Where Photovoltaics are Used Today

As a versatile, scalable, and independent source of electricity, photovoltaic systems are used to power a broad variety of technologies, buildings, and systems that need energy. Here we look at some of the ways photovoltaics are used today.

Residential Buildings

Installations of solar panels on homes make up one of the broadest current markets for photovoltaics in the United States . Because they can be sized to fit any building and any electrical load, solar panels are a practical choice for powering homes.

These installations have grown significantly and there are many installation companies that specialize in the residential market. For more on current residential installations in Massachusetts , see our section on Solar Energy in Massachusetts . We also provide more detailed information on solar installations for homeowners and homebuilders in our catalog of How To Guides.

Commercial, Institutional and Industrial Buildings

Larger-scale photovoltaic installations are also being seen on downtown office buildings, institutions like museums and community centers, shopping centers, and even some industrial buildings. Photovoltaics offer particular benefits to large scale buildings. In high-density areas like downtown Boston where space is at a premium, rooftop installations of solar panels can be an attractive power option. Other buildings like shopping malls and some industrial facilities have large roof areas which can accommodate many panels to power their high electricity needs. A certain subset of commercial buildings, hospitals, and high-tech facilities can benefit in another way, as they often need reliable backup power as insurance against blackouts and other power failures. As an on-site technology, photovoltaics are a viable source for this emergency power.

Though there are fewer large-scale buildings than residential ones, photovoltaic installations on these buildings can have significant impact on reducing emissions from electricity production and can provide much benefit to their owners. For more on current commercial, industrial, and institutional installations in Massachusetts , see our section on Solar Energy in Massachusetts and our How To Guide for large-scale building owners and developers.

Public Buildings and Municipal Installations

Another area where photovoltaics are becoming widely used is in public applications, largely on individual town, city and state buildings though some installations are in development to serve municipalities as a whole. The benefits of municipal installations are similar to those for large-scale commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. Additional benefit is possible when a city or town has developed a climate change action plan to reduce emissions, or has set a goal of meeting a certain percentage of its electricity needs with renewable energy. In each of these situations, photovoltaics can play a significant role in reducing environmental impacts.

In Massachusetts , school buildings have been the pioneering examples of municipal installations, with 16 schools developing or completing photovoltaic installations to date. For more on current municipal installations in Massachusetts , see our section on Solar Energy in Massachusetts . We also provide information on municipal planning efforts and setting goals for photovoltaic installations in our How To Guide for municipalities.

Remote Location Uses

New markets for photovoltaics have emerged in recent years that could have significant impact on people's access to electricity. These markets exist in the many locations throughout the world which do not have access to the electric grid. In many of these locations, photovoltaics have stepped in as a lower-cost alternative to expanding electric grids, and a large percentage of United States photovoltaic exports are now shipped to companies working in this market.

 

Other remote location applications exist throughout the United States , based on the same principle that when the electric grid cannot be expanded to reach a critical site, photovoltaics are often the least costly source of power. These applications range from remote telecommunication stations to the less obvious application of powering road signs and call boxes on highways. This last application is already used on most highways throughout the country.

There have been many interesting developments in remote photovoltaic applications. Photon International, a photovoltaic trade magazine with past articles online, is a good place to start in learning about these uses.

Space Applications

The first market for photovoltaics was in the space industry, starting in the 1950s and 60s, where remote power that did not require fuel was essential for successful early missions. The use of photovoltaics in space is a unique version of remote power, and the space industry is still a significant user of photovoltaics. NASA offers more information on this longstanding use of photovoltaics at its website.

 

 

 

 

Consumer Products

At the other extreme from space stations, photovoltaics are already used in a variety of consumer products, most notably the standard desk calculators used in offices everywhere. Though barely noticeable, these calculators have a thin strip of photovoltaic cells at their top which can be activated by either sunlight or artificial light. These tiny photovoltaic systems provide constant, reliable power and displace the use of batteries which the calculator would otherwise need to work.

Other applications in consumer products have also been developed, though they are not yet as widely used. X site introduces some of the emerging uses of photovoltaics in consumer products.