The solar PV power market is growing rapidly and thus it is critical to establish efficient investment strategies, including adequate distribution of resources and risk management. The governments of many countries are implementing various support policies to expand solar PV power sources and increase investment in solar PV power.
Power sector investment in solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is projected to exceed USD 500 billion in 2024, surpassing all other generation sources combined. Though growth may moderate slightly in 2024 due to falling PV module prices, solar remains central to the power sector’s transformation.
Currently, the feasibility of most solar PV power projects is achieved by the long-term subsidies or government policy factors [ 2 ]. This means that the feasibility of the project can fluctuate greatly when the subsidy system or power purchasing conditions are changed due to policy instability.
An evaluation model focusing on solar PV investments at the project level was developed. Previous studies mainly focused on technology and policy factors, such as site selection, sustainability evaluation, solar PV technology selection, or macroeconomic aspects.
The total volume of investment in solar PV is being heavily influenced by the technology’s falling costs. It rose steadily from USD 120 billion in 2013 to reach record high levels of USD 179 billion in 2015 as deployment accelerated faster than falling costs.
Solar PV power projects can produce lower power generation than expected because they use natural forces, which are difficult to control. This indicator indicates the effects of these technical risks. This indicator indicates how widely the technology is applied: at the local, national, or international level.