Distributed generation drives solar innovation

The emerging technologies – such as Passivated Emitter, Rear-Contact (PERC) and Metal Wrap Through (MWT) and even more efficient bifacial cells – will push leading module costs down to $0.48/Wp in 2020.

“High-efficiency silicon modules are the key to capturing the distributed generation market because these modules maximise power output in a limited space, helping distributed generation compete with utility-scale PV plants,” said Tiffany Huang, Associate, Lux Research, and lead author of the report: Silicon Solar Cell and Module Roadmap.

PERC and MWT join BSF as winning technologies for distributed solar markets

Lux Research analysts assessed innovations in solar cell architecture and the emerging landscape. Their findings included:

• PERC will be an early winner. PERC beats incumbent mobile technologies on efficiency and rival technologies on account of its lower capital expenditure, emerging an early winner. Major solar manufacturers such as Hanwha Q-cells, Trina, JA Solar and Sun Edison are already commercialising PERC technologies.
• MWT deployment will gain momentum by 2020. MWT products will reach large-scale deployment by the end of the decade, while other high-efficiency technologies like heterojunction and Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) solar cells will continue to meet demands for even higher efficiencies.
• Bifacial modules will gain niche markets in distributed generation. Solar modules that can absorb light on both the front and the back sides can be useful in distributed roof-mounted installations in high-reflectivity settings or aesthetics-driven Building-Integrated PV (BIPV) markets. They will lose out in traditional roof-mounted installations where back-side generation is limited, however.

For more on distributed generation, register here for the complimentary webinar, The Future of Power is Distributed: How to Profit from the Coming Revolution in Energy Generation on November 24^th at 11:00 am EST.