Photovoltaic Project Decisions: Quality, Performance, and Economic Value

Prepared by IEA PVPS Task 13, the report Photovoltaic Project Decisions: Quality, Performance, and Economic Value examines how technical and economic decisions across the PV value chain are closely interconnected and must be managed as an integrated system. The report provides practical guidance for stakeholders involved in the development, financing, operation and maintenance of utility-scale PV systems. Key Takeaways: Integrated Quality Management Delivers Measurable Value: Proactive quality assurance throughout the PV value chain-especially during early development and engineering phases-significantly reduces downstream failures and delivers economic benefits far exceeding initial investment costs. Early quality gates, technical due diligence, and rigorous component testing are essential. Data-Driven Operations Optimise Performance and Maintenance: Investment in monitoring systems and analytics platforms enables predictive maintenance and real-time optimisation. Automated, data-enabled corrective and predictive actions are transforming asset management, improving reliability and reducing operational costs. Risk Management Must Evolve with Climate and Market Changes: Traditional financial and risk models must be updated to account for the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, as well as market factors like curtailment and negative electricity prices. New frameworks for quantifying risks, such as Probable Maximum Loss and Average Annual Loss, are needed to ensure resilient and bankable PV projects. Tailored Approaches for Diverse PV Applications and Regions: Different PV applications (bifacial tracking, floating PV, agrivoltaics) require specialised strategies for design, operation, and risk mitigation. Geographic and seasonal factors must be considered in maintenance planning and resource allocation, as shown in case studies from Europe, Chile, and the US.