Present and Future Silver Cost Component in Crystalline Silicon PV Module Manufacturing

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Photovoltaics International

OSTI ID:1248327

Redlinger, Michael; Eggert, Roderick G.; Woodhouse, Michael

The purpose of this paper is to determine how increased c-Si PV module production might affect future silver demand and prices, as well as the impacts on total c-Si module manufacturing costs. To evaluate how PV's changing demand for silver might affect future silver prices, and the impact in terms of manufacturing costs, some scenarios of silver's contribution to c-Si PV cell manufacturing costs are compiled on the basis of projected changes in demand and price as a result of changes in material intensity. The analysis indicates that an expansion of c-Si production from 55GW/year to 250GW/year results in a 0.05-0.7 cent/W increase in manufacturing costs because of higher silver prices.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1248327
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA-6A20-65052
• Journal Information: Photovoltaics International, Vol. 31
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
silver
crystalline silicon photovoltaics
screen printing
electroplating