ABSTRACT
There is an increasing number of applications of photovoltaic (PV), some of them quite specialised, others niche: all are growing. Each has its appropriate technology solution, depending upon its use and location. Grid connected, small-scale systems are an example of distributed generation, sometimes known as decentralised, embedded or on-site generation. Electricity supplied by the panels is consumed directly when they are generating sufficient power, or from the grid at other times. Surplus electricity is exported to the grid or supplied to a local grid. The largest in the world is a 200 MW installation which was completed in October 2011 in a desert in Golmud, Qinghai Province, NW China. Solar power stations can be erected quickly. The 60.4 MW addition to Solarhybrid's FinowTower were added in just 15 weeks. PV is often chosen to power remote repeater stations, other components of mobile networks, and weather monitoring stations because of their reliability and low maintenance.
