Recent application and performance of large, grid-connected commercial PV systems

Demand for solar power in the commercial rooftop market sector is growing at a very rapid rate. Overall, the grid-connected market exceeded 50% of the roughly 320 MWp, photovoltaic (PV) market in 2001, continuing a dramatic trend from just 10 years ago when grid-connected systems were an insignificant fraction of the total market. PowerLight Corporation, the nation´s leading integrator and installer of grid-connected commercial PV systems, just completed its fifth year of doubled annual growth, and during the first quarter of 2002 increased its manufacturing capacity of PowerGuard roof tiles to 20 megawatts per year. PowerLight´s commercial rooftop systems installed to date range from 5 kW to over 1 MW, and the average system size has increased to well over 100 kW. Improved system costs along with aggressive Federal and State incentives have helped to make these PV systems economic for commercial and industrial customers. PowerLight continues to design, integrate and install other types of grid-connected arrays.