Publications: Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Applications - Lessons Learned

Photovoltaics are already an economic and practical option for providing electricity in many situations. These include remote housing, hybrid systems and some service applications. Many valuable and practical lessons have been learned about economic, institutional, social and technical aspects of installing and using such systems.

This book explains these lessons succinctly and clearly, and provides examples of fourteen practical, installed projects to illustrate them. Both PV specialists and non-specialists involved in the development, planning, commissioning, installation or use of stand-alone PV systems can benefit from the extensive experience of the PVPS project members, and will find plenty of hints and guidelines within this concise publication to save them significant time and money.

Part 1 - Lessons learned:

The Market: potential; barriers; market development; role of the utility; opportunities
Economic aspects: equipment costs; economic assessments
Financial aspects: subsidies and grants; end-user's contribution; finance mechanisms; operation and maintenance; energy services; cost reduction
Institutional and organisational aspects: parties involved; technology transfer; legislation; integration
Social aspects: user involvement in planning, implementation, operation; multi-user systems; rural electrification
Technical aspects: components; hybrid systems; sizing and matching; energy management; design; quality control; safety
Challenges for the next decade

Part 2 - National showcase projects:

Detailed descriptions of 14 different stand-alone PV projects from around the world used in remote houses, hybrid systems and service applications such as water treatment, bus shelters, solar boats, grease pumps and parking meters.

Published by James & James, ISBN 1-873936-91-5, 80 pages, 297x210 mm, Colour illustrations throughout, March 1999, Price: $ 25.00