$1/Watt PV System – BoS /Installation Challenges for Ground Mounted Systems
The $1/watt White Paper from the U.S. Department of Energy was a great start to kickoff discussions and movements towards the goal of making solar power competitive without any incentives. To achieve this goal, the cost of an installed PV system would break down into the following components:
• $.50/watt for Modules
• $.40/watt for BoS/Installation
• $.10/watt for Power Electronics
Module Prices and Power Electronics are Getting There
With new production capacities going online almost every week and new players consistently entering the global market, it seems that the question is not if, but when the module prices will hit the $.50/watt. Innovation, scale of production and fierce competition will lead the way to the defined goal, not only for the modules, but also for power electronics.
BoS/Installation
Currently, physical system costs, including labor, are accounting for about 75% of BoS costs for a ground-mounted installation. These costs are divided between structural components and the electrical system.
How can these costs be driven down to the $.40/watt goal? A 2010 Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) workshop suggested the following steps:
• Reduce forces at work – such as reduction of the wind load
• Optimize structural form and materials
• Design for low-cost installation