R&D Cost Sharing of Intelligent Upgrading of Photovoltaic Power Stations

The intelligent upgrading of photovoltaic (PV) power stations can improve their power-generating capacity, reduce operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and effectively conserve energy and reduce emissions. However, the pressure of research and development (R&D) investment, as well as market demand uncertainty faced by PV technical suppliers, has become an obstacle to intelligent upgrading. From the perspective of R&D cost sharing between PV project operators and technical equipment suppliers in the PV supply chain, this study presents game models for suppliers and operators under the modes of R&D cost sharing and non-sharing, and compares the benefits to both parties under the cost-sharing contract. The results show that under the cost-sharing mode, the operators share a certain proportion of R&D costs with the suppliers, which can improve the effort level of R&D. The greater the impact of the power generation increased by intelligent products on market demand, the better the operator’s maintenance efforts, and the more motivated the operator is to choose the cost-sharing strategy. By setting a reasonable wholesale price for products, both parties can balance their profits.