Solar photovoltaics, often shortened to PV, is the technology that directly converts sunlight into electricity - photons into electrons through a semiconductor.  The technology has been around since the start of the Space Age.  However with increasing fuel costs and concerns over global warming, the industry has advanced dramatically in recent years, with production almost doubling every 2 years since the start of the decade to some 15,000 megawatts.

This investment has resulted in a substantial fall in the price of PV.  In addition there have been significant advancements in PV technology that have opened up new opportunities to use and integrate photovoltaics in new products and application areas.

There are different types of photovoltaic technologies available.  These include:

Traditional first generation PV

• Crystalline Silicon

Thin film second generation PV

• Amorphous Silicon
• CIS/CIGS
• Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)
• Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)

Organic third generation PV

• Dye-Sensitized Cells
• Polymer cells

Others

• Fresnel lenses and Concentrators

Each of these technologies has its own performance characteristics and is suitable for different and/or specific applications.   They are also available in different formats ranging from crystals to thin film, on flexible plastics, metals or glass.  In addition the products can be further manipulated to create various aesthetics, patterns and shapes (such as semi transparent glazing and roof tiles) or modules and produced in sizes to suit particular applications.