the challenge of affordability and efficiency, especially if such
systems are to be widely installed in the developing world.
Progress is being made. Scores of Chinese companies are touting their
latest solar electronic components and products at an international
trade fair in Hong Kong.
Most of the products on display here at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair
are practically unusable for the 1.6 billion people, a quarter of the
world's population, living without electricity.
In sunny Africa and South Asia, which have the lowest electrification
rates, cheaper and more efficient solar cells are in demand.
And innovation is occurring, says Zhong Xiao Jun, whose company in
Guangzhou, China makes solar panels, chargers and lighting systems.
"To improve competitiveness of our products, we are working on
increasing battery performance," he says. "We are using some printed
circuit board to cut energy losses. Secondly, we are increasing the
electrical conversion efficiency of solar panels. This is possible
because we are utilizing special new materials and techniques for our
panel production line."
One of the challenges of solar power, of course, is what do you do
when the sun is not shining?
There are innovative solutions, such as this one: a hybrid system that
relies not only on solar, but also wind power, for street lamps. It is
already operational in Shenzhen, China and Germany.
In North America and Europe, more expensive crystalline silicon
technology is preferred for high power, limited space installations.
In the developing world, Topray Solar's Frank Lin says cheaper thin
film technology is favored.
"That means they can pay for the same power with less money. Of
course, the disadvantage will be a bigger size. But bigger size is not
an issue for the African, for the developing countries because they
have that kind of space. And usually what they use are smaller
applications," says Lin.
More affordable products for daily use in places off the grid are
coming to market. Solar flashlights on display here are being sold on
a wholesale basis for as little as 35 cents each.
A detachable LED shines up to 20 hours when fully charged and retails
for under $100.
Solar power, globally, is reaching new heights every year. Industry
officials say installations reached a record high of more than 18
gigawatts last year.
But the top market remains Europe. It is estimated only one percent of
the world's solar panels are in the developing world.
October 14, 2011
Solar Products Becoming More Affordable for Developing World
Steve Herman | Hong Kong
Find this article at:
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/environment/-Solar-Products-Becoming-More-Affordable-for-Developing-World--131852308.html
