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Title: Characteristics of low-priced solar PV systems in the U.S.

Abstract

Despite impressive declines in average prices, there is wide dispersion in the prices of U.S. solar photovoltaic (PV) systems; prices span more than a factor of four. What are the characteristics of the systems with low-prices? Here, using detailed characteristics of 42,611 small-scale (<15 kW) PV systems installed in 15 U.S. states during 2013, we identify the most important factors that make a system likely to be low-priced (LP). Comparing LP and non-LP systems, we find statistically significant differences in nearly all characteristics for which we have data. Logit and probit model results robustly indicate that LP systems are associated with: markets with few active installers; experienced installers; customer ownership; large systems; retrofits; and thin-film, low-efficiency, and Chinese modules. We also find significant differences across states, with LP systems much more likely to occur in some states, such as Arizona, New Jersey, and New Mexico, and less likely in others, such as California. Our focus on the left tail of the price distribution provides implications for policy that are distinct from recent studies of mean prices. While those studies find that PV subsidies increase mean prices, we find that subsidies also generate LP systems. PV subsidies appear to simultaneously shiftmore » and broaden the price distribution. Much of this broadening occurs in a particular location, northern California.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (Germany)
  2. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  4. Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (United States)
  5. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1487080
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1397062
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-05CH11231; AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Applied Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 187; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0306-2619
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; Subsidies; Solar; PV; Price dispersion; Technological change

Citation Formats

Nemet, Gregory F., O’Shaughnessy, Eric, Wiser, Ryan, Darghouth, Naïm, Barbose, Galen, Gillingham, Ken, and Rai, Varun. Characteristics of low-priced solar PV systems in the U.S.. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.11.056.
Nemet, Gregory F., O’Shaughnessy, Eric, Wiser, Ryan, Darghouth, Naïm, Barbose, Galen, Gillingham, Ken, & Rai, Varun. Characteristics of low-priced solar PV systems in the U.S.. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.11.056
Nemet, Gregory F., O’Shaughnessy, Eric, Wiser, Ryan, Darghouth, Naïm, Barbose, Galen, Gillingham, Ken, and Rai, Varun. Mon . "Characteristics of low-priced solar PV systems in the U.S.". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.11.056. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1487080.
@article{osti_1487080,
title = {Characteristics of low-priced solar PV systems in the U.S.},
author = {Nemet, Gregory F. and O’Shaughnessy, Eric and Wiser, Ryan and Darghouth, Naïm and Barbose, Galen and Gillingham, Ken and Rai, Varun},
abstractNote = {Despite impressive declines in average prices, there is wide dispersion in the prices of U.S. solar photovoltaic (PV) systems; prices span more than a factor of four. What are the characteristics of the systems with low-prices? Here, using detailed characteristics of 42,611 small-scale (<15 kW) PV systems installed in 15 U.S. states during 2013, we identify the most important factors that make a system likely to be low-priced (LP). Comparing LP and non-LP systems, we find statistically significant differences in nearly all characteristics for which we have data. Logit and probit model results robustly indicate that LP systems are associated with: markets with few active installers; experienced installers; customer ownership; large systems; retrofits; and thin-film, low-efficiency, and Chinese modules. We also find significant differences across states, with LP systems much more likely to occur in some states, such as Arizona, New Jersey, and New Mexico, and less likely in others, such as California. Our focus on the left tail of the price distribution provides implications for policy that are distinct from recent studies of mean prices. While those studies find that PV subsidies increase mean prices, we find that subsidies also generate LP systems. PV subsidies appear to simultaneously shift and broaden the price distribution. Much of this broadening occurs in a particular location, northern California.},
doi = {10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.11.056},
journal = {Applied Energy},
number = C,
volume = 187,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

Journal Article:

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Cited by: 34 works
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: Average installed prices of U.S. PV systems in 2000 and 2013, in real $/W.

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Solar soft cost ontology: a review of solar soft costs
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Meteorological Variables’ Influence on Electric Power Generation for Photovoltaic Systems Located at Different Geographical Zones in Mexico
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