Commercially available photovoltaic modules range from about 5 to 15% efficiency at converting sunlight into energy. Efforts are currently under way to improve photovoltaic cell efficiencies.

An individual photovoltaic cell will typically produce between 1 and 2 watts. To increase the power output, several cells are interconnected to form a module. Similarly, modules can be connected to form an array. A photovoltaic array surface area the size of roughly two football fields could produce 1000 kW DC peak power.