Environmental Technologies and Eco-innovation in the Czech ...

TABLE 8 | Changes in installed capacity in the Czech Republic [MWp], 2000–2008
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Off-grid systems I. 0.055 0.077 0.093 0.129 0.147 0.177 0.187 0.209 0.380
On-grid systems II. 0.017 0.047 0.062 0.160 0.216 0.292 0.682 5.152 54.294
Total 0.072 0.124 0.155 0.289 0.363 0.469 0.869 5.361 54.674
I.
Off-grid systems – the systems that are not interconnected with electric distribution network
II.
On-grid systems – the systems that are interconnected with a public network
SOURCE | CZREA
Photovoltaics are technologically versatile. The photovoltaic effect may be obtained
through structures made of various semiconductor materials produced through a wide
range of technological procedures. In general, photovoltaics are divided into three
basic generations:
1 st generation – these are solar cells made of crystalline silica; solar panels are made
through the serial interconnection of individual solar cells,
2 nd generation – these are thin-film structures of semiconductor materials, especially
based on amorphous and microcrystalline hydrogenated silica; it also includes other
semiconductor materials and structures (cadmium-telluride, copper-indium-galliumselenide),
3 rd generation – these are new low-cost technologies based on the highly efficient
principles of converting solar energy into electricity.
A separate group includes organic and polymeric solar cells. Specific applications of
solar cells include concentrator photovoltaic systems.
Czech regions show an overall growth in the installed capacity of PVS connected in
the network (see Fig. 1).
Research and development in photovoltaics in the Czech Republic show
a steadily rising trend. Research is not only concentrated in the workplaces of the
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and universities, but private companies are
also devoting more and more time. Mutual relationships between individual research
centres are supported by the exchange of knowledge and experience within regular
Czech conferences on photovoltaics organised by CZREA.
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