About Photovoltaics

Photovoltaics is the technology to generate electricity from the sunlight with no more additional input or processing and totally free from emissions. The photovoltaic effect is known since 1839. First it was seen as a useless technologie and got forgotten. The incentive for the use of this effect were the space programms of NASA in the 1960's, when there was a need for power supply in satillites.

In 1990 Germany started its first programm on private buildings, got some expirience and started to heavily extend the usage. By December 31, 2009 around 13.500 MWp (Mega Watt peak) in Germany, the worlds markte #1, was installed. This levels up to almost 42 square miles of module surfaces.

Cristalline Solar Moduls or Solar Panels are made out of silicium. Silicium is more or less melted sand. This silicium is dotated with borum and phosphor to make the photovoltaic effect happen. Simplified said, the photons (sun light) hits the pv-cell and makes the electrons chasing around and generates electricity in that way.

After the pv-power-plant is installed there are basically no more costs. At first the pv-technology was very expensive. Threw mass production and increasing experience the costs dropped dramatically. With in the next couple of years well reach the point, when electricity out of pv-systems is just as cheap as conventional electricity.