20220307-IRENA-Renewable_Technology_Innovation_Indicators_Mapping_progress_in_costs,_patents_and_standards_200页_9mb

Renewable Technology Innovation Indicators: Summary

Core Content

This document presents a comprehensive overview of the progress in renewable energy technology innovation, focusing on cost reductions, patent developments, and standardisation across various technologies. It is produced by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and highlights how innovation has driven the competitiveness of solar photovoltaics (PV), onshore and offshore wind, hydrogen electrolysers, and other technologies.

Main Views and Key Insights

Technology Cost Reductions

• Solar PV:

  • Module prices dropped by up to 93% from 2010 to 2020, with a 81% decline in total installed costs.
  • The levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale solar PV fell by 85%, from USD 0.089/kWh to USD 0.039/kWh.
  • Module efficiency increased by 24%, and power ratings rose by 55% over the same period.
  • Silver usage in PV cells decreased significantly, from 400 mg/cell in 2009 to 90 mg/cell in 2020.
  • Kerf loss (polysilicon waste during wafer cutting) dropped by over 58% from 2010 to 2020, with wafer thickness also decreasing.

• Onshore Wind:

  • The global weighted-average LCOE fell by 56%, from USD 0.089/kWh to USD 0.039/kWh.
  • The global weighted-average capacity factor increased by 17%, from just over 27% in 2010 to 36% in 2020.
  • This growth was driven by larger turbine sizes, higher hub heights, improved O&M practices, and cost reductions.

• Offshore Wind:

  • The global weighted-average LCOE fell by 48%, from USD 0.162/kWh to USD 0.084/kWh.
  • Capacity factors increased due to technological improvements, better wind farm layouts, and enhanced maintenance practices.

• Hydrogen Electrolysers:

  • Alkaline electrolyser (AEL) costs dropped from USD 1210 to 1970/kW in 2003–2005 to between USD 260 to USD 1200/kW in 2020, a 60% decline.
  • PEM electrolyser costs fell from USD 2920 to 7450/kW in 2003–2005 to between USD 400 to USD 2494/kW in 2020.
  • Efficiency improvements in AEL systems are estimated to be at least 10%, while PEM efficiency dropped from 50–84 kWh/kg H₂ to 49–58 kWh/kg H₂.

Patents and Standards

• Part II of the report outlines datasets and analysis on patents and standards, though specific details are not provided in the summary. It indicates that these elements are crucial for tracking innovation progress and shaping the industry landscape.

Case Study: Offshore Wind

• Part III focuses on offshore wind as a case study, detailing how it has evolved over the past decade, with larger project sizes, more advanced technologies, and improved cost performance. The report also highlights the importance of policy support and market development in driving offshore wind forward.

Key Information

• Solar PV has seen the most significant cost reductions and performance improvements, with mono-PERC cells becoming the dominant technology.
• Behind-the-meter batteries have been supported by policy, leading to 71% price drops in the German market from 2014 to 2020.
• Concentrating solar power (CSP) has improved in LCOE by 68%, and its ability to store thermal energy makes it a viable option for integrating variable renewables.
• Polysilicon prices have declined dramatically since 2008, though supply chain disruptions in 2021 caused temporary increases.
• Technology innovation in manufacturing and design has played a major role in reducing costs and improving efficiency across all technologies.

Conclusion

The report underscores the importance of technology innovation in reducing costs and enhancing performance in renewable energy systems. It highlights that cost reductions are driven by economies of scale, learning-by-doing, and manufacturing improvements, while policy support and market dynamics are also key enablers. The data presented provides a valuable reference for understanding the progress and potential of renewable technologies in the global energy transition.

References

• IRENA (2022), Renewable Technology Innovation Indicators: Mapping progress in costs, patents and standards, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi.
• Woodhouse, M, et al., (2021) Research and Development Priorities to Advance Solar Photovoltaic Lifecycle Costs and Performance, NREL.
• ITRPV (2021) – International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Conversion.
• Fraunhofer ISE (2021) – Institute for Solar Energy Systems.