At the current stage of the project, it is a little early to state that the solution being developed is low cost, and while the MPPT is designed with the idea of achieving a low price in mind it is a good idea to take a moment to consider how we can define a low cost solution in this context. 

We can analyze the cost from two different perspectives: 

• The cost of the device compared to other MPPT alternatives. 
• The cost of the overall system and how the technology being used in the MPPT can impact the price of other components in the solar panel setup.

To consider if the proposed device is an affordable solution we have to review the state of the market, and compare to other equivalent alternatives. As  reference we can look at the articles: “Best MPPT Solar Charge Controllers 2022” from Clean Energy Reviews and “Best MPPT Solar Charge Controllers: 12 Best MPPT Solar Charge Controllers for Off-Grid Power” from Off the Grid Power Boom. In both articles there are different MPPT models from different manufacturers that have different current outputs (20A, 30A, 40A up to 60A) and different voltage inputs (12V, 24V, 48V and higher), from those models we can observe a price range from 87$ to 499$, where the 12V/24V 20A models tend to be the cheaper alternatives in the 87$ to 149$. At this stage of the project we can have 100$ as a maximum price that could be considered for an affordable MPPT with typical power inputs 12V/24V and lower power outputs.

The price of the complete system is affected by the compatible input and output voltages of the MPPT. For example: considering an MPPT that has a power output of 120W, if the voltage output is 12V then the output current is 10A, but if the output voltage is 24V then the output current is 5A. The amount of current affects the specifications (and price) of the components connected to the output of the MPPT, like cables, which are more expensive the higher the current they can manage. 

The same analysis can is valid for the input of the MPPT, that is the voltage generated by the PV, the higher the voltage the PV the less current it provides for the same power, the article “48V Volt Systems: The future of Off-Grid Solar” by Renogy compares 12V to 24V systems and highlights the benefits of higher voltages, which are: they are safer (because they have less current running through them), use less expensive batteries and wiring, they tend to have a higher efficiency and are scalable. But the price of the solar panel does tend to increase with the higher voltage, the article “How to Choose Between a 12V and 24V Solar Panel?” by Loom Solar evaluates the differences between PV systems with 12V and 24, and mentions how 24V solar panels tend to be more expensive and have a higher price. Similar to batteries, solar panels can also be connected in series to have a higher voltage, which gives more flexibility when considering the overall price.

In conclusion, a new MPPT alternative can minimize the costs of the PV system by having higher voltage inputs and higher voltage outputs, reducing the value of the current at the same power output. And the device can also reduce the price of the system by being less expensive than other alternatives while providing similar (or better) performance and functionalities,  to achieve this point, the device should be under the $100 price.

References:

48 Volt Systems: The Future of Off-Grid Solar . (2022). Retrieved 1 May 2022, from https://www.renogy.com/blog/48-volt-systems-the-future-of-offgrid-solar-/

Best MPPT Solar Charge Controllers: 12 Best-Seller MPPT Controllers. (2022). Retrieved 1 May 2022, from https://offgridpowerboom.com/mppt-solar-charge-controllers/

Best MPPT Solar Charge Controllers 2022 — Clean Energy Reviews. (2022). Retrieved 1 May 2022, from https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/best-solar-charge-controllers

How to Choose Between a 12V and 24V Solar Panel?. (2022). Retrieved 1 May 2022, from https://www.loomsolar.com/blogs/collections/difference-between-12v-24v-solar-panels