Reaching Grid Parity Using BP Solar Crystalline Silicon Technology: A Systems Class Application

Technical Report · Mon Dec 06 00:00:00 EST 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/993741· OSTI ID:993741

Cunningham, Daniel W. ^[1]; Wohlgemuth, John ^[1]; Carlson, David E. ^[1]; Clark, Roger F. ^[1]; Gleaton, Mark ^[1]; Posbic, John P. ^[1]; Zahler, James ^[1]

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1. BP Solar International, Frederick, MD (United States)

The primary target market for this program was the residential and commercial PV markets, drawing on BP Solar's premium product and service offerings, brand and marketing strength, and unique routes to market. These two markets were chosen because: (1) in 2005 they represented more than 50% of the overall US PV market; (2) they are the two markets that will likely meet grid parity first; and (3) they are the two market segments in which product development can lead to the added value necessary to generate market growth before reaching grid parity. Federal investment in this program resulted in substantial progress toward the DOE TPP target, providing significant advancements in the following areas: (1) Lower component costs particularly the modules and inverters. (2) Increased availability and lower cost of silicon feedstock. (3) Product specifically developed for residential and commercial applications. (4) Reducing the cost of installation through optimization of the products. (5) Increased value of electricity in mid-term to drive volume increases, via the green grid technology. (6) Large scale manufacture of PV products in the US, generating increased US employment in manufacturing and installation. To achieve these goals BP Solar assembled a team that included suppliers of critical materials, automated equipment developers/manufacturers, inverter and other BOS manufacturers, a utility company, and University research groups. The program addressed all aspects of the crystalline silicon PV business from raw materials (particularly silicon feedstock) through installation of the system on the customers site. By involving the material and equipment vendors, we ensured that supplies of silicon feedstock and other PV specific materials like encapsulation materials (EVA and cover glass) will be available in the quantities required to meet the DOE goals of 5 to 10 GW of installed US PV by 2015 and at the prices necessary for PV systems to reach grid parity in 2015. This final technical report highlights the accomplishments of the BP Solar technical team from 2006 to the end of the project in February 2010. All the main contributors and team members are recognized for this accomplishment and their endeavors are recorded in the twelve main tasks described here.

• Research Organization: BP Solar International, Frederick, MD (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: FC36-07GO17049
• OSTI ID: 993741
• Report Number(s): DOEGO17049--1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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14 SOLAR ENERGY
AVAILABILITY
BIPV
BP Solar
BUSINESS
DC to DC converter
SMUD
electric arc
DSC
ELECTRICITY
EMPLOYMENT
ENCAPSULATION
EVA
GLASS
ICT
INVERTERS
MANUFACTURERS
MANUFACTURING
MARKET
MARKETING
Mono2
OPTIMIZATION
PARITY
PRICES
RAW MATERIALS
SILICON
TARGETS
anti reflection coating
casting
cell prossing
encapsulant
laser
metalurgical grade
module
reliability
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silicon
silicone
wafering
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