Opportunities for Large-Scale Electricity Production with Photovoltaics in Europe

Abstract

On the European energy scene, the Chernobyl accident of this year led to an important debate about future policies in the fields of new and renewable energy sources. In F.R. Germany, Italy and other countries in particular, the photovoltaics option is being investigated with renewed interest. Attention is focused on the long-term option since it is clear that photovoltaic power will not have any substantial role to play as an alternative energy in Europe by the year 2000 — a fact which is not seriously disputed by anyone. The real question is how far could photovoltaics make a substantial contribution to Europe’s overall power capacity in the longer range beyond the turn of the century.