Benefits from the U.S. photovoltaic manufacturing technology project
Abstract
This paper examines the goals of the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) project and its achievements in recapturing the investment by the photovoltaic (PV) industry and the public in this research. The PVMaT project was initiated in 1990 with the goal of enhancing the world-wide competitiveness of the U.S. PV industry. Based on the authors analysis, PVMaT has contributed to PV module manufacturing process improvements, increased product value, and reductions in the price of today`s PV products. An evaluation of success in this project was conducted using data collected from 10 of the PVMaT industrial participants in late fiscal year (FY) 1995. These data indicate a reduction of 56% in the weighted average module manufacturing costs from 1992 to 1996. During this same period, U.S. module manufacturing capacity has increased by more than a factor of 6. Finally, the analysis indicates that both the public and the manufacturers will recapture the funds expended in R&D manufacturing improvements well before the year 2000.
- Authors:
-
- National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States); and others
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 416125
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/TP-410-21091; CONF-960513-
ON: DE96007880; TRN: 96:006561-0021
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-83CH10093
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 25. photovoltaic solar energy conference, Washington, DC (United States), 13-17 May 1996; Other Information: PBD: May 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of NREL preprints for the photovoltaic specialists conference of IEEE twenty-five; Gwinner, D. [ed.]; PB: 172 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; MANUFACTURING; MARKETING; COST RECOVERY; RESEARCH PROGRAMS; TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION; COMPETITION
Citation Formats
Mitchell, R L, Witt, C E, and Thomas, H P. Benefits from the U.S. photovoltaic manufacturing technology project. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Mitchell, R L, Witt, C E, & Thomas, H P. Benefits from the U.S. photovoltaic manufacturing technology project. United States.
Mitchell, R L, Witt, C E, and Thomas, H P. 1996.
"Benefits from the U.S. photovoltaic manufacturing technology project". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/416125.
@article{osti_416125,
title = {Benefits from the U.S. photovoltaic manufacturing technology project},
author = {Mitchell, R L and Witt, C E and Thomas, H P},
abstractNote = {This paper examines the goals of the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) project and its achievements in recapturing the investment by the photovoltaic (PV) industry and the public in this research. The PVMaT project was initiated in 1990 with the goal of enhancing the world-wide competitiveness of the U.S. PV industry. Based on the authors analysis, PVMaT has contributed to PV module manufacturing process improvements, increased product value, and reductions in the price of today`s PV products. An evaluation of success in this project was conducted using data collected from 10 of the PVMaT industrial participants in late fiscal year (FY) 1995. These data indicate a reduction of 56% in the weighted average module manufacturing costs from 1992 to 1996. During this same period, U.S. module manufacturing capacity has increased by more than a factor of 6. Finally, the analysis indicates that both the public and the manufacturers will recapture the funds expended in R&D manufacturing improvements well before the year 2000.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/416125},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}