Solar photovoltaics (PV) was once a marginal and exotic technology, used mainly for outer space applications or in very remote areas. In the last several years become a key technology for generating distributed power in the built environment, and it has the great prospect of cost break-even, with costs near the level of those for conventional grid power for residential consumers within couple of decades. From 1990 the PV capacity manufactured annually grew by more then 20%; and since 1997 over 35% per year. Last 5 years the PV industry is recording 40% growth. In year 2000, the total installed PV capacity in the world crossed the 1GWp mark, and in developing countries, more than half a million households now benefit from electric lighting in the evening, powered by their PV system.

A growing number of organizations and companies have become actively involved in the promotion, development or manufacture of PV systems. Energy companies are joining hands with manufacturers, municipalities and funding agencies to realize larger and larger projects - thereby gaining vital experience, mobilizing public awareness and lowering prices. The PV market is now worth more than US$4 billion/year, and the PV industry modestly expects this figure to grow to more than $10 billion/year by 2010. The industry players include some of the world’s largest companies - BP, Shell, Sharp, Kyocera, Mitsubishi, and Sanyo. Among them is Solar Thin Films (STF) as one of the leading world PV equipment manufacturers and turn-key PV factory providers.

A decade ago, it was believed that the most promising applications for PV would be in two sectors: in large, megawatt-sized grid-feeding plants installed by power companies in OECD countries, and in the form of tens of millions of solar home systems in developing countries. Today, the picture is quite different, and the market is dominated by grid-connected residential PV systems.

Renewable energy technologies are essential contributors to the energy supply portfolio as they contribute to world energy supply security, reducing dependency of fossil fuel resources, and providing opportunities for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Most of the renewable sources of energy are considered distributed low-density energy sources. In other words, their power plant can produce only up to tens of megawatts of electricity, while a large coal or nuclear power plant can produce more than 2,000 megawatts. However, renewable energy based generators are environmentally benign in general, and a very large number of them can be built to derive a substantial amount of electricity. For example, it is possible to install solar photovoltaic generators on many rooftops, but it is unlikely that many people will allow a coal or a nuclear power plant in their neighborhood.

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