Solar Energy Development and Regional Conservation Planning

Solar energy development has experienced rapid growth across the world, with a cumulative total of nearly 230 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic solar energy generating capacity installed by the end of 2015. Utility-scale projects (those greater than 20 megawatts) have largely shifted toward photovoltaic (PV) systems, away from an earlier preference for concentrated solar power technology owing to the rapid decline in the cost of photovoltaic technology. Storing the energy generated by PV is a challenge because cost-effective battery technology is still in its early stages of development. Despite this limitation, PV has its advantages: it can generate electricity in a broader range of conditions than concentrated solar and is highly scalable.