3. Solar photovoltaic

The direct generation of electricity from light combined with the enormous energy resources of the sun is, in the long term, one of the most promising principles of electrical power generation. Photovoltaic conversion is static, offers total silence and is extremely reliable. Last but not least, it lends itself extremely well to high levels of decentralization, directly exploiting the roof surfaces of buildings.

Crystalline silicon cells (nearly 84% of 2001 production) have an efficiency of 12% to 16%, i.e. at a typical value of 12%, a square meter receiving...