Substituting silver in solar photovoltaics is feasible and allows for decentralization in smart regional grids

Photovoltaic (PV) energy is reaching full grid parity in many regions, which can trigger a global deployment of home PV panels and PVsystems near municipalities. The scaling-up of conventional crystalline silicon panels to the terawatt range is not feasible due toinsufficient global silver reserves. However, recent copper metallization in front and rear contacts of silicon cells avoids the useof silver. This opens the door to a rapid and wide diffusion of PVenergy. Intelligent grids allow the integration of decentralized andcentralized generators of all types and size. A regional integration based on such grids can compensate the intermittency of PVproduction with the storage capacity of hydroelectricity and Concentrating Solar Power stations. It makes the best of both systems: local autonomy through home PV and supply stability through largerenewable stations. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.