Materials availability expands the opportunity for large-scale photovoltaics deployment

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Energy Technology
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• Solar photovoltaics (PV) are crucial for a low-carbon future but face cost barriers.
• High-performance designs alone are insufficient for widespread PV adoption.
• Lower cost per kilowatt-hour is essential for increased PV market penetration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate technical and economic targets for next-generation solar PV.
• To identify promising semiconducting materials for cost-effective solar cells.
• To develop a roadmap for low-cost PV research and deployment.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of material extraction costs for 23 semiconducting materials.
• Assessment of supply constraints for potential PV materials.
• Comparison of cost-performance metrics against crystalline silicon.

Main Results:

• Twelve composite material systems identified with potential to meet global electricity demand.
• Nine materials show potential for significant cost reduction compared to crystalline silicon.
• A substantial cost gap exists between leading thin-film materials and unconventional candidates like FeS2, CuO, and Zn3P2.

Conclusions:

• Lower material usage can equalize lifetime energy output between low and high efficiency solar cells.
• Unconventional, low-cost solar cell candidates offer a promising alternative to current technologies.
• A shift in research focus towards low-cost alternatives is recommended for PV advancement.