Photovoltaic Technologies Assessment

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Questions and Answers

What module cost range is associated with perovskite/CIS technologies?

  • 0.30 to 0.35 USD$/W
  • 0.49 to 0.55 USD$/W
  • 0.40 to 0.48 USD$/W
  • 0.36 to 0.44 USD$/W (correct)

Which technology is likely to have a higher module cost when manufactured in Europe or the USA?

  • Perovskite/CIS technologies
  • Flexible solar panels
  • Thin-film tandems
  • Perovskite/HJT tandems (correct)

Which of the following factors directly influences the module cost fraction of perovskite/silicon tandems?

  • Market share of PERC technology (correct)
  • The efficiency of silicon cells
  • Average lifespan of the modules
  • Geographical location of manufacturing

What is the probability of perovskite/CIS manufactured in the EU having a lower MSP than perovskite/PERC manufactured in China?

<p>26% (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What approach is taken to account for expected PCE improvements?

<p>Fitting a logistic function to cell efficiencies data (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a likely outcome for perovskite tandem technologies manufactured in the USA?

<p>Higher MSP than those manufactured in China (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated MSP for perovskite/HJT technologies?

<p>Over 0.49 USD$/W (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What market condition affects the module cost fraction dependent on perovskite technology?

<p>Market share of perovskite tandem technology (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of the paper regarding PV systems?

<p>To assess the competitiveness of thin-film tandems in the EU and USA. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which PV technology is excluded from consideration in this study despite being a potential alternative?

<p>Perovskite/CIS made in China. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factors are compared in Figures 5 and 6 of the paper?

<p>LCOE and GEF of EU-manufactured PV modules versus Chinese imports. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does LCOE stand for in the context of PV systems?

<p>Levelized Cost of Energy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What implication is made regarding China's silicon PV production?

<p>It will continue to benefit from economies of scale. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key comparison made regarding perovskite/CIS tandem technology?

<p>Its LCOE distribution overlaps with that of PERC manufactured at large scale. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of PV systems is primarily influenced by cell degradation rates as shown in Figure 4?

<p>LCOE and GEF performance metrics. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What scale of manufacturing capacity is referenced for comparison in the study?

<p>100 MW and 1 GW (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the IEA 2022 special report focus on?

<p>Solar PV global supply chains (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organization provided data on international trade in green energy products in 2022?

<p>Eurostat (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the 2021 annual solar photovoltaic module shipments report by EIA detail?

<p>Global shipments of solar photovoltaic modules (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, which report discusses renewable power generation costs in 2021?

<p>IRENA report (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What key issue is highlighted by Goldthau and Hughes in their Nature article?

<p>Protecting global supply chains for low-carbon technologies (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what year was the OECD economic outlook interim report published?

<p>2022 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What trend in imports and exports of green energy products does Eurostat highlight?

<p>The EU imports more than it exports (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the IEA Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 report address?

<p>Future technology scenarios in energy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are thin-film tandem technologies expected to provide in the market?

<p>Significantly increasing market shares (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of PV is indicated as the typical candidate for market deployment?

<p>Silicon tandems (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What assumption is necessary for thin-film tandems to be considered cost-competitive?

<p>Comparable lifespan to silicon tandems (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which advantage do thin-film tandems offer compared to silicon tandems?

<p>Lower greenhouse gas emissions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation mentioned regarding the study on tandem PV technologies?

<p>Insufficient data on module lifespan (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do perovskite/CIS tandems manufactured in the EU compare to PERC SJ in terms of manufacturing capacity?

<p>Significantly lower capacity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated regarding project costs and emissions for thin-film tandems?

<p>Comparable investment with lower GHG emissions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the projected LCOE and GEF data represent?

<p>Averages at three climatic conditions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the energy yield (EY) analysis in this study?

<p>To calculate the annual energy output of solar devices under realistic conditions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which module is NOT part of the EYcalc platform used for energy yield estimation?

<p>Power conversion module (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What kind of losses are considered in the initial outcomes of the energy yield simulations?

<p>5% active area losses for each technology (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What data is used to calculate a solar spectrum for each hour of the year?

<p>TMY3 dataset (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT included in the meteorological data for the locations assessed?

<p>Wind speed (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technique is used to describe light absorption properties of the layers in the solar cell stack?

<p>Transfer-matrix method and Lambert-Beer law (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following parameters is NOT considered when determining irradiation conditions?

<p>Socioeconomic factors (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are temperature differences not considered across various locations in the energy yield calculations?

<p>The focus is primarily on solar spectrum (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the assumed future efficiency increase for specific tandem technologies?

<p>Ranges between 0.36 and 0.44 USD$/W (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which tandem technologies have been noted for competitive LCOE and GHG emission reductions?

<p>Perovskite/cis tandems (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does LCOE stand for in the context of photovoltaic systems?

<p>Levelized Cost of Energy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do perovskite/CIS tandems manufactured in the EU compare to PERC SJ tandems made in China?

<p>They exhibit slightly higher LCOE with similar GHG reductions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is highlighted as a limitation in the current analysis?

<p>Costs of production and GHG emissions only (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What trend is anticipated for thin-film PV production in the EU and the USA by 2050?

<p>Continued lower GHG emissions compared to silicon PVs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes future research possibilities suggested in the content?

<p>Broaden the scope of environmental impacts (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which technology is mentioned as having the potential for higher learning rates affecting economic metrics?

<p>Tandem technologies (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Module Cost Estimation

A method of estimating the cost of a solar module based on its efficiency (PCE) and other factors, such as manufacturing location and market share.

Perovskite/Silicon Tandem

A type of solar cell where a thin layer of perovskite material is placed on top of a silicon base.

Perovskite/Silicon Tandem

A solar module manufacturing technique utilizing a combination of perovskite and crystalline silicon materials, leading to high efficiency and potential cost reductions.

Manufacturing Selling Price (MSP)

The expected price of a photovoltaic (PV) module in the future after considering efficiency gains, market share, and manufacturing location.

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Perovskite/CIS Tandem

A perovskite/silicon tandem technology where the bottom layer is made of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIS).

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Market Share

The percentage of a product's market occupied by a specific technology.

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Logistic Function

A logistic function model used to predict the future performance of a specific technology, such as the efficiency of solar cells.

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Photoconversion Efficiency (PCE)

A measure of the performance of a solar cell, indicating its ability to convert sunlight into electricity.

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Energy Yield (EY)

A numerical value representing the annual energy output of a solar device under real-world conditions.

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EYcalc

A software platform developed by KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) for calculating energy yield of solar devices.

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Irradiance Module

A module within EYcalc that simulates incoming sunlight at specific locations, accounting for time, angle, and spectrum.

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Optics Module

A component of EYcalc that determines how light interacts with different layers of a solar cell.

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Transfer-Matrix Method (TMM)

A method used in the Optics Module to calculate the amount of light absorbed by layers of the solar cell.

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Lambert-Beer Law

A mathematical equation used in the Optics Module to calculate light absorption in thicker, less transparent layers.

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TMY3 Data (Typical Meteorological Year data)

A data set from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) used in the Irradiance Module to provide information about weather and climate conditions at different locations.

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Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE)

A measure of how efficiently a solar cell converts light into electricity.

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Thin-Film Tandem

A type of solar cell that uses thin-film materials, which are typically less expensive to manufacture but are sometimes less efficient than silicon cells.

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Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Cell

A type of solar cell where a thin layer of perovskite material is placed on top of a silicon base, enhancing efficiency.

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Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE)

The ratio of the cost of electricity generated from a PV system to the energy produced by the system.

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Global Energy Footprint (GEF)

The global energy footprint for a given technology, considering all emissions and resource depletion during production, transportation, installation, operation and dismantling.

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Perovskite Cell Degradation Rate

The gradual decrease in the performance of a solar cell over time, measured as a percentage of the cell's initial power output.

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PERC Silicon (SJ) Photovoltaics (PVs)

Solar modules used in PV systems, manufactured using a traditional silicon wafer technology with a high-efficiency, passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) structure.

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LCOE Comparison

A measure of the competitiveness of a PV system, calculated by comparing its LCOE with other energy sources.

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Supply Chain Diversification

The manufacturing of thin-film PV modules in the EU and USA offers an alternative to relying solely on imported Chinese PV modules.

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Decarbonization

The process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to cleaner energy sources, particularly in the energy sector.

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Photovoltaic Conversion Efficiency (PCE)

A measure of the efficiency of a solar cell, expressed as the percentage of light converted into electricity.

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GHG Emission Reduction

The reduction in GHG emissions per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated by a solar PV system compared to traditional fossil fuel power plants.

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Learning Rate

The potential of a technology to improve over time due to advancements in manufacturing, materials, and design.

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Tandem Solar Cell

A type of solar cell that combines two different materials (e.g., perovskite and silicon) to achieve higher efficiency and cost reductions.

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Perovskite/HJT Tandem

A specific tandem technology combining perovskite and crystalline silicon materials, resulting in improved efficiency and cost reductions.

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Study Notes

Introduction

  • Global photovoltaic (PV) capacity is expected to exceed 40 TW by 2050
  • Silicon-based single-junction (SJ) solar modules account for 95% of the current PV market
  • China dominates PV manufacturing, holding over 75% of production capacity
  • PV module prices have decreased by over 80% in the last decade, primarily due to Chinese production
  • Global supply chains are vulnerable to disruptions, with reliance on China posing risks

Methods

  • The study assesses the cost-competitiveness and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of various PV technologies
  • Thin-film tandem PV technologies are evaluated, particularly perovskite/CIGS
  • Current and future costs and GHG emissions are calculated for different production locations (China, USA, EU) at residential and utility scales
  • The study covers manufacturing from the material acquisition to the final production (cradle-to-gate)
  • Energy yield is considered, considering factors such as climate conditions in three locations (Phoenix, Miami, Seattle)

Results

  • Thin-film tandem technologies show potential cost competitiveness with single-junction silicon technologies, especially in the EU and USA
  • EU and USA-manufactured thin-film tandems have slightly higher costs per kWh but significantly lower GHG emissions per kWh compared to China-manufactured SJ technologies
  • Perovskite solar cells are expected to compete with lower MSPs due to lower manufacturing costs
  • GHG emissions associated with EU and USA manufacture are significantly lower than those associated with Chinese manufacture
  • Tandems with perovskite or other thin-film technologies have better cost per kWh and reduce GHG emissions compared to standard silicon technologies

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Related Documents

Beyond Silicon: Thin-Film Tandem for Photovoltaics (2025) PDF

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