Price and system composition of solar photovoltaic power generation

For a sample of solar PV manufacturers, we estimate production costs based on nancial accounting statements. We use these cost estimates as data inputs in a dynamic model of competition to obtain equilibrium prices, termed Economically Sustainable Prices (ESP).

Meanwhile, the costs of manufacturing PV panels have dropped dramatically, with the cost of the commercial PV modules declining from 1.7 USD/W in 2011 to 0.2 USD/W in 2020 . In some countries, PV have even become the cheapest option for new electricity production plants .

Facilitated by continual improvement of battery efficiency and innovation of development models in PV industry, the costs of PV generation have been continuously decreasing and demonstrated considerable commercial competitiveness . In especial, the costs of silicon batteries and PV modules have been reduced by more than 70 % during 2013∼2020.

Owing to fast and comprehensive advancement of technologies and techniques, and vigorous emergence and speedy development of energy internet, solar photovoltaics (PV) has become one of the cleanest, smartest and most economical means of power generations .

The total cost over the service life of the system is amortized to give a levelized cost per year. In the PV System Cost Model (PVSCM), the owner's overnight capital expense (cash cost) for an installed PV system is divided into eight categories, which are the same for the utility-scale, commercial, and residential PV market segments:

By integrating grid costs and balancing costs into conventional LCOE framework, a System LCOE (S-LCOE) model was constructed to evaluate the economic feasibility of PV generation, more accurately. The results revealed that all provincial S-LCOE of China's PV is currently higher than local desulfurized coal electricity price (DCEP).