Photovoltaic Module Assembly as Appropriate Technology in Pakistan

This paper describes photovoltaic module assembly as appropriate technology in Pakistan. The paper begins by describing a three-week workshop in July 2009, in which a group of twenty unemployed people in Karachi, Pakistan were successfully trained in photovoltaic module assembly. Module components and assembly techniques are summarized. Factors pertinent to sustaining the project as a viable business enterprise, including the beneficial social externalities are discussed and analyzed. System designs for use in both urban and off-grid rural settings are proposed and energy outputs from the systems are simulated. In summary, the paper presents a thorough case study for expanding the utilization of photovoltaic technology in developing nations.