CPV I GRID OPTIONS
the poor stability and reliability of the grid they are connected to. Not only would this reduce the running costs of those hospitals and schools, it would give them a vital stability to their electricity supply. The telecoms industry, particularly the mobile telecoms industry, is growing rapidly in Africa, and elsewhere in the Sunbelt. These mobile networks need transmission masts to be positioned throughout the area supported by the network. Each mast needs a supply of power with minimal maintenance. Diesel generators are not very suitable for this telecoms application, because the fuel tanks need filling upregularly. Apart from the occasional simple cleaning of the lenses, CPV is maintenance free, so CPV could be a strong enabler for the spread of mobile communications to more remote areas.
More industrial applications exist for CPV too. Mines tend to consume a significant proportion of the available electricity from the grid. They also make use of very large diesel generators, so that the mining companies’ electricity and fuel bills are amongst their biggest costs. CPV could be used to supplement the electricity used by mines for uses such as lighting, air conditioning and ventilation. CPV has the potential to provide a consistent supply for these uses, reduce the electricity and fuel bills of the mining companies, and ease the strain on the electricity grids in the process.
Moving beyond specific commercial applications, CPV has the potential to provide electricity for small villages in rural locations, enabled by the rapidly decreasing CPV system cost. The
advantages that CPV systems consume no water during operation and require virtually no maintenance should make them an attractive option over diesel generators for providing power to small, remote communities.
Why not CPV?
Ultimately there is a huge advantage to linking CPV to specific functions such as water treatment and desalination plants and the others mentioned above. These projects make excellent demonstrations to showcase the benefits of CPV. In an industry that needs to boost its profile, demonstrate effectiveness and encourage greater investment, this is the kind of venture that many developers look to as an indication of performance, reliability and bankability. It creates something of a virtuous circle where greater investment leads to greater penetration, which in turn leads to lower-costs, encouraging further deployment.
In many ways this is far more important than the raw efficiency ratings and technical specs. Indeed, having CPV systems out in the real world generating electricity is the best way for CPV to overcome the hurdles on the path to it becoming a significant part of the energy mix of countries in the Sunbelt. In time, whether the deployment is for on or off-grid electricity, the question will no longer be “why CPV?”, but “why not CPV?”
© 2011 Angel Business Communications. Permission required.
The telecoms industry, particularly the mobile telecoms industry, is growing rapidly in Africa, and elsewhere in the Sunbelt. These mobile networks need transmission masts to be positioned throughout the area supported by the network.Each mast needs a supply of power with minimal maintenance
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www.solar-pv-management.com I Issue IX 2011
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