Latest International Technology Roadmap for PV (ITRPV 2024) released, with ACAP contributions
- alisonpotter2
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
The 16th Edition of the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (ITRPV), published this month, offers the clearest signal yet that solar is racing toward true terawatt-scale industrialisation. Compiled from insights provided by 49 leading manufacturers, equipment suppliers and research institutes worldwide, the report maps technology, cost and sustainability trends across the crystalline-silicon value chain.
Two Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) members, Prof Bram Hoex (UNSW Sydney) and Adj Prof Gianluca Coletti (FuturaSun/UNSW Sydney adjunct), are acknowledged among the expert contributors, underscoring ACAP’s influence on global PV strategy.
Five headline insights from the ITRPV 2024
1. Unprecedented market growth Global module shipments soared to 703 GWp in 2024, lifting cumulative shipments to 2.47 TWp and installed capacity to 2.18 TWp.
2. Costs keep sliding
The long-term learning rate for modules has improved to 25.8 %, driving spot prices down to USD 0.08 /Wp by the end of 2024 and erasing most premiums for n-type and bifacial products.
3. Material efficiency imperative
Even after sharp reductions, cell production still consumed 8,600 ton of silver in 2024 (≈28 % of world supply). The roadmap targets a further 30–50 % cut in Ag usage this decade while accelerating copper and plated-metal alternatives. ACAP has significant activities in this area in Associate Professor Brett Hallam’s group at UNSW Sydney and ACAP’s industry partner SunDrive Solar.
4. Technology shift to n-type
n-type TOPCon and SHJ have overtaken p-type PERC, and TOPCon is now the dominant cell architecture. The first TOPCon contact was actually demonstrated in Scientia Professor Martin Green’s group at UNSW Sydney in the 1980s!
5. Bifacial becomes the default Bifacial cells already dominate production; roughly 26 % are still laminated into monofacial modules, but purpose-built bifacial modules will capture the bulk of utility deployment through 2035.
Download the ITRPV 2024 Report:
Comments