Sustainable Development Aspects of the Photovoltaic Array Design

Recently, we were contributed to the Sustainable Development Aspects of the Photovoltaic Array Design. After reading materials, we found that there mainly two problems which restrict the application of the photovoltaic cell. One is the high price of solar cell and the other is the unsteady output voltage. Users are usually like to buy electricity from the utility grid because it is cheaper and steady. To decrease the solar cell price, one method is to use the thin-film cell technology and change the manufacturing process. A report states that the use of thin-film cells grows faster than the C-Si cell and has already comprised about 50% of U.S. production in 2006 compared the 6% in 2004. It is a good opportunity to use thin-film cell instead of C-Si cell. To obtain the steady output voltage, it was proposed that a switching system can be design to change the structural connection of the arrays and the cell array topology so that the required voltage can be established during the different periods of a day. If this design can be realized, the photovoltaic array will must have a more wide range of application.

Then we also learned the life cycle of the photovoltaic solar cell. The life-cycle of solar electric-energy generation mainly can be divided into 6 parts. They are material production; photovoltaic array production; balance of system production implemented by using inverter and transformers; system operation and maintenance; system decommissioning, and disposal. There is no doubt that the photovoltaic solar cells have immediate benefit for sustainability. The solar energy is sustainable, harmless, carbon free and environmental. It can be used as ideal energy source and will not cause environment pollution compared to the fossil energy. Compared to the wind and ocean thermal energy, the photovoltaic solar cells is more effective. Compared to the utility power, the photovoltaic solar cells can also be used in remote and isolated areas for water pumping and air conditioning. In these areas, it is difficult and expensive for the utility power to transport.