The selection of key technologies by the silicon photovoltaic industry based on the Delphi method and AHP (analytic hierarchy process): Case study of China

Yong Tang, Honghang Sun*, Qiang Yao, Yibo Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Crystalline silicon solar cells play a leading role in the photovoltaic market. In order to select the key technologies related to silicon solar cells for the next 5-10 years, a Delphi-AHP (analytic hierarchy process) framework is presented to analyze the potential space for each technology in the solar cell industrial chain. China's silicon photovoltaic industry has been determined as the main research subject. The framework consists of three steps. First, the Delphi method is applied and a technologies list consisting of 43 techniques are determined. In the second step, an analytical hierarchy process model has been conducted and the expert Delphi method has been used to obtain weighted list of values for each technology with the input of over 300 expert questionnaires. In the last step, statistical research is carried out and the ascension interval of the cost, efficiency and energy consumption in the near future is given. Fifteen top key technologies including seven related to the fabrication of cells have been selected, and it was found that the technologies with great potential for cost and energy consumption are mainly distributed at the front-end of the industrial chain, while key technologies for improving efficiency are mainly concentrated at the back-end.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)474-482
Number of pages9
JournalEnergy
Volume75
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • AHP (analytic hierarchy process)
  • Cost
  • Delphi method
  • Key technology
  • Silicon solar cells

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