To quantify the potential value of technological advances to the photovoltaics (PV) sector, this paper examines the impact of changes to key PV module and system parameters on the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The parameters selected include module manufacturing cost, efficiency, degradation rate, and service lifetime. NREL's System Advisor Model (SAM) is used to calculate the lifecycle cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for residential, commercial, and utility scale PV systems within the contiguous United States, with a focus on utility scale. Different technological pathways are illustrated that may achieve the Department of Energy's SunShot goal of PV electricity that is at grid price parity with conventional electricity sources. In addition, the impacts on the 2015 baseline LCOE due to changes to each parameter are shown. These results may be used to identify research directions with the greatest potential to impact the cost of PV electricity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. In this paper, we provide a framework for the evaluation of technology advances needed for photovoltaics to achieve widespread grid parity with an average solar resource and without subsidies. Our focus is on the levelized-cost-of-energy metric, and the key input parameters that we evaluate include efficiency, reliability and durability, and module and installed total system costs. Several pathways to the US Department of Energy's SunShot levelized-cost-of-energy goals for 2020 and beyond are discussed.

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levelizedcostofenergy metric module manufacturing cost efficiency degradation solar resource lcoe efficiency reliability and durability lifecycle cost per kilowatthour kwh service lifetime levelized cost of energy module and installed total system photovoltaics pv grid price parity advisor model

Ran Fu, Michael Woodhouse, David Feldman, Kelsey Horowitz,Rebecca Jones-Albertus,.Technology advances needed for photovoltaics to achieve widespread grid price parity. 24 (9),1283-1272.

Ran Fu, et al."Technology advances needed for photovoltaics to achieve widespread grid price parity" 24

Ran Fu, Michael Woodhouse, David Feldman, Kelsey Horowitz,Rebecca Jones-Albertus,"Technology advances needed for photovoltaics to achieve widespread grid price parity"