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The impact of efficiency on area‐related system costs
Author(s) -
Whitaker Chuck,
Real Markus
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-159x(199905/06)7:3<199::aid-pip263>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - rule of thumb , variety (cybernetics) , photovoltaic system , principal (computer security) , key (lock) , cost efficiency , environmental economics , economic efficiency , economics , operations research , computer science , operations management , engineering , microeconomics , electrical engineering , computer security , algorithm , artificial intelligence , operating system
There is an ongoing debate within the photovoltaic (PV) industry as to how significantly PV module efficiency impacts the installed cost of a PV system. This paper examines key factors and, through examples, concludes that under current economics, efficiency is generally not the dominant factor affecting overall cost. However, the paper also notes a variety of exceptions in which efficiency can become a principal cost driver. Therefore, in the absence of a reliable rule of thumb to guide design decisions, the paper identifies the technical and economic conditions under which efficiency has the strongest impact on overall cost. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.