The Future

Abstract

Even though most people do not even know PV exists, its future is already assured. PV systems work, producing electricity reliably over extended periods (up to 30 years or more). Although cost is still too high (about 30–40 cents/kWh), the plants now in the design phase for several technologies (ribbon silicon, a-Si, cadmium telluride, copper indium diselenide, concentrators based on silicon or gallium arsenide) should make PV modules that will produce electricity at 10–20 cents/ kWh (or lower) in the mid-1990s. The basis of these cost reductions will be improvements in technology and significant economies from mass production.