Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Long-Term Photovoltaic Energy Storage Containers

Can life cycle cost analysis be used in photovoltaic systems?

Solar energy, especially through photovoltaic systems, is a widespread and eco-friendly renewable source. Integrating life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) optimizes economic, environmental, and performance aspects for a sustainable approach. Despite growing interest, literature lacks a comprehensive review on LCCA implementation in photovoltaic systems.

How to optimize the cost of firm PV generation?

A model is proposed to optimize the cost of firm PV generation. The battery, a short-duration storage option, is mainly employed for diurnal storage. The hydrogen system (long-duration storage) primarily caters to inter-seasonal storage. The incorporation of long-duration storage lowers the system premium by 10%.

Will energy storage costs decrease in the future?

As the energy storage market continues to expand, the costs of both short- and long-duration storage are expected to steadily decrease in the future owing to economies of scale and learning curves. On this account, this subsection analyzes the changes in asset deployment and system economics resulting from the reduction in storage costs.

What is a solar photovoltaic system?

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems convert solar energy into electrical energy using semiconductor materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. PV systems are a sustainable energy solution, contributing to reducing life cycle costs and environmental impacts in service life planning of buildings and assets (STANDARD-BS 2017).