PV technology just got better and better!
The 2010s have ended with an absolute BANG! Reflecting over the past decade we have seen positive outcomes that have transpired in the 2010s. Essentially no other energy-generation technology rivaled Solar’s growth rate. This decade gave the solar industry enhanced PV technology, reduced costs in manufacturing and decreased pricing rates.
New technologies that surfaced in the 2010s
The 2010s brought the solar industry many new emerging technologies that have since replaced current technologies. There are some technologies forecasted to take over and replace standard solar modules over time.
List of the technologies that have surfaced during the 2010s:
- Higher-efficiency mono silicon-based technology modules surfaced and have since rivaled multi silicon modules and have grown in popularity, now placed as the predominant Solar PV module type.
- Half-Cell or Half-Cut technology has taken the solar industry by storm in one fell sweep, providing higher-efficiency modules with the ability to work in low light conditions.
- Modules have adapted to have larger wafers as opposed to smaller general sized ones, this technology innovation allows for higher efficiency in the modules when capturing energy from sunlight.
- MWT (Metal wrap through) technology has entered the solar market. MWT technology provides increased module efficiency, is lad-free and provides enhanced performance of the PV modules over a long
- PERC technology arrived on the solar scene during the 2010s, it has since gained in such popularity that it is forecasted to only increase in popularity as the years come
The diagram above shows that since 2011 there have been new styles of solar modules emerging throughout the years. Since their introduction into the solar industry, they have slowly taken over the industry making solar modules more efficient.
The rise of solar PV popularity in the 2010s
Since 2013 the global increase of solar power generation has risen in popularity only increasing every year. According to the IRENA ( International Renewable Energy Agency) Second to wind energy, between 2013-2017 solar power has increased by 35.5%. For two years in a row, 2018-2019 76% of Australians rank solar power in their top three preferences for energy production. It is evident that throughout the 2010s the introduction of more efficient solar technologies has made solar the more efficient source of energy for end consumers. During the decade manufacturing, high-efficiency solar modules became an easier task. Thus, decreasing module prices throughout the years.
System size increase over the years
The following table shows the average system size of rooftop solar systems in Australia over the years. In 2015 the table indicates that the most popular rooftop solar system sizes were 5kw with 19.4% of Aussie homes having this size system on their roof. As the years go by Australian homes require more electricity thus increasing the size of rooftop solar systems to 7KW – 10KW in 2018.
All in all, PV Solar over the years has developed into the multi-billion-dollar industry it is today and is an industry that seems to only go up from here in terms of quality. What we can see coming for the 2020s is possibly higher efficiency and continued price reduction per watt.
References:
Energycouncil.com.au. (2020). [online] Available at: https://www.energycouncil.com.au/media/15358/australian-energy-council-solar-report_-january-2019.pdf [Accessed 10 Jan. 2020].
Energycouncil.com.au. (2020). [online] Available at: https://www.energycouncil.com.au/media/17320/australian-energy-council-solar-report-september-2019.pdf [Accessed 10 Jan. 2020].
Woodmac.com. (2020). PV Supply Chain & Technology Service. [online] Available at https://www.woodmac.com/research/products/power-and-renewables/pv-supply-chain-technology-service/ [Accessed 9 Jan. 2020].
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