The benefits of PV systems
- Flexibility to adapt to different environments (modular systems can be quickly installed anywhere)
- Cost competitive, specially for stand alone applications
- Easiness of installation, transportation and maintenance
- Social benefits in terms of job creation, energy independence and rural development, mainly on installation and maintenance With the appropriate investment and at the end of a 15 year development period, PVwill have generated new employment amounting to approx. 5000000 in developing countries (source PV CATAPULT)
- Standardization. All systems are standard, so that spares, installation and maintenance are the same for most systems.
- Low operation and maintenance costs
Installation capacity of PV power in Developing Countries
During 2005, in developing countries 86,01 MWp of photovoltaic solar energy were installed in rural areas, given access to electricity to approximately 800.000 families.
It is expected that by 2020 30 GWp of PV could be installed for rural electrification (source PV Catapult)
| 2003 Total MWp | % Growth | 2004 Total MWp | % Growth | 2005 Total MWp | 2006 Estimated Growth | |
| Latin America | 12,65 | 13 | 14,28 | -1 | 14,4 | -17 |
| West Asia | 11,04 | 49 | 16,38 | 16 | 19,0 | 13 |
| Central Asia | 6,6 | 128 | 15,02 | 32 | 19,84 | -20 |
| Southeast Asia | 6,1 | 45 | 8,85 | 23 | 10,92 | 9 |
| Oceania | 7,06 | 13 | 7,96 | -6 | 7,49 | -17 |
| Middle East | 1,44 | 19 | 1,72 | 14 | 1,96 | -15 |
| North Africa | 1,79 | 23 | 2,21 | -71 | 0,63 | -13 |
| Central and Southern Africa | 10,21 | 20 | 12,29 | -4 | 11,77 | -32 |
| Total | 56,89 | 38 | 78,71 | 9 | 86,01 |
Source: Navigant Consulting
During 2005, in developing countries 86,01 MWp of photovoltaic solar energy were installed in rural areas, given access to electricity to approximately 800.000 families.
It is expected that by 2020 30 GWp of PV could be installed for rural electrification (source PV Catapult).