Field Performance Evaluation of Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) Photovoltaic Systems in Kenya : Methods and Measurements in Support of a Sustainable Commercial Solar Energy Industry
The study reviews the active market for photo-voltaic (PV) solar home systems (SHSs) in Kenya, with cumulative sales in excess of 100,000 units, and current sales of approximately 20,000 modules per year. It further identifies that small single jun...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2000/08/717492/field-performance-evaluation-amorphous-silicon-a-si-photovoltaic-systems-kenya-methods-measurements-support-sustainable-commercial-solar-energy-industry http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20311 |
| Summary: | The study reviews the active market for
photo-voltaic (PV) solar home systems (SHSs) in Kenya, with
cumulative sales in excess of 100,000 units, and current
sales of approximately 20,000 modules per year. It further
identifies that small single junction amorphous silicon
(a-Si) modules dominate the market, largely due to their
lower retail price, relative to similar sizes of crystalline
PV modules. Despite this commercial success, there is
concern about the performance of single junction a-Si
modules, both in terms of uneven technological quality
record, and uncertain short-term degradation, which occurs
when this type of PV module is initially exposed to the sun.
The study confirms that modules made by two of the three
companies dominating the Kenyan a-Si PV market, offer
long-term performance, roughly compared to crystalline PV,
confirming also that quality brands of single junction a-Si
modules provide a highly cost-effective alternative to
crystalline modules for SHSs, particularly for households
only able to afford relatively small systems. The success of
this brand, despite its considerably higher price per
measured Wp, indicate that rural consumers are ill-equipped
to compare the relative performance of different module
brands, and that risks and limitations associated with these
systems, suggest a cautious approach. |
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