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Techno-economic assessment and deployment strategies for vertically-mounted photovoltaic panels

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  • Zimmerman, Ryan
  • Panda, Anurag
  • Bulović, Vladimir

Abstract

This study identifies potential future markets and deployment challenges for vertically mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels in the United States (U.S.). Target photovoltaic (PV) module metrics are determined for economically competitive installations comparable to the grid-supplied commercial electricity price in the contiguous U.S. The study is motivated by the emergence of third-generation PV materials that promise low cost modules with weight per unit area that are an order of magnitude lower than silicon panels, thereby enabling vertical installation of PV modules on existing structures with minimal mechanical reinforcement. Vertically-mounted PVs on building façades are the largest potential market, between 50 GWp and 550 GWp, with other smaller markets adding an additional 15 GWp of capacity. Conservatively, assuming that the third-generation lightweight and monofacial PV modules have 15% efficiency, cost $0.68/Wp and a 10-year lifetime, when mounted vertically facing south, their levelized cost of generated electricity is between 18.3 and 23.1 ¢/kWh, dependent on the region of the U.S. East or west facing monofacial modules result in a higher levelized cost between 24.1 and 28.4 ¢/kWh. Bifacial PV modules facing east–west achieve a grid-comparable cost between 11.8 and 14.2 ¢/kWh. With further improvement of the monofacial PV module performance to 19% efficiency, 10-year lifetime, and $0.20/Wp when vertically mounted facing south, the levelized cost of their generated electricity would be between 10.1 and 12.7 ¢/kWh, comparable to the average 2018 grid price in the U. S.

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  • Zimmerman, Ryan & Panda, Anurag & Bulović, Vladimir, 2020. "Techno-economic assessment and deployment strategies for vertically-mounted photovoltaic panels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:276:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920306619
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115149
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