Chapter 7 – Technology Development in the U.S. Photovoltaic Program

Publisher Summary The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) office of solar energy technologies supports research, development, and deployment of clean, low-emission, and cost-effective solar technologies-solar buildings, concentrating solar power, and photovoltaics (PV). When the PV Program began over 20 years ago there was no market for terrestrial PV applications. In contrast, in 1999 worldwide PV module shipments surpassed 200 million watts. Over the past 5 years the U.S. PV industry has had average annual growth in excess of 20% per year and the worldwide growth has been similar. Industry and DOE see this trend continuing or accelerating in the future as PV becomes more and more established as a preferred technology in key markets. The U.S. PV program played a vital role in developing the materials and technologies that are the foundation of the U.S. solar industry. This chapter highlights some of the advances that have been accomplished and the plans for further advances in the next five years. These accomplishments will be the springboard for meeting the industry's goal of sustained 20% to 25% annual growth over the next 20 years.