Cost trends and government incentives in the California photovoltaics market, 2007-2008
Name
557555920-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
3.93 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
a99163a7a342518a80a227295c95563c
Author(s)
Wang Yan, S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Advisor(s)
Richard K. Lester.
Date Issued
2009
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The focus of this thesis is to analyze cost trends and government incentives in the California PV market during 2007-2008. The data show that pre-rebate system costs increased in California during this time period and that this was driven by a surge in worldwide module cost. Systems employing thin film technology did not exhibit a downward impact on cost, which contradicts historical and technological expectations. Furthermore, the introduction of the California Solar Initiative's declining rebate structure had a limited effect on reducing system costs. Additional research is necessary to understand installer pricing behaviors, which seemed to negatively affect commercial buyers, and how to best capitalize on the strong effect of economies of scale that was present in the data. This may lead to improved mechanisms of cost reduction that can aid policymakers.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 34).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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