cite as Ali Mahmoud “ Design and Cost Analysis of Thin-Film Solar Energy Deployment in Tucson,” Alletron Press vol. 50, pp. 36–44, 2021
This study presents a techno-economic assessment of a grid-connected thin-film photovoltaic (PV) system designed for deployment in Tucson, Arizona. The system comprises 700 First Solar FS-3100-Plus modules configured into five strings of 140 modules, paired with two Huawei SUN2000-30KTL-US inverters. The system yields an annual AC energy output of 18,894 kWh in its first year, with an energy yield of 270 kWh/kW and a DC capacity factor of 3.1%. Despite the relatively low performance ratio of 0.11, the financial evaluation demonstrates potential long-term value. The levelised cost of energy (LCOE) is estimated at 6.55 ¢/kWh (real), with Year 1 net savings of $2,097 and a net present value (NPV) of $3,290. The total installed cost of the system is $57,366.66, resulting in a unit cost of $0.82/Wdc, with the major expenses attributed to installation labour and overhead. A payback period of 15.8 years is projected, indicating the need for performance optimisations to improve return on investment. This analysis highlights the system's economic viability under Tucson’s high solar irradiance and provides insights into cost distribution, efficiency potential, and long-term financial outcomes of thin-film PV systems in desert climates.