Comparative of three photovoltaic technologies by means of dimensioning a block of buildings

Solar photovoltaic technologies are well known in the sustainable energy field, however, there are more technologies than the ones most people know. Crystalline Silicon is by far the most popular technology, although there are other interesting technologies with other features in the market, like CIGS and concentration III-V Multijunction cells. The range of application of solar photovoltaics is also very broad, where residential applications have become an interesting option to generate and consume energy, enhanced due to the latest regulation changes in Spain. That is why; a comparison of three photovoltaic technologies by dimensioning a block of buildings has been performed. In order to compare the three selected technologies, a first theoretical approach has been performed: looking at market shares, prices in the market, efficiencies and other technological aspects of each technology. Secondly, a practical simulation has been carried out. A real location has been selected and then, with the help of the software SAM, each technology has been simulated. The practical simulations back up the theoretical comparison between the three technologies. Compared to Monocrystalline Silicon, CIGS has proved to be a cheaper but less efficient option with a more flexible application, while concentration III-V Multijunction cells, a more expensive option with an outstanding efficiency.Ingeniería de la Energí