Same PV panel produces twice as much electricity in Africa than in Central Europe

Solar photovoltaic (PV)-generated electricity is a key energy source poised to meet Africa’s rapidly growing energy demand, which cannot be met by traditional sources alone. The first PVSEC event on the continent underscores the fact that there is not only a rapidly growing African scientific community surrounding solar PV power generation, but also that the installation of PV generation systems is accelerating in many African countries and promises to be an economic factor in their national economies.

Due to that part of the world’s closer proximity to the sun, a huge bonus is derived from PV technology in Africa.

Dr.ArnulfJäger-Waldau, European Commission, DG JRC, and Africa PVSEC Technical Program Chairman, comments: “In Africa, the same photovoltaic panel in average can produce twice as much electricity than in Central Europe. Grid parity is already possible in South Africa. This means investments in solar technology pay off.”

Dr.Jäger-Waldau continues: “The main application of PV systems in Africa is in small solar home systems. All African countries are potential or emerging markets.”

While solar energy was viewed as a more expensive energy source just a few years ago, the cost of generation has become comparable to those of other renewable energies, and electricity derived from solar technology has become competitive compared to energy produced from fossil fuels.

Only the expansion of renewable energies can have a lasting effect to prevent rising prices for oil, gas, coal and uranium. South Africa’s target of building 8.4 GW of PV capacity by 2030, combined with the success of its large-scale tendering process in attracting investment to fullfil that goal, has made the country the most attractive emerging PV market globally, according to market research firm IHS Technology. South Africa scored 66 out of 100 in the IHS Emerging PV Markets Attractiveness Index for the fourth quarter of 2013.