ABSTRACT
Of all the approaches to meeting our energy needs sustainably, utilizing the energy from the sun is arguably the most viable and solar is a growing source of renewable energy. Cumulative global solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity reached 101 GW in 2012 and growth is expected to continue at a fantastic pace. According to the European Commission’s PV Status Report 2012, “Since 2000, total PV production increased almost by two orders of magnitude, with annual growth rates between 40% and 90%. The most rapid growth in annual production over the last ve years could be observed in Asia, where China and Taiwan together now account for more than 65% of world-wide production” (Jäger-Waldau 2012, p. 9). As world energy consumption continues to grow, solar photovoltaics will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in the generation of low-carbon energy.
