Smart module expecting smart modules will account for 30% of their shipments. Smart module Smart modules are a type of solar panel that has a power optimizer embedded into the solar module at the time of manufacturing. Typically the power optimizer is embedded in the junction box of the solar module. Power optimizers attached to the frame of a solar module, or connected to the photovoltaic circuit through a connector, are not properly considered smart modules. Smart modules are different from traditional solar panels because the power electronics embedded in the module offers enhanced functionality such as panel-level maximum power point tracking,
History of photovoltaic growth History of photovoltaic growth The history of photovoltaic growth includes previous forecast and annual deployment figures by country. Most PV deployment figures in this article are provided by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association in the "Global Outlook for Photovoltaics" report, the "Observatoire des énergies renouvelables" or EurObserv'ER's "Photovoltaic Barometer" report, and the IEA-PVPS (photovoltaic power systems) "Snapshot" and "Trends" report. In 2013, worldwide deployment of solar PV amounted to almost 40 GW (39,953 MW)—an increase of about 35 percent over the previous year. Cumulated capacity increased by 38 percent to more than 139 GW. This is sufficient to generate at