Cost of ownership of n-type silicon solar cells and modules and life cycle analysis

In the present chapter, important factors related to the economic viability as well as of the environmental impact of three upcoming industrially mature n-type Si solar cell technologies have been investigated on a cell, module, and system level and compared to the current mainstream p-type PERC technology.The first part shows an in-depth analysis of cost-of-ownership on cell and module level of the n-type technologies and extends the analysis to system level by calculating the LCOE for a ground mounted bifacial system on three different locations and climatic zones. For the scenario considered here - a ground mounted utility scale system - the TOPCon and SHJ show a lower LCOE than the PERC benchmark. Further technological developments - in particular reduction of the cost gap between n- and p-type wafer as well as the reduction of the Ag consumption for all n-type technologies - will further improve the competitiveness of all three n-type technologies.The second part shows an overview of the environmental profile of the three n-type PV technologies throughout their life cycle and compare the results with PERC. In this sector, innovation appears to be an essential condition to further improve the sustainability of PV modules. The results of the present study show that the high efficiency of the n-type technologies as well as their system performance (bifaciality gain, degradation rate, etc.) offers a large potential to improve the environmental profile of PV system and make the PV energy "even greener" as it already is.