PV at Multi-Terawatt Scale: Today’s Choices, Tomorrow’s Role

Global installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity will likely reach and exceed 1 TW by the end of 2022. Studies applying increasingly sophisticated modeling from multiple sources predict that PV can and will provide a majority of electricity generation and even total energy contribution in a future sustainable energy economy. In this presentation, we will review recent growth rates and predictions for PV, focusing on both the historical record and future trajectories. We will identify timely choices to be made, particularly in managing sector coupling and supply and demand, that will determine the global need for PV by 2050. Finally, a majority power and energy role for PV will create new opportunities and challenges for performance and reliability, global manufacturing and supply chains, and sustainability and circularity. We will review associated R&D agendas and opportunities and priorities for global collaboration.

Speakers

Nancy M. Haegel

NREL