According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) solar power is the least costly option for new electricity generation in most countries worldwide. However, the global economic crisis challenges government and private sector investment, putting pressure on operators of large-scale PV systems to reduce Capital Expenditure (CAPEX). One option is to use cheaper, low quality components, but won’t this jeopardize the overall performance of the solar plant? And how can this be measured? In this roundtable interview, we put these questions to the experts at Stäubli Renewable Energy, a player in the industry for nearly 30 years.
PES: I am pleased to welcome Andrea Viaro, Global Head of large-scale PV systems, Dominic Buergi, Global Head of Renewable Energy Services and Guido Volberg, Senior Consultant for Product Regulatory Affairs.
Andrea, in your position you are in regular contact with large-scale PV system operators. Which key performance indicators (KPIs) are important in assessing the performance of a solar PV plant?
Andrea Viaro: Thank you for the opportunity to speak about this important topic of quality and performance in solar PV plants. Each solar power plant has an expected and forecasted performance yield, making economic KPIs crucial in decision making.
Solar power is at the forefront of efficient production costs. As of 2022, the global weighted average cost of electricity from solar photovoltaics fell to USD 0.045/kWh. That is more than 20% lower than the cheapest fossil fuel and it continues to decline as technology improves and costs reduce.
This is why, despite global economic challenges, solar energy remains at the forefront of energy generation. Solar plants are investment assets where the optimal balance between CAPEX and OPEX to optimized Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) plays a crucial role.
