THE USE OF PHOTOVOLTAICS IN A NORTHERN CLIMATE

Although the electricity rates paid by most Canadians are low, they ar e considerably higher in remote regions where electricity is usually d iesel generated. In these regions, photovoltaic (PV) systems have prov en to be an optimal power source for many small off-grid applications, and are soon expected to be cost-effective on remote community diesel grids. However, to use PV in Canada's northern climate, systems must be designed to withstand large seasonal fluctuations in solar radiatio n and an often harsh environment. Within the PV industry, new technolo gies and greater expertise have helped to overcome these barriers, esp ecially those directly related to Canadian niche markets. This paper d iscusses the use of PV in the context of the northern Canadian climate and presents operational data on systems currently in use.