Highlights This paper reviews the progress made in solar power generation by PV technology. Performance of solar PV array is strongly dependent on operating conditions. Manufacturing cost of solar power is still high as compared to conventional power. Abstract
At present, solar energy conversion technologies face cost and scalability hurdles in the technologies required for a complete energy system. To provide a truly widespread primary energy source, solar energy must be captured, converted, and stored in a cost-effective fashion.
Photovoltaic (PV) efficiency refers to the ability of a photovoltaic device, such as a solar cell or solar panel, to convert sunlight into usable electrical energy. It is expressed as a percentage and represents the ratio of electrical power output to the amount of sunlight (solar energy) input.
Between 2022 and 2023, utility-scale solar PV projects showed the most significant decrease (by 12%). For newly commissioned onshore wind projects, the global weighted average LCOE fell by 3% year-on-year; whilst for offshore wind, the cost of electricity of new projects decreased by 7% compared to 2022.
Authors confirmed that the annual energy productivity improvements are within the interval 0.31–2.59 % while the unit electricity cost is ranged between 50.3 €/MWh and 96.2 €/MWh according to the solar energy potential of the site and adopted technology.
At the heart of its efficacy lies the efficiency of PV materials, which dictates the extent to which sunlight is transformed into electricity. Over the last decade, substantial advancements in PV efficiency have propelled the widespread adoption of solar PV technology on a global scale.