# Solar photovoltaics: Relationships

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_pv/links/

Every element and industry that Solar photovoltaics is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

- [Data centres and cloud](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/data-centres-and-cloud-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Cloud and AI firms are the largest corporate buyers of renewable power, and solar is a main part of what they contract, but solar output peaks at midday while data centres run all day, so the pair is tied by contracts and by the need for storage or firm power alongside. *(researched)*
- [Thermal coal](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/solar-photovoltaics-and-thermal-coal/): Solar and coal compete to supply the same grids: solar met 75% of world demand growth in 2025 while coal output fell, and in India cheap solar now takes coal's daytime hours while coal is kept for evenings, so solar's growth squeezes how much each coal plant runs. *(researched)*
- [Copper](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/copper-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Solar plants use about 2.5 to 7 tonnes of copper per MW, mostly in cabling and earthing, and record silver prices in early 2026 pushed cell makers to start replacing silver contacts with copper, which could make copper a cell material as well. *(researched)*
- [AC transmission](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/ac-transmission-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Energy flows from solar photovoltaics to AC transmission.
- [Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/distribution-grids-mini-grids-and-interconnectors-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Energy flows from solar photovoltaics to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors.
- [Education and research](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/education-and-research-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Education and research depends on solar photovoltaics.
- [Electrical equipment](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electrical-equipment-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Electrical equipment depends on solar photovoltaics.
- [Electrolysers](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electrolysers-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Energy flows from solar photovoltaics to electrolysers.
- [Energy in buildings](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/energy-in-buildings-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Energy flows from solar photovoltaics to energy in buildings.
- [Gallium](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/gallium-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Solar photovoltaics needs gallium.
- [Household and personal care](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/household-and-personal-care-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Household and personal care depends on solar photovoltaics.
- [Indium](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/indium-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Solar photovoltaics needs indium.
- [Lithium iron phosphate batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/lithium-iron-phosphate-batteries-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Energy flows from solar photovoltaics to lithium iron phosphate batteries.
- [Polysilicon](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/polysilicon-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Solar photovoltaics needs polysilicon.
- [Real estate](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/real-estate-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Real estate depends on solar photovoltaics.
- [Silicon](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/silicon-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Solar photovoltaics needs silicon.
- [Silver](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/silver-and-solar-photovoltaics/): Solar photovoltaics needs silver.
- [Sunlight](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/solar-photovoltaics-and-sunlight/): Energy flows from sunlight to solar photovoltaics.
- [Telecommunications](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/solar-photovoltaics-and-telecommunications/): Telecommunications depends on solar photovoltaics.
- [Tellurium](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/solar-photovoltaics-and-tellurium/): Solar photovoltaics needs tellurium.
- [Textiles and leather](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/solar-photovoltaics-and-textiles-and-leather/): Textiles and leather depends on solar photovoltaics.
- [Transformers and power electronics](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/solar-photovoltaics-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from solar photovoltaics to transformers and power electronics.
- [Wholesale and retail trade](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/solar-photovoltaics-and-wholesale-and-retail-trade/): Wholesale and retail trade depends on solar photovoltaics.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_pv/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_pv/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_pv/correlation/index.md)
- [Efficiency](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_pv/efficiency/index.md)
- [Techniques](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_pv/techniques/index.md)
- [Resources and labour](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_pv/resources/index.md)
- [Impact on the biosphere](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_pv/biosphere/index.md)