In the lab and with experiments using new and novel materials, efficiencies in recent years have been pushed ever higher in some concentrated PV systems which move to track the sun. The challenge is to make these higher efficiency panels (with efficiencies between 30%-40%) economically efficient to manufacture and distribute widely (Janardhan and Fesmire 2011). PV panels with 10-20% efficiency, as yet, dominate the market.

Solar PV panel arrays are easy to install and so can be completed quickly and have very low maintenance requirements. They are scaleable and are versatile enough to be deployed in both the commercial/business sector and also in the domestic housing sector too. Of key interest is that once installed, the fuel to induce energy generation is free (DECC 2013).

In June 2013 the UK had 2.4GW of installed capacity of PV and the UK government has readily acknowledged the role that solar PV can contribute to meeting the UK’s target of meeting 15% of generation from renewables by 2020. Solar PV is viewed as a mature and reliable technology by the UK government (DECC 2013) with minimal environmental impact and a high approval rating from the public (85% in 2012). Solar PV energy generation also creates no waste or by-products and is a clean technology.

Grid connection is also straightforward with this flexibly located technology situated in brownfield sites as well as on top of commercial and domestic buildings.