Solar on the rise: How cost declines and grid integration shape solar’s growth potential in the United States
During the past decade, solar power has experienced transformative price declines, enabling it to become a viable electricity source that is supplying 1% of U.S. and world electricity. Further cost reductions are expected to enable substantially greater solar deployment, and new Department of Energy cost targets for utility-scale photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar thermal power are $0.03/kW h and $0.05/kW h by 2030, respectively. However, cost reductions are no longer the only significant challenge for PV - addressing grid integration challenges and increasing grid flexibility are critical as the penetration of PV electricity on the grid increases. The development of low cost energy storage is particularly synergistic with low cost PV, as cost declines in each technology are expected to support greater market opportunities for the other.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1456872
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-6A20-71800
- Journal Information:
- MRS Energy & Sustainability, Journal Name: MRS Energy & Sustainability Vol. 5; ISSN 2329-2229; ISSN applab
- Publisher:
- Materials Research Society - Cambridge University Press
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
The future cost of electrical energy storage based on experience rates
|
journal | July 2017 |
Technology advances needed for photovoltaics to achieve widespread grid price parity: Widespread grid price parity for photovoltaics
|
journal | April 2016 |
Terawatt-scale photovoltaics: Trajectories and challenges
|
journal | April 2017 |
Solar power needs a more ambitious cost target
|
journal | April 2016 |
Similar Records
Envisioning a low-cost solar future: Exploring the potential impact of Achieving the SunShot 2030 targets for photovoltaics
The Potential Role of Concentrating Solar Power within the Context of DOE's 2030 Solar Cost Targets