The 2020 photovoltaic technologies roadmap

authored by

Gregory M. Wilson, Mowafak Al-Jassim, Wyatt K. Metzger, Stefan W. Glunz, Pierre Verlinden, Gang Xiong, Lorelle M. Mansfield, Billy J. Stanbery, Kai Zhu, Yanfa Yan, Joseph J. Berry, Aaron J. Ptak, Frank Dimroth, Brendan M. Kayes, Adele C. Tamboli, Robby Peibst, Kylie Catchpole, Matthew O. Reese, Christopher S. Klinga, Paul Denholm, Mahesh Morjaria, Michael G. Deceglie, Janine M. Freeman, Mark A. Mikofski, Dirk C. Jordan, Govindasamy Tamizhmani, Dana B. Sulas-Kern

Abstract

Over the past decade, the global cumulative installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity has grown exponentially, reaching 591 GW in 2019. Rapid progress was driven in large part by improvements in solar cell and module efficiencies, reduction in manufacturing costs and the realization of levelized costs of electricity that are now generally less than other energy sources and approaching similar costs with storage included. Given this success, it is a particularly fitting time to assess the state of the photovoltaics field and the technology milestones that must be achieved to maximize future impact and forward momentum. This roadmap outlines the critical areas of development in all of the major PV conversion technologies, advances needed to enable terawatt-scale PV installation, and cross-cutting topics on reliability, characterization, and applications. Each perspective provides a status update, summarizes the limiting immediate and long-term technical challenges and highlights breakthroughs that are needed to address them. In total, this roadmap is intended to guide researchers, funding agencies and industry in identifying the areas of development that will have the most impact on PV technology in the upcoming years.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Electronic Materials and Devices

External Organisation(s)

Greg Wilson Consulting
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE)
University of Freiburg
Amrock Group
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
First Solar Inc.
HelioSourceTech Llc
University of Toledo
Antora Energy
Institute for Solar Energy Research (ISFH)
Australian National University
Architectural Solar Association (ASA)
RE_PlantSolutions
Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
Arizona State University
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Type

Article

Journal

Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics

Volume

53

ISSN

0022-3727

Publication date

02.12.2020

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Condensed Matter Physics, Acoustics and Ultrasonics, Surfaces, Coatings and Films

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ab9c6a (Access: Open)