Since the 1970s, the price of solar-energy systems has dropped by more than 99 percent. A recent study published in PLOS One by SFI External Professor Jessika Trancik of MIT and her colleagues explores the innovations behind this significant cost reduction.
The research team identified nearly 100 key innovations that contributed to lower photovoltaic (PV) system costs. While some advances originated within the solar industry, many drew from other fields. The researchers organized these innovations into ten categories, which ranged from improvements in material quality to legal changes.
"The study shows a striking example of how a technology’s cost improvement is dependent on a web of advancements across many science and engineering research disciplines," said the authors.
To link specific innovations to cost reductions, the researchers created mathematical models. These models allowed them to analyze how improvements—such as better materials utilization resulting from wire sawing techniques—ultimately led to lower costs.
The authors suggest that their approach could be used beyond PV systems. By identifying important areas for innovation, this method may help predict where future investments could result in further technology cost declines.
