Photovoltaic Power for Telecommunications

Photovoltaic equipment may be an attractive power source for many kinds of communication equipment in the next five years. The first applications will be found in remote parts of the U. S. and in new systems installed overseas in areas remote from electric distribution grids. By the end of the 1980s, the equipment may compare favorably with grid electricity in some regions. This paper will discuss the kinds of improvements in equipment performance and manufacturing techniques which may lead to photovoltaic systems capable of competing in the communications industry, and estimate the cost of power which could be obtained if such improvements are achieved. It will review some of the problems of system design which must be confronted in constructing systems capable of meeting realistic demand patterns, and outline a technique for optimizing the size of components.