What does CPV Need to Achieve in Order to Succeed?

The recent and dramatic reduction in flat-plate crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology has changed the competitive landscape for concentrator PV (CPV) systems. Three system cost targets are considered, (sic)1/W-p corresponding to the system cost of c-Si today, (sic)0.75/W-p corresponding to the likely c-Si cost in 2020 and (sic)0.5/W-p corresponding to a likely lower limit for c-Si in the long term. To compete successfully with c-Si, system efficiency needs to be raised from the present 30% to 40%, suggesting cell efficiencies of 50% and module efficiency of 44%. The module should be manufactured at an area cost below (sic)275/m(2) which implies a packaged cell cost of (sic)3/cm(2) and module + tracking cost (sic)190/m(2).