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?

26% Signup and view all the answers

What approach is taken to account for expected PCE improvements?

Fitting a logistic function to cell efficiencies data Signup and view all the answers

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

Higher MSP than those manufactured in China Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated MSP for perovskite/HJT technologies?

Over 0.49 USD$/W Signup and view all the answers

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

Market share of perovskite tandem technology Signup and view all the answers

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

To assess the competitiveness of thin-film tandems in the EU and USA. Signup and view all the answers

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

Perovskite/CIS made in China. Signup and view all the answers

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

LCOE and GEF of EU-manufactured PV modules versus Chinese imports. Signup and view all the answers

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

Levelized Cost of Energy Signup and view all the answers

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

It will continue to benefit from economies of scale. Signup and view all the answers

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

Its LCOE distribution overlaps with that of PERC manufactured at large scale. Signup and view all the answers

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

LCOE and GEF performance metrics. Signup and view all the answers

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

100 MW and 1 GW Signup and view all the answers

What does the IEA 2022 special report focus on?

Solar PV global supply chains Signup and view all the answers

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

Eurostat Signup and view all the answers

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

Global shipments of solar photovoltaic modules Signup and view all the answers

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

IRENA report Signup and view all the answers

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

Protecting global supply chains for low-carbon technologies Signup and view all the answers

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

2022 Signup and view all the answers

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

The EU imports more than it exports Signup and view all the answers

What does the IEA Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 report address?

Future technology scenarios in energy Signup and view all the answers

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

Significantly increasing market shares Signup and view all the answers

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

Silicon tandems Signup and view all the answers

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

Comparable lifespan to silicon tandems Signup and view all the answers

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

Lower greenhouse gas emissions Signup and view all the answers

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

Insufficient data on module lifespan Signup and view all the answers

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

Significantly lower capacity Signup and view all the answers

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

Comparable investment with lower GHG emissions Signup and view all the answers

What does the projected LCOE and GEF data represent?

Averages at three climatic conditions Signup and view all the answers

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

To calculate the annual energy output of solar devices under realistic conditions Signup and view all the answers

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

Power conversion module Signup and view all the answers

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

5% active area losses for each technology Signup and view all the answers

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

TMY3 dataset Signup and view all the answers

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

Wind speed Signup and view all the answers

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

Transfer-matrix method and Lambert-Beer law Signup and view all the answers

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

Socioeconomic factors Signup and view all the answers

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

The focus is primarily on solar spectrum Signup and view all the answers

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

Ranges between 0.36 and 0.44 USD$/W Signup and view all the answers

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

Perovskite/cis tandems Signup and view all the answers

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

Levelized Cost of Energy Signup and view all the answers

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

They exhibit slightly higher LCOE with similar GHG reductions Signup and view all the answers

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

Costs of production and GHG emissions only Signup and view all the answers

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

Continued lower GHG emissions compared to silicon PVs Signup and view all the answers

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

Broaden the scope of environmental impacts Signup and view all the answers

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

Tandem technologies Signup and view all the answers

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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Description

This quiz explores global photovoltaic capacity and the dominance of silicon-based solar modules in the market. It assesses the cost-competitiveness and greenhouse gas emissions of various PV technologies, including thin-film tandem technologies like perovskite/CIGS. Additionally, it examines the implications of supply chain vulnerabilities and production locations on the future of solar energy.