Since 1999, Task 8 has been assessing the prospects, implications and practicalities of developing very large-scale photovoltaic systems or ‘VLS-PV’. The findings of the VLS-PV expert group have recently been published in a new book ‘Energy from the Desert’.

VLS-PV refers to systems in the 10 MW to multi-GW range, configured either as a single plant or as multiple (large-scale) sub-plants within the same district operating in harmony with each other. Given the comparatively diffuse nature of the solar resource, systems of this capacity imply coverage of very large areas of the earth’s surface – a 1 GW plant packed with standard single-sun modules, for instance would typically cover in the order of 7 km² . For many countries such large areas are simply not available, which is why many active PV countries are focusing on multiple, much smaller distributed generators. Nevertheless, about 1,75 million km² or one-third of the world’s total land area is barren desert. Using only a very small part of this infertile land for VLS-PV could, over the course of a year, generate the equivalent of current annual global primary energy demand.

Much of this area also happens to be located in the least developed, most energy-deprived regions of the world. Aside from putting this otherwise unproductive land to use, desert VLS-PV offers a number of other benefits, including maximizing power generation potential from the inherent high insolation levels, the potential to drive down rapidly PV generation costs through massive and sustained demand for PV equipment, and – importantly for the local economies – huge employment and economic growth potential as local production of PV modules is central to the success of the VLS-PV concept. Task 8 sees the VLS-PV concept evolving in a modular fashion, initially from a construction of isolated bulk systems supplying surrounding villages using imported modules and balance of system components, through construction of local equipment manufacturing facilities to regional interconnection of these remote networks.

Eventually major north-south and east-west interconnections can be established which helps balance seasonal and daily supply and demand. The ultimate vision is the creation of a global energy network supplying power through superconductors or other (breakthrough) energy transportation approaches.

As well as expanding the general concept, the 236 page book, published by James and James and priced 60 USD, presents the findings of ‘case studies’ of six potential VLS-PV desert sites, analyzing aspects such as likely power generation costs, energy payback times and life-cycle emissions for alternative technologies, local socio-economic impacts, optimal plant configurations and transmission infrastructure concepts.

Contact: James and James, Fax: +44 (0)20 7387 8998

Summary of the VLS-PV development scenario

Stage		Technical issues	Non-technical issues
R&D (4 years)	Scale of system: 5 x 500 kW Module cost: 4 USD/W Module: import from overseas Inverter: import from overseas	Examination of the reliability of a PV system in a desert area Site selection for VLS-PV based on various conditions	Examination of the required ability of a PV system for grid connection Project planning, including training engineers and funding
Pilot (3 years)	Scale of system: 25 MW Module cost: 3 USD/W Module: import from overseas Inverter: import from overseas	Development of the methods of O&M for VLS-PV Examination of the control of power supply from a PV system to grid line	Development of the area around VLS-PV to prevent desertification Training engineers for PV module production on-site
Demonstration (3 years)	Scale of system: 100 MW Module cost: 2 USD/W Module: domestic/regional production Inverter: import from overseas	Development of the technical standards for O&M of VLS-PV including grid connection	Training engineers for mass production of PV modules and for BOS production on-site Preparation for industrialization by private investment
Deployment (5 years)	Scale of system: 1 GW Module cost: 1 USD/W Module: domestic/regional production Inverter: domestic/regional production	Building the concept of ‘solar breeder’ from the viewpoint of technical and non-technical issues

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