Estimating the Effects of Module Area on Thin-Film Photovoltaic System Costs: Preprint

Kelsey Horowitz, Ran Fu, Timothy Silverman, Michael Woodhouse, Xingshu Sun, Muhammad Alam

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

We investigate the potential effects of module area on the cost and performance of photovoltaic systems. Applying a bottom-up methodology, we analyzed the costs associated with thin-film modules and systems as a function of module area. We calculate a potential for savings of up to 0.10 dollars/W and 0.13 dollars/W in module manufacturing costs for CdTe and CIGS respectively, with large area modules. We also find that an additional 0.04 dollars/W savings in balance-of-systems costs may be achieved. Sensitivity of the dollar/W cost savings to module efficiency, manufacturing yield, and other parameters is presented. Lifetime energy yield must also be maintained to realize reductions in the levelized cost of energy; the effects of module size on energy yield for monolithic thin-film modules are not yet well understood. Finally, we discuss possible non-cost barriers to adoption of large area modules.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages7
StatePublished - 2018
Event2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC) - Washington, D.C.
Duration: 25 Jun 201730 Jun 2017

Conference

Conference2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)
CityWashington, D.C.
Period25/06/1730/06/17

Bibliographical note

See NREL/CP-6A20-73956 for paper as published in IEEE proceedings

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-6A20-68506

Keywords

  • cost analysis
  • large module
  • photovoltaics
  • solar economics
  • thin-film

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