Silicon-based solar cells Characteristics and production processes ...

Silicon-based solar cells – characteristics and production processes
is due to be after 20 years of operation. According to the American reports, the cost
of the “solar” electric energy depends on the size of the PV system and the insolation
of the given location [7].
Tab. 12. Cost of the electric energy produced by a photovoltaic system on the basis of the
American market’s analysis [7].
Insolation PV system type PV
system
power
PV system price
2000 kWh/m 2 Autonomous or 2 kW p 15 022,00 $
integrated
- 7,5 $/W p
2000 kWh/m 2 Free-standing, 50 kW p 274 213,00 $
integrated with
- 5,5 $/W p
network
Electric energy
production cost
31,63 c/kWh
1000 kWh/m 2 69,58 c/kWh
21,90 c/kWh
1000 kWh/m 2 48,18 c/kWh
2000 kWh/m 2 BIPV (roof), 500 kW p 1 990 330,00 $ 16,91 c/kWh
1000 kWh/m 2 integrated with
- 4,0 $/W p 37,20 c/kWh
network
As it can be inferred from the data included in Table 12, the cost of the electric
energy produced by a large photovoltaic power plant located in the intertropical area
is only twice as high as the price of the conventional electric power. It is also
a derivative of the costs of the PV system installation for 1 W p of its power,
depending on the size and type of the system. According to this data, with the
average annual insolation of about 1200 kWh/m 2 for the area of Poland, the costs of
the electric energy produced by a PV system will be within the range of 1,1 ÷ 2,0 PLN
/kWh, depending on the system’s power.
One of the more important factors supporting the development of photovoltaics
are the legal regulations concerning the price of the electric energy from renewable
energy sources. In the case of the energy obtained from PV systems, this special tariff
required for the network recipients who are simultaneously commercial energy
distributors, is referred to as the feed-in tariff. It is currently effective in most
European countries, and its value often depends on the power and type of the PV
system.
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