Based on PV Price Navigator real time data provided by the world leading online photovoltaic solar panel spot market pxXchange users get the most accurate overview on PV price developments for solar panel offerings. The tool allows analyzing solar module prices from different photovoltaic manufacturers, by region like Europe or Asia, or by supply chain position like factory gate or local solar installer. A user-friendly toolbar allows in addition for individual requests and personalization.
PV ECONOMICS BASICS
Some important terms related to photovoltaic system economics are presented herein.
The most important PV economic parameters are the total costs of installing a PV
system, electricity price, Feed-In tariffs and the energy payback time - EPBT.
Investments into renewable energies, particular into PV and wind technologies are
another economics related area.
The cost of a PV system is measured in price-per-peak-watt (€/Wp or US$/Wp for
example). Peak watt is defined as the power at standard test conditions (solar
irradiance 1000 W/m2, AM of 1.5 and temperature 25°C). Photovoltaic system costs
encompass both module and BOS costs. Module costs typically represents only 40-60 %
of total PV system costs. Typically the cost of installing a photovoltaic system
having a power of 1 kW ranges from 3500 € to 5000 €/kWp
(2009) whilst
in 2010 average investment decreased to little more than 3,000 €.
Approximately about
half of this investment would be for the PV modules, and the inverter, PV array
support structures, electrical cabling, equipment and installation would account
for the rest. Please note that BOS and installation costs can vary significantly.
For example: when costs for site preparation, laying a foundation, system design
and engineering, permitting, as well as assembly and installation labour are higher,
total installation costs are higher too. The life cycle cost (LCC) of a PV system
may also include costs for site preparation, system design and engineering,
installation labour, permits and operation and maintenance costs. Photovoltaic
systems have an anticipated 25-year lifetime.
Due reduced electricty price and lower investment costs are photovoltaic systems
as close to grid-parity as never before
(courtesy:
mstudio)
ENERGY PAYBACK TIME
Energy Payback Time - EPBT is the time necessary for a photovoltaic panel to generate the energy equivalent to that used to produce it.
E. Alsema made some interesting EPBT calculations for photovoltaic modules. He estimates 600 kWh/m2 energy produced with monocrystal-silicon
modules or 420 kWh/m2 with polycrystalline silicon is used to make near-future, frameless PV systems. Assuming 12 % conversion efficiency
(standard conditions) and 1,700 kWh/m2 per year of available sunlight energy, Alsema calculated a payback of about four years for contemporary
polycrystalline-silicon PV systems. Projecting 10 years into the future, he assumes a "solar grade" silicon feedstock and 14 % efficiency,
dropping energy payback to about 2 years. Some other calculations generally support Alsema's predictions. For amorphous-silicon Alsema
estimates that it takes 120 kWh/m2 to make near-future, frameless amorphous-silicon PV modules. He adds another 120 kWh/m2 per frame and
support structure (for a rooftop-mounted, grid-connected system). At 6 % conversion efficiency (standard conditions) and 1,700 kWh/m2 per
year of available sunlight energy, Alsema calculated a payback of about three years for contemporary thin-film PV systems. Kato and Palz
for example calculated even shorter paybacks for amorphous-silicon, each ranging from one to two years. Some links with detailed information
about EPBT are available below - for photovoltaic and even for solar thermal systems.
Energy Payback Time - photovoltaic systems
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Ftenakis, V., Alsema, E.: Photovoltaics Energy Payback
Times, Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and External Costs:
2004–early 2005 Status; Progress in Photovoltaics, Research and Applications 2006; 14:275–280.
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Kato, K.; Murata, A.; Sakuta, K.: Energy Payback Time and Life-Cycle CO2 Emission of Residential PV Power System with Silicon PV Module; Progress in Photovoltaics, Research and Applications, 6, 110-115, 1998.
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Palz, W.; Zibetta, H.: Energy Pay-Back Time of Photovoltaic Modules; International
Journal of Solar Energy. Volume 10, Number 3-4, pp. 211-216, 1991.
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Knapp, K.E., Jester, T.L.: An Empirical Perspective on the Energy Payback Time for
Photovoltaic Modules; Solar 2000 Conference, Madison, WI, 2000.
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Energy Payback Time - solar thermal systems
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Streicher, E. et al.: Energy Payback Time – A Key Number for the Assessment of
Thermal Solar Systems; Proceedings of EuroSun 2004, 20 - 23 June 2004, Freiburg, Germany.
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Drück, H. et al.: Advanced Storage Concepts for Solar Combisystems; Proceedings of
EuroSun 2004, 20 - 23 June 2004, Freiburg, Germany..
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PHOTOVOLTAIC ECONOMICS WEB SITES
Market prices
PV Price Navigator
- Based on real time data provided by the world leading online photovoltaic solar panel spot market
pxXchange users get the most accurate overview on PV price developments for solar panel offerings. The tool allows analyzing solar module prices from different photovoltaic manufacturers, by region like Europe or Asia, or by supply chain position like factory gate or local solar installer. A user-friendly toolbar allows in addition for individual requests and personalization. For subsequent presentation or further analysis the data can be downloaded as a graphic or Excel compatible .csv file.
Website also available in:
Solar Buzz Retail Price Environment
-
Solarbuzz offers the most complete pricing in the solar industry. Free monthly
summary includes retail pricing data, trends and analysis.
PV Insights
-
PV Insights, a premier international solar PV research firm, helps leading solar PV companies and financial professionals making real time decisions on business strategy, component procurements and investments by insightful reports, advisory service, and efficient price reports.
Stocks
Photovoltaic Stock Index (PPVX) -
The PPVX is calculated weekly on a € base. To be included in the PPVX,
more than 50 percent of a company's sales in the previous year must have come
through PV products or services.
Website also available in:
Umweltbank -
Fonds - und Wertpapierkurse.
Website available in:
Investments & finance
GreenValue -
auf greenValue finden Sie Beteiligungs- und Investitionsangebote unter anderem
aus den Bereichen Photovoltaik, Windkraft, Biogas- und Biomasse, Geothermie und
nachhaltiger Forstwirtschaft.
Website available in:
ECOreporter.de - Magazin für Nachhaltiges Investment
Website available in:
Earth Tech Finance
- ETF supports international renewable energy (RE) companies and projects in
finding capital and advises those enterprises and projects in their development.
Guide to Green Mortgages - Green, or energy efficient mortgages, let
you borrow extra money to pay for energy efficient upgrades to your current home
or a new or old home that you plan to buy. The result is a more environmentally
friendly living space that uses fewer resources for heating and cooling and has
dramatically lower utility costs.
RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY
DSIRE - The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy -
the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected US federal incentives that promote renewable energy.
RES LEGAL - the website on legislation on renewable energy generation.
Here you will find a collection of and information on the most important legislation
on the support schemes and grid access for electricity from renewable sources
within the EU 27.
Government of Western Australia, Office of Energy
- The Office of Energy leads the development and implementation of policy and
programs to meet Western Australia's energy needs. The agency is committed to
driving change in a way that achieves improved economic, social and environmental
outcomes for Western Australia.