Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
20,000
400
17,500
350
Costs
15,000
300
12,500
250
10,000
200
7500
150
5000
100
Turnover
2500
50
0
0
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
Figure 6.1
Global Photovoltaic Module Production and End User Prices
for Small Grid-connected Photovoltaic Systems in Germany
Further costs should not accrue in this example. Thus, the levelled electricity
cost is calculated as follows:
C
tot
=
A
0
+
A
10
=
8000
€
C
a
=
C
tot
/
n
=
320 per year
€
C
E
=
C
a
/
E
a
=
€
0.40/kWh
el
.
In regions with very high annual irradiance, for example, near the Sahara
desert, the same system can generate up to 2000 kWh/year of electricity. This
reduces the levelled electricity cost without return on capital from
0.40/kWh
el
€
to
0.16/kWh
el
. The cost for very large systems is even lower. Today, these
costs are usually higher than the conventional electricity price. However, they
will remain relatively constant throughout the operating period since no high
uncertainty about fuel prices exist.
Future photovoltaic systems will achieve further significant cost reduction
as a result of the fast increasing production volume. In 2002, the amount of
photovoltaic modules produced annually worldwide was about 560 MW,
which is similar to the amount produced by a very small conventional power
plant, but the annual increase in photovoltaic module production is
consistently more than 20 per cent.
Figure 6.1 shows that costs decrease significantly with rising production
volume. Since the mid-1980s, costs have decreased by more than 60 per cent.
€
Costs for a wind power plant
The investment costs of wind power plants have also decreased during the past
