Ten years of manufacturing R&D in PVMAT-technical accomplishments, return on investment, and where we go next

Abstract

The Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology Project has been conducting cost-shared R&D with industry for ten years. Objectives of this project are to improve photovoltaic manufacturing processes and products and to lower manufacturing costs. The majority of the efforts have been module related. Results in terms of automation, yield, and throughput have provided a significant reduction in direct manufacturing costs. Some of these results are detailed, and a measure of the return due to these efforts is discussed. Finally, technical directions for future activities are identified.

Retrospective Benefit-Cost Evaluation of DOE Investment in Photovoltaic Energy Systems

“…These challenges inhibited sector and technology development. NREL, in particular, offered several prospective analyses of program goals and strategies (Surek, 1992;Mitchell et al, 1992;Witt et al, 1993), as well as retrospective assessments and case studies of technical progress and best practices to guide future endeavors (Witt et al, 2001;Margolis, 2002;Margolis et al, 2006).…”

“…NREL, SNL, and DOE jointly performed two internal quantitative analyses of investment recovery on the DOE and private investment in PVMaT (Witt et al, 2001;Friedman et al, 2005). 12 Figure 1-1 presents historical results from these analyses through 2005 and the authors' best forecasts through 2011.…”

“…12 Figure 1-1 presents historical results from these analyses through 2005 and the authors' best forecasts through 2011. Witt et al (2001) found that the public investment in PVMaT was recouped in 1997, and the industry investment was recouped in 1999. 13 Friedman et al (2005) calculated that, between 1992 and 2005, the average module manufacturing cost fell 54%, production capacity increased 18.5 fold, and progress ratios were 87% for c-Si companies and 81% for thin-films companies.…”

Optimal Planning for Utility Generation by Photovoltaic Sources Spread Across Multiple Sites

“…For the photovoltaic technology optimally suited for a site, this variable will assume a value of unity (otherwise zero). This is ensured by inclusion of the following constraints for each site and technology (9) The energy that can be converted at the th site by the th technology is obtained as (10) where is the receiver area required. The annual energy also determines the unit power rating as (11) where is the capacity factor that the utility intends to plan for and the factor of 8760 accounts for the number of hours in a year.…”

“…c) Reduction of failure rates and, hence, the maintenance cost for the power-conditioning systems (PCS) and the balance of systems (BOS) that accompany a generating unit [9]. With such progress in technology and economic viability [10], [11], an individual utility may plan for multiple installations spread over its service area, within a short duration of time, and in the most cost-effective manner possible. The available range of photoelectric generating units in terms of energy output and cost, as well as the effects of penetration into the existing power system [12], [13] become important determinants of such a plan.…”