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Cost of Solar Panels Lower Than Ever, Americans Optimistic about Future of Technology

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OKIsItJustMe

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Mon Jun-20-11 04:46 PM
Original message

Cost of Solar Panels Lower Than Ever, Americans Optimistic about Future of Technology

http://www.appliedmaterials.com/news/articles/cost-solar-panels-lower-ever-americans-optimistic-about-future-technology

Cost of Solar Panels Lower Than Ever, Americans Optimistic about Future of Technology

June 20, 2011

� Global Installed Solar Power Doubled in 2010
� Innovations in Technology Driving Scale and Efficiency

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 20, 2011 � In advance of June 21, when the northern hemisphere will celebrate the summer solstice, Applied Materials today announced the results of its third annual solar energy survey.

�

The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels has dropped 70 percent since 2008, from $4 per watt to $1.25 per watt this year, and is expected to reach $1 per watt in the next couple of years. As a result, electricity produced by solar PV panels will cost the same as traditional sources of residential power in 19 countries, including Italy and Spain and Brazil, and California by the end of 2011.

�

Dr. Gay added, �We�ve reached a critical inflection point in the cost of solar energy. In 2010, 18 gigawatts of photovoltaics were installed, doubling the total amount of solar capacity installed in the history of the technology until that point. This tremendous growth, coupled with new technologies that are making panels more efficient and scalable, has made solar power more affordable than ever before.�

Americans Overestimate U.S. Solar Power Leadership and Contribution to Energy Mix

When asked about renewable power sources�including solar, hydroelectric, wind, geothermal and biomass�the survey found 32 percent of Americans believed solar energy is the most efficient renewable energy source, that is, the most easily converted from a raw material into useable energy. One-fifth (21%) of Americans believe the U.S. is the solar energy leader, when in fact Germany, Spain, Japan and Italy use more solar power than the U.S and China is by far the global leader in solar manufacturing.

�

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JDPriestly

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Mon Jun-20-11 04:58 PM
Response to Original message

1. K&R

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cutlassmama

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Mon Jun-20-11 05:22 PM
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2. Glad to read this. It's time to get off the grid.

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txlibdem

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Mon Jun-20-11 06:03 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. USA: A 1 GW solar cell plant to begin construction in 2013 - Xpost from my OP

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x300372

If you read the included links you'll see that they've made serious progress not only in lowering the cost of the cells but also increasing their efficiency (sources claim 18% efficiency due to their novel, yet inexpensive construction).

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nichomachus

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Mon Jun-20-11 06:09 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. Well, you don't really get off the grid

Edited on Mon Jun-20-11 06:09 PM by nichomachus

You still need the grid to help supply solar power. It is possible to get off the grid, but really expensive because you have to install banks of batteries to get you through the nights and time when the sun isn't generating enough to meet your needs.

I have solar panels at my house and they meet about 70 percent of my needs. However, if the grid goes down, I have no power at all. You need the electricity from the grid to run your inverter.

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OKIsItJustMe

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Tue Jun-21-11 09:18 AM
Response to Reply #5

6. The grid is not strictly necessary

I know people who live well, off the grid.

However, it certainly is convenient.

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txlibdem

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Mon Jun-20-11 05:57 PM
Response to Original message

3. For graphs that illustrate the points, see here

One interesting data point: Japan has been outpacing the US in solar power installations well before their "epiphany" post-Fukushima (3.6 to our 2.5 GW in 2010).

http://blog.appliedmaterials.com/solar-energy-infographic

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pipoman

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Wed Jun-22-11 06:49 AM
Response to Original message

7. ~snick~

Edited on Wed Jun-22-11 06:51 AM by pipoman

Isn't that just right up much of Cali's alley...

"...cost the same as traditional sources of residential power in 19 countries, including Italy and Spain and Brazil, and California by the end of 2011.

Anyone have a link to a story of California's secession?

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FBaggins

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Wed Jun-22-11 08:28 AM
Response to Original message

8. Where can you buy solar panels for $1.25/watt?

The prices I've seen are closer to four times that high before you start to talk about installation.

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OKIsItJustMe

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Wed Jun-22-11 08:52 AM
Response to Reply #8

9. Are you a utility? (buying them by the truckload?)

Edited on Wed Jun-22-11 08:57 AM by OKIsItJustMe

Or are you a consumer, buying a few for a single home?

These prices certainly beat $5/watt (even for a consumer.) http://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-panels.html

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FBaggins

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Wed Jun-22-11 09:13 AM
Response to Reply #9

10. Even their pallet price worked out to almost $2/watt

Edited on Wed Jun-22-11 09:30 AM by FBaggins

And again, that's before installation (another $1-1.5/watt, no?) and required equipment (inverter, etc).

Their "complete sets" (which still don't include racks or installation) run about $3/watt.

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OKIsItJustMe

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Wed Jun-22-11 09:43 AM
Response to Reply #10

11. Well, let�s see, you claimed 4 * $1.25 ($5.00) I showed you pricing for < $2

You�re complaining that they weren�t $1.25?

Once again, are you a utility? (These are not bulk prices.)

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FBaggins

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Wed Jun-22-11 10:17 AM
Response to Reply #11

12. Complaining?

I was just pointing out that I haven't seen prices anywhere close to what the article claimed.

You've presumably provided the closes you could find and it wasn't particularly close (and their system prices were just about what I remembered from the last time I looked).

Once again, are you a utility?

Of course not... but the article (and replies) are in the context of home users. What's the point of talking about whether this helps you get off the grid if the price you want to use for comparison assumes that you ARE the grid?

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OKIsItJustMe

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Wed Jun-22-11 11:01 AM
Response to Reply #12

13. Now, wait a second

Edited on Wed Jun-22-11 11:15 AM by OKIsItJustMe

I did a whole minute of research (OK, maybe less than a minute) and found a site that was retailing solar panels for less than 40% of what you claimed was the lowest price you could get. So, clearly, the market has changed rather dramatically since the last time you checked.

I suspect that if you were a utility, dealing directly with a manufacturer, you could get an even lower price. (Like maybe� $1.25/watt.)

The key here is that the �base price� (if you will) for the solar panels themselves has dropped dramatically. That affects the whole market.

Edit:
I just invested another 15 seconds in research:
http://www.sunshineworks.com/solar-panel-prices-best.htm

�

An example of our low prices at the moment (subject to change without notice) is DuPont 100 watt 76 volt panels for $1.50 per watt plus shipping.

�

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OKIsItJustMe

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Wed Jun-22-11 11:14 AM
Response to Reply #13

14. OK, here�s an even lower price

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/443015745/200W_Monocrystalline_solar_panel_1_45_1_54_W.html

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