Estimate the impact of innovative solutions on a manufacturing cost

"Photovoltaic cost simulation tool" is a virtual fab where every manufacturing steps, equipment and materials can de defined.
With our experience in the PV domain, we have implemented the main existing equipment and materials in the software.
However, you will be able to make it evolve.

Our open architecture program allows you to define specific equipment or materials and integrate them in a manufacturing process. Thus you will be able to measure the added value generated by an innovative concept.

Inkjet, electroplating, ion implantation, printing? all kind of innovative manufacturing solution (with associate materials) can be simulated.

Flow builder

Users of « PV Cost Simulation Tool » have the possibility to create their own flow chart. Every step in the manufacturing process can be modified or deleted. You also have the possibility to add new process steps. 

In its tool, Yole Developpement has implemented existing equipment and materials within the model. The characteristics of all equipment and materials can be modified. Users also have the possibility to create new ones and include it in the manufacturing process.

Material and equipment suppliers can simulate their own products and measure the impact in a virtual process flow.

Innovative manufacturing solutions can be modeled and instantly simulate the consequences on cost and return on investment.

How can this tool help you? 

Yole?s tool has been specifically designed to estimate the cost/Watt peak for PV cell and module manufacturing.

Being in strong interactions with PV equipment, materials and cell makers through all these years, we have carefully developed among time an intuitive Cost of Ownership (CoO) tool model specifically designed to evaluate the cost of a given PV process flow.

?PV cost simulation tool? includes up-to-date information regarding latest equipment parameters (cost, throughput, material consumption, footprint?) and the capacity to calculate the PV cost of ownership by taking into account existing infrastructure, fab utilization and available tools in-house.

?PV Cost Simulation Tool? is using Excel^TM interface in order to be widely exploitable and upgraded. Yole?s CoO tool will enable you to evaluate what is the cost per Watt peak for manufacturing your PV modules using your own inputs or using pre-defined parameters.

Example of results 

Typical results can be:

  ?  Cost estimation with breakdown (labor, material, CapEx?)

  ?  Technology comparison

  ?  Return on investment of a fab

    ?  Integration of new solution in a manufacturing process

  ?  Material demand

  ?  Machine demand

  ?  ?

   The tool will allow you to define and tune your own fab
   parameters:

· Fab capacity

· Size and price of wafer

· Global process yield (can be calculated or forced)

· # working days / year,

· operator cost / year,

· engineer cost / year,

· clean Room (CR) class,

· CR maintenance cost ($/m²/year),

· CR electricity consumption ($/m²/year),

· CR amortization period (year),

· equipment amortization period (year),

· ... 

Some predefined location parameters are delivered with the tool for North America, China, Japan, Europe, Taiwan...

... and then, access directly to the cost breakdown showing where the cost "pain points" are!