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Cost analyses of modular flat-panel and concentrator photovoltaic array fields

Conference · · Conf. Rec. IEEE Photovoltaic Spec. Conf.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5489159

In order to reduce the array-field balance-of-system (BOS) costs and the engineering design costs, modular designs, optimized for minimum life-cycle energy cost, have been developed for flat-panel and concentrator photovoltaic installations. Application experiments and other photovoltaic (PV) systems recently installed had shown that these cost elements had to be substantially reduced before PV power systems could be cost-effective for grid-connected applications, regardless of the cost of the PV cells/modules. The characteristics of the modular array-field designs developed are described in another paper at this conference. This paper describes the costs estimated and the life-cycle energy cost analyses performed for the developed modular designs. In example analyses of these designs, the array-field BOS costs contribute only 0.9 to 1.2 cents per kWh to the levelized energy cost of generated electricity.

Research Organization:
Battelle's Columbus Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio
OSTI ID:
5489159
Report Number(s):
CONF-820906-
Journal Information:
Conf. Rec. IEEE Photovoltaic Spec. Conf.; (United States), Journal Name: Conf. Rec. IEEE Photovoltaic Spec. Conf.; (United States); ISSN CRCND
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English