As a kind of green and renewable energy, photovoltaic power generation has been paid more and more attention and applied. It can not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the energy transition, but also has significant economic benefits, especially in the long-term use process. However, despite the obvious advantages of photovoltaic power generation, the penetration rate is still low. What is the cause of this contradictory situation?
 
Advantages of photovoltaic power generation: from environmental protection to economy
First, we need to understand the advantages of photovoltaic power generation. From an environmental point of view, photovoltaic power generation is a zero-emission form of energy. Compared with traditional thermal power generation, photovoltaic cells do not emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide during the power generation process, and have almost no negative impact on the environment. With the intensification of global climate change, reducing carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality have become an important goal of global energy transformation. And photovoltaic power generation is the key to this goal.
 
From an economic point of view, the cost of photovoltaic power generation has dropped significantly in the past few years. According to industry research, ultra-large-scale photovoltaic power generation projects have been able to achieve electricity prices of less than 11 cents, and with the advancement of technology, the cost continues to fall. In the future, after further breakthroughs and optimization of energy storage technology, photovoltaic power generation will not only have environmental advantages, but also be able to defeat traditional thermal power generation in cost.
 
In addition, photovoltaic power generation also has the characteristics of "distributed", which means that it can be widely used in homes, shopping malls, factories and other places. This method of power generation does not require a centralized power plant, and photovoltaic power stations can be established on the roof of each family, open land and other places, greatly disperses the risk and cost of energy supply.
 
Advantages of home photovoltaic systems
For home users, home photovoltaic systems are undoubtedly one of the most attractive options. A home photovoltaic system can take advantage of a home's roof space and convert sunlight into electricity for home use through solar panels. Depending on the electricity needs of the user's home, the system can be flexibly configured to ensure that the electricity needs of the home are fully supplied by solar energy during the day, and rely on the grid at night or on cloudy days.
 
The biggest advantage of home photovoltaic systems is the ability to achieve electricity savings. On the one hand, the electricity generated by the family can be consumed directly, reducing the cost of purchasing electricity from the power company; On the other hand, the power grid in many regions provides a power buying and selling mechanism, when the electricity generated by the household exceeds the demand, the excess electricity can be sold back to the grid, further reducing the household electricity bill.
 
In addition, home photovoltaic systems also have a long service life and low maintenance costs. The service life of most photovoltaic panels can reach 25 years or more, and the maintenance cost is low, only need to regularly clean the panel and check the operating status of the system. This allows home users to benefit from the economic returns of photovoltaic power generation for decades.
 
Reasons for the low penetration rate of photovoltaic power generation
Despite the many advantages of photovoltaic power generation, the penetration rate has fallen far short of expectations. The main reasons can be summarized as follows:
 
1. High initial investment
Although the cost of photovoltaic power generation has dropped significantly, the initial installation cost is still high for many households. Especially in areas without government subsidies, the installation cost of household photovoltaic systems may require tens of thousands of yuan. This is not a small expense for ordinary families, especially in the case of greater economic pressure, many families may be more inclined to choose lower prices, immediate access to traditional energy.
 
2. The energy storage problem is not solved
One of the inherent drawbacks of photovoltaic power generation is its intermittency and instability. When there is sun during the day, photovoltaic panels can fully generate electricity, but at night or on cloudy days, the power generation is greatly reduced. This means that photovoltaic power generation needs to rely on energy storage equipment to make up for the gap in power supply. However, the current cost of energy storage batteries is still high, and the technology is not yet mature. Although battery technology has gradually improved, the cost of energy storage is still one of the important factors affecting the popularity of photovoltaic.
 
According to the predictions of some industry experts, when the price of energy storage batteries drops to less than 1 dime per KWH of electricity, photovoltaic power generation will be able to completely replace traditional thermal power generation. But until then, the high cost of energy storage batteries will continue to restrict the popularity of photovoltaic power generation in home users.
 
3. Insufficient policies and subsidies
The popularity of photovoltaic power generation not only depends on the development of technology, but also needs policy support. In many countries, governments have begun to provide subsidies and tax incentives to incentivize home users to install photovoltaic systems. However, subsidy policies are often phased, and with the gradual reduction or cancellation of subsidies, the economic attractiveness of photovoltaic power generation is correspondingly reduced. Without sufficient policy incentives, many households may not have enough incentive to invest in photovoltaic systems.
 
4. Perception and acceptance issues
Photovoltaic power generation is still a relatively unfamiliar technology in many places. Many home users still have a superficial understanding of this technology, lacking a deep understanding of its long-term economic and environmental benefits. In addition, many people are confused about the installation and maintenance process of photovoltaic systems, worried that the installation process is troublesome, the system is unstable, and even worried that their own house structure can not withstand the weight of photovoltaic panels. All of these have affected the popularity of photovoltaic power generation in the home market.
 
Solution: Breakthrough energy storage technology to reduce costs
The key to solving the above problems lies in technological innovation, especially in the field of energy storage technology. With the continuous progress of battery technology, the cost of energy storage batteries is gradually decreasing. In the future, with large-scale production and technology maturity, energy storage batteries are expected to achieve a significant reduction in cost. Once the cost of energy storage is reduced to a reasonable range, the economy of household users to install photovoltaic systems will be greatly improved, and the popularity of photovoltaic power generation will also usher in a breakthrough.

In addition, the government should further strengthen its support for photovoltaic power generation, and reduce the initial investment pressure of household users by introducing more favorable subsidy policies. Especially in urban and remote areas, the government can provide more financial subsidies and preferential loans to encourage more households to install photovoltaic systems and promote the transformation of the energy structure.