Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion : Recent Progress

Along with fusion energy, photovoltaic solar energy conversion has long been considered as one of the few sustainable options for large scale energy supply in the future. In the past, commercial use has been restricted largely to remote area applications where conventional electricity is expensive. However, 1998 marked a year of transition where the major application of the cells changed to become generation of residential electricity in urban areas already supplied by the conventional grid. The current state of the technology is discussed as are major overseas programs to accelerate the urban residential use of photovoltaics, particularly in Japan, Europe and the United States, includng the "million roof" program in the latter. Finally, the planned use of photovoltaics in the Sydney 2000 Olympics is described, where the technology will be used to provide most of the electricity requirements of the 665 residences which will be a legacy of the Olympic Village.