Photovoltaic solar power is based on applying semiconductor technologies and consists of converting the solar energy directly into electricity.
The most frequently-used technologies for manufacturing photovoltaic cells are based on mono- and poly-crystalline silicon, given their effectiveness. Other materials, such as amorphous silicon or thin-film cells, seem even better from the economic point of view, but are less efficient at turning solar power into electricity.
New technologies are appearing all the time, designed to reduce the cost of these systems, developing alternatives to silicon, such as thin-film cells (CIS, CdTe) or photovoltaic concentration technologies.
Photovoltaic solar power has been used extensively in facilities connected to the national grid, given the favourable economic context which is also consolidating in other countries.
Given a horizon where the distribution of produced electricity is expected to increase, photovoltaic solar power will play an important part in this. In late 2007, there were more than 9,000 MW installed all over the world.
We have considerable experience in photovoltaic technology. This means that we can provide technical support through every stage of the project, from initial feasibility studies to the analysis and diagnosis of operational plants. Of the more than 500 MW assessed by ALTERMIA, we have analysed incipient technologies and drafted technology analysis studies for thin-film or photovoltaic concentration cells.