The True Cost of Solar Power:
How Low Can You Go?
The True Cost of Solar Power: How Low Can You Go? is a detailed roadmap of the benchmarks and cost structures that matter most for the solar sector. How Low Can You Go? also presents in-depth cost breakdowns at each step of the solar supply chain: silicon, ingot/wafer, cell, module, system and electricity.
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Authors
Joonki Song | Ryan Boas | Chris Bolman | Martin Meyers | Michael Rogol | Rob Trangucci
Introduction
Key content areas- Highlights key themes and trends across the solar supply chain that are driving down important cost benchmarks throughout the sector
- In-depth cost measurements at every step of the solar supply chain: silicon, ingot/wafer, cell, module, system and electricity
- Analysis of leading global solar companies' winning cost structures
How can this report help you?- Provides solar decision makers with detailed analysis of the cost benchmarks that matter most for the sector through 2013
- Identifies companies with the lowest cost structures and companies most likely to be at risk as a result of higher cost structures
- Demonstrates how a select group of low cost leaders are using distinct advantages to compress their cost structures below $1/W for c-Si module, thin film module and non-module balance of systems by 2013
Source: PHOTON Consulting, LLC. Note: All data are rough estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Report-specific
Can I see the table of contents? 
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Methodology and Definitions
3. How Low Can You Go?:
Summary and Implications
4. PV Value Chain
- Silicon
- Ingot/wafer
- Cell
- Module
- Systems
- Electricity
5. Cost Leaders
6. Appendix
What kind of cost coverage does this report provide?
Key exhibits and content
Silicon cost
- Global weighted average cost - 2009 to 2013
- Best practice cost - 2009 to 2013
- Detailed company cost analysis and cost structure breakdowns
Ingot/wafer cost
- Global weighted average processing cost - 2009 to 2013
- Best practice processing cost - 2009 to 2013
- Detailed company cost analysis and cost structure breakdowns
Cell cost
- Global weighted average processing cost - 2009 to 2013
- Best practice processing cost - 2009 to 2013
- Detailed company cost analysis and cost structure breakdowns
c-Si module cost
- Global weighted average processing cost - 2009 to 2013
- Best practice processing cost - 2009 to 2013
- Detailed company cost analysis and cost structure breakdowns
Thin film module cost
- Global weighted average all-in cost - 2009 to 2013
- Best practice all-in cost - 2009 to 2013
- Cost analysis of ECD, First Solar, Sharp and Trony
System cost
- Detailed analysis, comparisons and breakdowns of market-specific system and non-module balance of system costs
Solar electricity
- Detailed analysis and comparisons of company levelized costs of electricity in key solar markets
Cost leaders
- In-depth cost structure analysis of sector all-in cost leaders through 2013
- In-depth cost structure analysis of sector processing cost leaders through 2013
- In-depth cost structure analysis of sector electricity cost leaders through 2013
- PHOTON Consulting's watchlist of potential cost leaders
Please check back as new information may be added frequently.
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