A Note on Limits and Trends in PV Cells and Modules
The key components of photovoltaic (PV) systems are PV modules representing basic devices, which are able to operate in outdoor conditions for a long time. PV modules can be manufactured from different materials using different production technologies. The main criterion supporting or limiting the s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3363 |
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| author | Vitezslav Benda Ladislava Cerna |
| author_facet | Vitezslav Benda Ladislava Cerna |
| author_sort | Vitezslav Benda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The key components of photovoltaic (PV) systems are PV modules representing basic devices, which are able to operate in outdoor conditions for a long time. PV modules can be manufactured from different materials using different production technologies. The main criterion supporting or limiting the successful placement of specific technologies on the market is the price of electricity produced by PV systems. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) method considers investment costs, operating costs, and the total energy produced during a PV system’s service life. The influence of price, efficiency, and service life of PV modules on the LCOE (together with the availability of materials) sets limits for applicable technologies. Increasing the efficiency of the modules from 21% to 23% could lead to a reduction of the area-dependent part of the PV system costs by 8.7%. Extending the service life from 25 to 30 years could reduce the LCOE by about 10%. As shown in the work, wafer-based crystalline silicon technologies best meet these criteria due to their high efficiency, low costs, long service life, and the availability of materials at present. Technological innovations make it possible to increase the efficiency of the modules closer to the physical limits and to extend the service life of the modules. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:08:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1af45c91008e48dc8a1678dae810e979 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:08:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-1af45c91008e48dc8a1678dae810e9792023-11-30T22:54:42ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-03-01127336310.3390/app12073363A Note on Limits and Trends in PV Cells and ModulesVitezslav Benda0Ladislava Cerna1Department of Electrotechnology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Technicka 2, 166 27 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Electrotechnology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Technicka 2, 166 27 Prague, Czech RepublicThe key components of photovoltaic (PV) systems are PV modules representing basic devices, which are able to operate in outdoor conditions for a long time. PV modules can be manufactured from different materials using different production technologies. The main criterion supporting or limiting the successful placement of specific technologies on the market is the price of electricity produced by PV systems. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) method considers investment costs, operating costs, and the total energy produced during a PV system’s service life. The influence of price, efficiency, and service life of PV modules on the LCOE (together with the availability of materials) sets limits for applicable technologies. Increasing the efficiency of the modules from 21% to 23% could lead to a reduction of the area-dependent part of the PV system costs by 8.7%. Extending the service life from 25 to 30 years could reduce the LCOE by about 10%. As shown in the work, wafer-based crystalline silicon technologies best meet these criteria due to their high efficiency, low costs, long service life, and the availability of materials at present. Technological innovations make it possible to increase the efficiency of the modules closer to the physical limits and to extend the service life of the modules.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3363PV modules technologyLCOEservice life |
| spellingShingle | Vitezslav Benda Ladislava Cerna A Note on Limits and Trends in PV Cells and Modules Applied Sciences PV modules technology LCOE service life |
| title | A Note on Limits and Trends in PV Cells and Modules |
| title_full | A Note on Limits and Trends in PV Cells and Modules |
| title_fullStr | A Note on Limits and Trends in PV Cells and Modules |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Note on Limits and Trends in PV Cells and Modules |
| title_short | A Note on Limits and Trends in PV Cells and Modules |
| title_sort | note on limits and trends in pv cells and modules |
| topic | PV modules technology LCOE service life |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3363 |
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