Economic analysis of a candidate 50 cents/Wpk flat-plate photovoltaic manufacturing technology. Low-Cost Solar Array Project 5101-94

Technical Report · Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6404955· OSTI ID:6404955

Aster, R W

The SAMICS methodology was used to analyze the first candidate manufacturing sequence that could meet the LSA Projects's 1986 price goal. That goal represents a reduction in photovoltaic prices by a factor of a hundred over a 10-year period, from approximately 50 $/Wpk in 1975 to 50 cents/Wpk in 1986. The results of analysis which has occurred since the original presentation of the 5 cents/Wpk candidate factory at the 10th LSA Project Integration Meeting are described. Briefly, if a number of events occur, such as a high cell efficiency (14% for this technology), vertical industry integration, long periods of amortizing the initial capital investment, and full utilization of a large plant, then a price of 39.9 cents/Wpk is possible. Non-optimal circumstances will increase this required price, and several of these circumstances are addressed.

• Research Organization: California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Jet Propulsion Lab. (JPL)
• DOE Contract Number: EX-76-A-29-1012
• OSTI ID: 6404955
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/1012-78/17
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
MANUFACTURING
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
CAPITAL
COST
EFFICIENCY
FABRICATION
INVESTMENT
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ECONOMICS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion