Photovoltaics for telecommunications in the 1990s

It is found that photovoltaic generators offer an economical and reliable solution to the problem of supplying power to remote telecommunication sites in most parts of the world where the power requirement is up to around 1 kW of continuous load. The cost-effective level of 1 kW continues to rise as photovoltaic costs fall, and conventional power costs rise. It is concluded that, in many cases, photovoltaics is the best option on any cost analysis. A typical state-of-the-art system located in the Middle East, comprising 82 modules giving approximately 4350 W (peak) and supplying a continuous load of 750 W at 24 V, is considered as an example system.<>