Mapping the levelized cost of electricity of conventional and lightweight silicon photovoltaics across Australia

The rapid uptake in photovoltaics (PV) over the last few decades has substantially reduced the cost of their main component — the PV module. As a result, other direct and indirect costs are becoming significant expenses in new solar projects. Nevertheless, although comparisons are often made between costs and performance at a system-level, the role and variability of location-dependent expenses (such as transport and labor) on the final costs of solar power is less widely discussed. In this paper, we evaluate the levelized cost of electricity for utility-scale solar farms across Australia. The performance of conventional PV systems featuring bi-facial glass-based crystalline silicon modules is compared to novel configurations that utilize lightweight crystalline silicon modules. For this comparison, we introduce a new method that maps the levelized cost of electricity for installed PV, accounting for differences in panel, balance-of-system, installation and transportation costs, as well as the system’s yield. The results indicate that novel lightweight PV systems show a competitive advantage in remote areas where labor and transportation costs are increased, while reduced prices of the modules and extended lifespans for the lightweight PV systems can make such technologies competitive across the whole country. • A geospatial mapping approach for LCOE produced by photovoltaics is introduced. • The approach is applied to Australia, comparing glass-based and lightweight PV. • The sensitivity of intra-regional, location-dependent costs are explored. • Conventional PV systems are currently the most viable technology across Australia. • Cost reductions and increases in lifetimes will enhance viability of lightweight PV.