France launches vast solar panel array

Source: Raw Story
By Agence France-Presse



France on Thursday launched its largest-ever solar energy farm, with an array of panels spread over about 200 hectares (500 acres) in the mountainous southern Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region.

With a production capacity of 90 megawatts, the vast photovoltaic park features nearly 113,000 solar panels and was built at a cost of 110 million euros ($137 million).

It has roughly the same surface area as the nearby principality of Monaco, an independent state.

“It is the largest solar site currently in service in France,” Stephane Behr, the head of the project at French energy firm Eco Delta, said at the array’s inauguration ceremony.

More: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/10/13/france-launches-vast-solar-panel-array/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story%29

At $137,000 million it seems cheap. I'll bet my last dollar that a project like this, here in the US would cost $135,000 billion.

On a per-kwh basis that's more than a reactor... And lots more than coal/gas.