After Gutenberg

In 2005, thin film PV accounted for only 6% of total PV production, but more recently there has been greater use of photo voltaic laminates.

There is a growing recognition by property managers as to the value of DER (Distributed Energy Resources) using Building Integrated Photo Voltaic systems.

First Solar has announced it will supply approximately 550,000 solar modules for a 40-megawatt solar power plant to be constructed in the Saxon region of Germany in the municipality of Brandis. This will surpass the 18 MW facility under construction in Nevada.

As previously noted, cost, which had been a disincentive to Go Solar, has been reduced by projects employing thin film solar cells since manufacturers have improved production. First Solar expects that for the Brandis project solar modules to achieve a manufacturing cost of $1.25 per watt.

Since solar energy corresponds to peak demand for air conditioning, selling solar power during peak demand can be a means to amass credit that then is spent to purchase power when production from the solar power plant is interrupted. It also can be a way to reduce use of less clean power generation to meet peak demand.

Solar power plants either need sufficient energy storage to cope with intermittent supply or need to be cost effective when establishing credits within transmission loading trade system, so that undue costs are avoided when solar energy is unavailable. Some utility companies are finding that they are ill-prepared when it comes to DER integration since there is substantial investment required for the intelligence to establish proper control strategies when power generation is more dispersed and localized.