Tony E. Redding & Ronald Harron Urban Systems Project Office IV. F. UNIT COSTS Table IV-F-1 shows a list of CER (cost estimating relationships) utilized for initial SPS costing. These CER's were produced using historically-derived CER's for similar space equipment. Because of the very high volume production rates required for items such as solar cells, Schottky diodes (rectenna elements), and microwave generators the CER's for these devices were substantially reduced below current values for space systems. An example of this expected cost reduction is illustrated in figure IV-F-1 for silicon solar cells. These cost reductions are projected by ERDA as a result of a major terrestrial photovoltaic R&D program currently in progress. ERDA's 1985 goal is to produce solar cells in quantities of 500 MW for $500/KW peak. According to ERDA 48, Volume 2, a production capability of 50 GW(e) (equivalent to 2-12/ 10 GW SPS's) should be achieved by 2000 with a market price in the range of $100 to $300/KW. While recognizing that the weight requirements for solar cells to be used in space are different than for terrestrial use and $100 to $500 range appears reasonable and was used in the present study.
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