With worldwide recognition that climate change is real, photovoltaic (PV) solar is coming of age. Because PV solar is emissions-free, delivers maximum output during peak summer hours when electricity is most needed by California utilities and consumers, PV solar technology is playing an increasingly important role in California’s renewable energy supply.

Some of the immediate environmental benefits of PV solar include:

• PV solar has no thermal components and is free of any greenhouse gases and other pollutants
• PV can be sited in-grid (where there is adequate insolation) so it can be located near population centers
• PV produces power during peak periods when it is most needed, unlike wind, and will enable the retirement of polluting diesel and natural gas peaker plants
• PV eliminates fuel cost variability and is a hedge against rising cost of fuel in the future
• PV generally requires no new transmission
• While intermittent, PV generation can be more economically firmed when combined with pumped storage or other resources, making it a more valuable long-term source of clean, peaking power
• PV is scalable, and is adaptable to modular construction to best take advantage of concentrator and manufacturing technology breakthroughs resulting in lower power prices
• Flat panel PV has the demonstrated reliability required by utilities and project financing sources

The price of PV solar is decreasing annually as manufacturers gear up to meet increasing world-wide demand. Meanwhile, U.S. cities, municipalities and special districts are beginning to revise upward the value proposition of PV solar by calculating additional direct cost-per-megawatt hour benefits of “externalities” such as economic development, reduced transformer and line losses, improved air quality and lower health care costs and other environmental benefit.