Below are some challenges we still need to address to better tap into the dormant PV potential.
GRID-RELATED: The traditional grid was designed with a few-sources-several-sinks paradigm in mind whereas the number of sources are no longer few with increasing PV generation. A major challenge in this context is how to integrate fluctuating output from a large number of PV sources into the main grid without compromising grid stability. Another important challenge is related to accurately forecast PV generation so as to allow for better power scheduling.
ECONOMY-RELATED: There are also economic challenges to develop policies that encourage PV usage in several countries worldwide to reduce the carbon footprint, especially in developing nations where the growth in energy consumption is typically more.
PV-SYSTEM-RELATED: There are open challenges related to better characterizing degradations, effects of hotspots/dust/shade, improving material efficiencies, etc.
ENVIRONMENT-RELATED: Though PV is a green power source, there's growing concern on effective disposal/recycling of the panels post their lifetime - this is especially significant as the number of panels grow orders of magnitude as PV gains more and more mainstream relevance.
Solar PV power has rather suddenly become cheaper than grid-delivered power. The limitations to explosive growth are: 1. The intermittent nature of PV dictates that it is limited by progress in energy storage. MIcro hydro from positive displacement pump/motors, can be storage for solar PV, or in other cases it can limit solar PV by being a cheaper alternative that is not intermittent. 2. Investor realization about the economy and service life of PV, is slow to develop, this limits rate of growth. 3. Wind interfaces from cross-wind tractor kites or low-drag axial shapes are much cheaper than solar PV, in areas with steady wind.