Photovoltaics

Photovoltaics (PVs) are arrays of cells containing a solar photovoltaic material that converts solar radiation or energy from the sun into direct current electricity. Due to the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced considerably in recent years, and costs have dropped.^[1][2][3]

Solar photovoltaics are growing rapidly, from a small base, to a total global capacity of 130,000 MW at the end of 2013. More than 100 countries use solar PV.^[4] Installations may be ground-mounted (and sometimes integrated with farming and grazing)^[5] or built into the roof or walls of a building.

1. ↑ German PV market
2. ↑ "BP Solar to Expand Its Solar Cell Plants in Spain and India". Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
3. ↑ Large-Scale, Cheap Solar Electricity
4. ↑ REN21 (2011). "Renewables 2011: Global Status Report" (PDF). p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2011-10-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
5. ↑ "GE Invests, Delivers One of World's Largest Solar Power Plants". Archived from the original on 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2010-04-09.