Assessing the Techno-Economic Feasibility of Solar Photovoltaics

In recent years, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has emerged as a crucial player in addressing climate change and accommodating the growing demand for sustainable electricity. Expanding and enhancing PV systems becomes crucial as the global sector moves towards more sustainable solutions. This thesis thoroughly evaluates PV technology’s economic and technical feasibility, essential for enhancing the energy market’s capacity to integrate PV technologies effectively. From an economic perspective, the widespread deployment of PV systems hinges on their cost competitiveness relative to other energy technologies within the electricity market and on understanding how PV costs evolve over time. From a technical perspective, the expected increase in PV system adoption raises significant questions concerning effective installation allocations. China, which accounts for the most CO2 emissions and energy consumption in the world, plays a crucial role in the global effort to mitigate climate change. The decarbonization strategy of electricity systems and PV implementation in China significantly impact the global prospects for reducing climate change. Therefore, the primary objective of this thesis is to answer the overarching research question: How to assess the techno-economic feasibility of solar photovoltaics (PV) for future development, and what are the outcomes of this assessment for China? Through four independent studies, this thesis provides a better understanding of the techno-economic feasibility of PV systems for the future sustainable electricity market, including evaluating PV cost competitiveness (Chapters 2 and 3), analyzing PV cost trend estimation (Chapter 4), optimizing PV installation planning (Chapter 5), and applying the assessment framework to case of PV development in China (Chapters 3, 4 and 5).