The newly installed power in 2016 was
almost 15 GW for a total of just above 40 GW. In 2017, a total of 50 GW were installed. In 2018, solar
power provided 1.66% of total US electricity.
637
Fig. 22.70 Fraction of
photovoltaic power of the
total energy from power
plants in the public grid in
Germany. Data
from [1927]
to 1.5 y or less in southern Europe [1927]. Thin-film modules bring the payback down to one year or
less [1926, 1927]. However, market growth of thin-film modules is currently not faster than the total
marker. This means that these modules will produce ‘free’ and clean energy for the remaining 29 years
of their expected life.
PV technology can meet electricity demand on any scale. The solar energy resource in a 100 milesquare area of Nevada could supply the United States with all its electricity (about 800 GW), using
modestly efficient (10%) commercial PV modules. A more realistic scenario involves distributing these
same PV systems throughout the 50 states. Currently available sites, such as vacant land, parking lots,
and rooftops, could be used. The land requirement to produce 800 GW would average out to be about
17 × 17 miles per state. Alternatively, PV systems built in the ‘brownfields’, the estimated 5 million
acres of abandoned industrial sites in the US, could supply 90% of America’s current electricity. Solar
power is expected to contribute 10% of the US energy need in 2030. For Germany, more than 2% in
2020 was predicted (in 2004) to be probable. In the first half of 2019, photovoltaics actually contributed
a total of 9.5% (25.05 TWh); the historic increase is depicted in Fig.22.70. In June 2019, solar power
represented the largest fraction of all anergy carriers with 19.1% (7.17 TWh) in Germany [1927]. The
maximum harvested solar power was 33.4 GW (52.4%) on June 29, 2019.
In 2001, PV module shipments in the US approached the 400 MW mark, representing a $2.5 to
$3 billion market. The US-based industry itself is now approaching $1 billion per year and provides
25 000 jobs. It is expected to grow to the $10–$15 billion level in the next 20 years, providing 300 000
jobs by 2025. The actual number of jobs in 2018 was 242,000. The newly installed power in 2016 was
almost 15 GW for a total of just above 40 GW. In 2017, a total of 50 GW were installed. In 2018, solar
power provided 1.66% of total US electricity.