AIKO has announced the results of a comprehensive report produced by Enertis Applus+, an established global authority on renewable energy consulting, engineering and quality control, highlighting the superior performance and cost efficiency of its ABC modules compared to TOPCon and PERC modules from two leading competitors.
AIKO selected modules with different technologies from two Tier-1 suppliers to be compared with its own ABC modules. The study involved simulation of rooftop installations using AIKO modules and those from two leading competitors (for confidentiality reasons, “PVM1” and “PVM2”, respectively). The energy yields from the simulation were used to conduct a high-level economic comparison, including LCOE, IRR and ROI assessments. Enertis Applus+ utilized an in-house LCOE tool, taking into account key cost drivers for PV projects over a 30-year project lifetime and publicly available datasheets as its source of information.
Key Findings:
Solar Resource and Energy Yield Assessment:
- Higher Installation Capacity:
- For rooftops of identical size, AIKO modules offered a higher installed capacity, outperforming PVM1 modules by 7.5% and PVM2 modules by 12.4%.
- Superior Energy Yield:
- First-Year Performance:
- In Bologna, Italy, AIKO modules produced 4.3% more energy per watt than PVM1 and 4.6% more than PVM2. In Seville, Spain, AIKO modules outperformed PVM1 by 4.8% and PVM2 by 5.0%.
- The total first-year energy production in Bologna for AIKO modules was 11.5% higher than PVM1 and 17.9% higher than PVM2. In Seville, AIKO modules surpassed PVM1 by 12.0% and PVM2 by 18.4%.
- Lifetime Performance:
- Over a 30-year project lifecycle, AIKO modules in Bologna generated 12.3% more energy than PVM1 and 21.6% more than PVM2. In Seville, the lifetime energy yield for AIKO modules was 12.9% higher than PVM1 and 22.2% higher than PVM2.
- First-Year Performance:
Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE):
- Lower LCOE:
- AIKO modules showed significant cost savings, with an LCOE 5.6% lower than PVM1 and 8.8% lower than PVM2 in Bologna. In Seville, AIKO modules offered an LCOE 6.4% lower than PVM1 and 9.5% lower than PVM2.
- Improved Financial Metrics:
- AIKO modules exhibited a higher internal rate of return (IRR) and return on investment (ROI) in both Bologna and Seville. Despite the lower LCOE in Seville, higher IRR and ROI values were observed in Bologna due to Italy’s higher electricity spot price.
Conclusion:
AIKO N-Type ABC technology stands out in the renewable energy market, delivering superior performance and cost-efficiency. The findings from the Enertis Applus+ report underscore AIKO’s commitment to advancing solar technology and providing exceptional value to customers.