66
The manufacturing cost of the whole system is expressed by the sum of the
manufacturing cost of the module and the balance of system (including peripheral
equipment and construction). The manufacturing cost per 1 watt (W) in 2015 was
¥126. It is predicted that it will fall to ¥97–¥100 in 2020, and to ¥57–¥64 in 2030.
Secondly, consider the power generation cost. The production cost of single
crystal Si in 2015 was ¥126/W. Assuming that the annual expense rate required to
operate this system is 10% of the manufacturing cost, the annual expenses will be
¥12.6/W. Since the annual power generation amount of the 1-W system is
1 W × 1000 hours (h) = 1000 Wh (1 kWh), if the annual sunshine amount is 1000 h,
the power generation cost is ¥12.6 per 1 kWh.
Various values have been reported as the power generation cost worldwide, and
some are lower than ¥12.6/kWh. For example, there are many reported values such
as ¥3 to ¥5/kWh in Dubai and the U.S. where there are good sunshine conditions. In
these areas, annual sunshine amounts are large and the amount of electricity generated is more than twice as large as those generated in Japan. Therefore, if the annual
expense ratio is set to 7% of the manufacturing cost, the generation cost will be less
than ¥5/kWh. Our cost calculation results are in line with the reports from other
locations worldwide.
Figure 4.1 shows trends in the cost of solar power generation module and system
production along with the sales prices of modules in Japan and China. We produced
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
Year
12 %
14 %
17 %
20 %
23 %
Dotted line: System costs
Solid line: Module costs
: Calculated value for 1991
: Calculated value for 2015
: Module price in Japan
: Module price in China
(Yen/W)
Module manufacturing cost
Fig. 4.1 Manufacturing costs of Solar power generation module system. (Source: Created based
on materials from the Center for Low-Carbon Society Strategy, Japan Science and Technology
Agency)
4 Technology to Support Low-Carbon Society (Utilizing Energy)
The manufacturing cost of the whole system is expressed by the sum of the
manufacturing cost of the module and the balance of system (including peripheral
equipment and construction). The manufacturing cost per 1 watt (W) in 2015 was
¥126. It is predicted that it will fall to ¥97–¥100 in 2020, and to ¥57–¥64 in 2030.
Secondly, consider the power generation cost. The production cost of single
crystal Si in 2015 was ¥126/W. Assuming that the annual expense rate required to
operate this system is 10% of the manufacturing cost, the annual expenses will be
¥12.6/W. Since the annual power generation amount of the 1-W system is
1 W × 1000 hours (h) = 1000 Wh (1 kWh), if the annual sunshine amount is 1000 h,
the power generation cost is ¥12.6 per 1 kWh.
Various values have been reported as the power generation cost worldwide, and
some are lower than ¥12.6/kWh. For example, there are many reported values such
as ¥3 to ¥5/kWh in Dubai and the U.S. where there are good sunshine conditions. In
these areas, annual sunshine amounts are large and the amount of electricity generated is more than twice as large as those generated in Japan. Therefore, if the annual
expense ratio is set to 7% of the manufacturing cost, the generation cost will be less
than ¥5/kWh. Our cost calculation results are in line with the reports from other
locations worldwide.
Figure 4.1 shows trends in the cost of solar power generation module and system
production along with the sales prices of modules in Japan and China. We produced
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
Year
12 %
14 %
17 %
20 %
23 %
Dotted line: System costs
Solid line: Module costs
: Calculated value for 1991
: Calculated value for 2015
: Module price in Japan
: Module price in China
(Yen/W)
Module manufacturing cost
Fig. 4.1 Manufacturing costs of Solar power generation module system. (Source: Created based
on materials from the Center for Low-Carbon Society Strategy, Japan Science and Technology
Agency)
4 Technology to Support Low-Carbon Society (Utilizing Energy)