Photovoltaic energy impacts on US CO{sub 2} emissions

The potential role of photovoltaic (PV) technology in reducing CO{sub 2} emissions was evaluated in an energy-environmental economic systems model. The model examines the role of photovoltaic energy systems in a competitive market environment. PV technology is already competitive for certain niche markets. Further growth in those markets is expected as well as expansion into other markets. Decreasing cost penalties should provide greater incentive for expansion of niche markets. This analysis indicated that, while PV was not projected to be competitive as a general source of electricity supply to the grid by 2030, it did become an attractive technology for this purpose after 2010 under carbon constraint, even if the carbon constraint was limited to stability of emissions at the 1990 level