Solar photovoltaics is ready to power a sustainable future

Abstract

Thanks to fast learning and sustained growth, solar photovoltaics (PV) is today a highly cost-competitive technology, ready to contribute substantially to CO 2 emissions mitigation. However, many scenarios assessing global decarbonization pathways, either based on integrated assessment models or partial-equilibrium models, fail to identify the key role that this technology could play, including far lower future PV capacity than that projected by the PV community. In this perspective, we review the factors that lie behind the historical cost reductions of solar PV and identify innovations in the pipeline that could contribute to maintaining a high learning rate. We also aim at opening a constructive discussion among PV experts, modelers, and policymakers regarding how to improve the representation of this technology in the models and how to ensure that manufacturing and installation of solar PV-can ramp up on time, which will be crucial to remain in a decarbonization path compatible with the Paris Agreement.

Solar and wind grid system value in the United States: The effect of transmission congestion, generation profiles, and curtailment

“…This value decline might be larger than future cost declines because of learning. 1,2 Other studies expect substantial VRE cost declines [3][4][5][6] but highlight the key challenge of value decline (or more generally, system integration questions [7][8][9][10] ). The possibility of losing the race between declining cost and value puts decarbonization goals at risk and has led to calls for ambitious research and development efforts to cut the cost of VRE technology 11 or for more direct policy support.…”

Combined solar power and storage as cost-competitive and grid-compatible supply for China’s future carbon-neutral electricity system

“…From a power-system perspective, many large-scale simulations for China have projected the solar PV capacity shares in the future ( 22 – 24 ). However, the role of solar PV in future energy systems is often underestimated with high capital cost assumptions, which did not fully reflect the recent cost decline trend of the solar PV ( 25 – 27 ). The stepwise deployment of large-scale solar capacity ( 23 , 28 , 29 ) requires in-depth research of the spatiotemporal characteristics of solar potentials from technical and economic perspectives.…”

Accuracy investigation in the modeling of partially shaded photovoltaic systems

“…Photovoltaic (PV) conversion from solar energy has become increasingly used worldwide (Jäger-Waldau, 2020). Technological improvements, mainly related to the increase in efficiency, and the reduction in costs have driven this growth in recent years, a behavior that is expected to continue (Victoria et al, 2021). Others advantages that favor expansion are the PV modularity and shorter installation times compared to other sources (Victoria et al, 2021).…”

“…Technological improvements, mainly related to the increase in efficiency, and the reduction in costs have driven this growth in recent years, a behavior that is expected to continue (Victoria et al, 2021). Others advantages that favor expansion are the PV modularity and shorter installation times compared to other sources (Victoria et al, 2021). In addition to these advantages, PV energy is a fundamental source for the transition to a 100% renewable electricity system (Bogdanov et al, 2019;Jacobson et al, 2017).…”