Solar photovoltaics for development: Progress and prospects

Solar photovoltaic systems for lighting, water pumping, vaccine refrigeration and telecommunications are proven, commercially available and economically viable. Tens of thousands of systems are in use in rural of f-grid areas and initiatives are underway to see more widespread dissemination of small solar home systems to the more than 1 billion people who have no access to electricity. To meet the environmental challenge and with prospects of economic competitiveness, central and distributed grid connected photovoltaic systems are also now being evaluated. This paper reports on the progress with the application of the technology and the prospects for wider dissemination.