Page 77 - RSE - Results of the Apollon Project

Results of the APolloN PRoject ANd coNceNtRAtiNg PhotovoltAic PeRsPective

FiguRE 86. Comparison of the carbon footprint (g CO eq/kWh) with two commercial CPV systems, and starting,
2
optimized and fnal (ASSE) APOLLON CPV prototypes

Costs

A high-quantity (100,000 modules/year or approx. 26.4 MWp/year) cost-estimate for the prototype 32-cell
modules reveals a cost of 707 euros/module. The cost of raw materials and of commercial components goes down
when quantity increases. In addition assumptions have been made on assembly automation. The costs for the solar
cells are 1.49 euros each, or 47.75 euros per module. The substrate costs are 1.35 euros each, or 43.20 per module.
The primary mirror costs 5 euros each, or 160 per module.
In prototype development, it is necessary to have manual assembly and disassembly possibilities to facilitate
testing and development. This was also the case for the current prototypes, in which, for example, it was useful to
be able to exchange out single receivers or mirrors as desired. In addition, while the 32-module size was appropriate
for prototype development, it is now deemed that the 32-cell module design is too small for commercial application.
Mega-modules, each with six 32-cell modules mounted within a single housing, are envisioned for future
commercialization. By fxing the receivers and mirrors fast (not for disassembly, as done the development stage),
and by redesigning the housing to accommodate six, not one, 32-cell module, it was initially estimated that a high
volume production (26.4 MWp/year) would allow a module cost of 502 euros or 1.90 euros/Wp. With the costs for
the tracker and balance of system (BOS) the installed system cost would turn out around 3.07 euros/Wp. The cost
breakdown for this eventuality can be found under Estimate 1 in Table 12 below. This cost is more than half of the
CPV system cost at the beginning of the project.
The APOLLON project target for installed system costs (inclusive tracker and BoS) was 2.00 euros/Wp, which
implies a module cost of about 1.00 euro/Wp. This target is not impossible with modules of 30% effciency. According
to this projection (Estimate 2 in Table 2), some cost optimization is possible on the receivers (mainly cell substrate
and component mounting), but the real challenges are primary mirror cost and housing cost.

tABLE 12. Cost estimates for commercialization possibilities of APOLLON prototype CPV modules

EStiMAtE 1 EStiMAtE 2 EStiMAtE 3
Quantuty € / unit € / module € / unit € / module € / unit € / module
Solar cells 32 1.49 47.75 1.36 43.43 1.27 40.72
Substrate 32 1.35 43.20 1.35 43.20 1.30 41.72
Rest of Receiver 32 2.65 84.75 2.50 80.00 2.33 74.61
Primary Mirror 32 5.00 160.00 3.00 96.00 2.00 64.00
Module Assembly 1 166.62 166.62 130.00 130.00 40.72 40.72
Module total 502.32 392.63 261.77

Module 30% 264.4 Wp € / Wp 1.90 € / Wp 1.48 € / Wp 0.99
Module 32% 282.0 Wp € / Wp 1.78 € / Wp 1.39 € / Wp 0.93
Module 34% 299.6 Wp € / Wp 1.68 € / Wp 1.31 € / Wp 0.87

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