The Impact of Silicon Feedstock on the PV Module Cost

Coso Sánchez, Gonzalo del and Cañizo Nadal, Carlos del and Sinke, Wim C. (2010). The Impact of Silicon Feedstock on the PV Module Cost. "Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells", v. 94 (n. 2); pp. 345-349. ISSN 0927-0248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2009.10.011.

Description

Title: The Impact of Silicon Feedstock on the PV Module Cost
Author/s:
  • Coso Sánchez, Gonzalo del
  • Cañizo Nadal, Carlos del
  • Sinke, Wim C.
Item Type: Article
Título de Revista/Publicación: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Date: February 2010
ISSN: 0927-0248
Volume: 94
Subjects:
Freetext Keywords: Cost assessment; Crystalline silicon; Silicon feedstock
Faculty: E.T.S.I. Telecomunicación (UPM)
Department: Electrónica Física
Creative Commons Licenses: Recognition - No derivative works - Non commercial

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Abstract

The impact of the use of new (solar grade) silicon feedstock materials on the manufacturing cost of wafer-based crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules is analyzed considering effects of material cost, efficiency of utilisation, and quality. Calculations based on data provided by European industry partners are presented for a baseline manufacturing technology and for four advanced wafer silicon technologies which may be ready for industrial implementation in the near future. Iso-cost curves show the technology parameter combinations that yield a constant total module cost for varying feedstock cost, silicon utilisation, and cell efficiency. A large variation of feedstock cost for different production processes, from near semiconductor grade Si (30 €/kg) to upgraded metallurgical grade Si (10 €/kg), changes the cost of crystalline silicon modules by 11% for present module technologies or by 7% for advanced technologies, if the cell efficiency can be maintained. However, this cost advantage is completely lost if cell efficiency is reduced, due to quality degradation, by an absolute 1.7% for present module technology or by an absolute 1.3% for advanced technologies.

More information

Item ID: 8077
DC Identifier: https://oa.upm.es/8077/
OAI Identifier: oai:oa.upm.es:8077
DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2009.10.011
Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/
Deposited by: Memoria Investigacion
Deposited on: 18 Aug 2011 11:50
Last Modified: 20 Apr 2016 16:59
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