(6) Strong regional dependence. Different geographical locations and climates make the sunshine resources in different regions vary greatly. Photovoltaic power generation systems can only be applied better in areas with rich solar energy resources and have higher investment returns.
(7) High system cost. Due to the low efficiency of solar photovoltaic power generation, the cost of photovoltaic power generation is still slightly higher than other conventional power generation methods (thermal and hydropower, etc.). This is also one of the main factors restricting its widespread application. However, it should also be noted that with the continuous expansion of solar cell production capacity and the continuous improvement of cell photoelectric conversion efficiency, the cost of photovoltaic power generation systems has also dropped very quickly. The price of photovoltaic cell modules has dropped from 0.8USD/W in previous years to about 0.1USD/W at present. The cost of photovoltaic power generation is gradually approaching the price of thermal power.
(8) Intermittent operation. On the surface of the earth, photovoltaic power generation systems can only generate electricity during the day and not at night, which is inconsistent with people's electricity usage and habits. Unless there is no distinction between day and night in space, solar cells can generate electricity continuously. (5) Greatly affected by natural conditions and climate environmental factors. The energy of solar photovoltaic power generation comes directly from sunlight, and the sunlight on the surface of the earth is greatly affected by natural conditions and climate. Natural conditions such as the seasons, alternation of day and night, latitude and altitude, as well as changes in cloudy, rainy, snowy, foggy and even cloud cover will seriously affect the power generation status of the system. In addition, environmental factors also have a great impact, especially particulate matter in the air (such as dust, etc.) falling on the surface of photovoltaic modules, which will also block some light, reduce the conversion efficiency of photovoltaic modules, and reduce power generation.
Although solar photovoltaic power generation has the above-mentioned shortcomings, with the gradual depletion of global fossil energy and the global warming and ecological environment deterioration caused by excessive consumption of fossil energy, it has brought great threats to human survival. Therefore, vigorously developing renewable energy is one of the main measures to solve this problem. Since solar photovoltaic power generation is a renewable energy power generation technology with the most ideal characteristics of sustainable development, in recent years, governments of various countries have also successively introduced a series of policies and regulations to encourage and support new energy and solar photovoltaic industries, which has led to the rapid development of the solar photovoltaic industry, the continuous improvement of photovoltaic power generation technology and level, and the gradual expansion of the scope of application, and will occupy an increasingly large proportion in the global energy structure.
