Today the world faces a serious energy crisis. The global deposits of coal, crude oil and natural gas, once believed to be inexhaustible, are estimated to run out within decades if they are consumed at the current speed. As a way to address this challenge many countries focus on the development and use of natural energy sources, including inexhaustible and environment-friendly solar energy.

They introduce various modes of solar photovoltaic systems and rely on them in developing green energy industry.

Solar energy finds its wide use also in the DPRK.

Families, institutions and enterprises have introduced mainly two modes of solar photovoltaic systems—an independent mode in which solar panels are combined with batteries and a parallel mode in which solar panels are linked to the national power grid.

However, such modes reveal a series of problems such as limited space of panel installment, poor performance due to improper direction and angle of the panels set up, urban landscape being affected by disorderly installation of panels and much care for maintenance. That’s why many are reluctant to introduce the systems.

The intelligent solar photovoltaic cell manufactory under Kim Il Sung University runs solar farms that can ensure maximum efficiency while meeting the needs of users.

It operates them in urban or suburban districts, helping add beauty to the surrounding areas while producing much electricity from them.

Many families that have joined the system find it unnecessary to set up their own solar panels; they just receive power from these farms according to their shares. In other words, this means that they move their solar photovoltaic system from their homes to places exposed to much sunshine and use the electricity generated from them.

These power stations enjoy popularity among consumers as they help them get a sufficient additional supply of electricity without relying on the national power grid. Thus, a growing number of households and units apply for this system.

Now solar farms are operating in the area of Mangyongdae Amusement Park in Pyongyang, South Phyongan Province’s Phyongsong and South Hamgyong Province’s Hamhung. More power stations are expected to be built on demand.

Such power stations help reduce the loss of power in transmission and considerably save the cost for laying the transmission system as they are located in the urban centres.

“We are going to direct more efforts to the construction and operation of solar farms that are beneficial to both the country and individual customers,” says Jo Chung Nam, an official of the manufactory.

Jo Song Chol