Solar electric power for a better tomorrow

The promise of solar electricity based on the photovoltaic (PV) effect is well known, but these systems are not common all over the world. Consumers in the USA are well-known for their attraction to new technology, but PV power systems are still not appearing on roof-tops in the US. The reason may be that grid-connected roof top systems are too difficult to acquire, too difficult to integrate with the grid, too difficult to measure the energy produced and too expensive. The author argues that it is essential that PV power systems are made user-friendly, while reducing the component and system costs. Elegant PV technology must be reduced to practical systems that can be used by the average person everywhere. Choosing the right problem will help achieve the promise of photovoltaics. This paper describes a methodology to choose the right problems as an approach to PV development. Solar cell and PV power system examples are presented.