Cost of solar technology

Question

The cost of computer technology, including silicon, and various aluminum metals, and processsing techniques, ect...

It always becomes cheaper as time goes on. Years ago dual cores were only for the rich of blood...but now, they're standard

Is solar technology on the same kind of path? Has the cost of solar tech decreased over the last decade? Will it ever be in the reach of the middle class?

Answer 1

ok so. solar panels are expensive because of the materials used in them.

however, the cost will go down as new materials are discovered or engineered which cost less.

in addition almost every from of electicty is MORE expensive than solar, however the government subsidises these power sources so that the cost is WAY less than they actually are. If the same government subsidies that are given to coal, nuclear and oil are given to solar. the cost will practically be 0.

Answer 2

think demand/ supply , you'll figure your own answer

Answer 3

Yes the price is coming down. There are also more rebates available. I looked into getting panels a few years ago and the quote was $40K. I just installed a system for less than half that amount.

I installed a smaller system that maximized the available rebates. The cost per panel seems to be lower and I got a great rebate from my utility company. I can add an additional system later and take another rebate.

There is definately more competition and that always helps rates come down.

Answer 4

Computer chips made on Silicon wafers compare to crystalline silicon (c-Si) Solar photovoltaics.

The dramatic price reduction for computers has mainly to do with getting more circuit elements (transistors) onto the same size chip.  So the same amount of raw material  gives you the F1 chip and the dual core chip (more or less).

For solar, the only way that is going to happen is with concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) where a small cell gets a lot of light.

Fact is the cost of c-Si systems has been on the rise in the last 5 years though it is beginning to come around. That's because all the solar panels were being made with "leftovers" from the computer chip manufacturers.  New production of big silicon crystals is huge business!  Exactly what the cost of "solar grade" silicon crystals will be is not known for sure, but it will come down some and probably more than 1/2. The silicon itself is "dirt" cheap, literally. The processing is not free and cost/quality is the unknown - how good does it have to be? For computers it has to be really good (and so expensive).

And then there are the thin film folks (CIGS, CdTe, amorphous or microcrystalline Si). Each has it's own issues and promise. There are so many researchers and companies (and venture capital dollars!) that the whole situation is up in the air

- $1/Wp ?? that is $1 for each installed "watt peak" is a number that is often thrown around.

- $3.50/Wp is what is really happening now at the best installations

-$10/Wp for a "home" system professionally installed without rebates etc.

Answer 5

well the thing with solar technology is yes its been along for a while but the materials that go into the making of them is what makes them expensive and keep going down in supply. But they have found new chemical which are more efficent and are relativly cheaper but they have yet to be used.

And for the most part solar tech is middle class, I live in the suburbs of Washington DC and as your driving on the highway you always see solar panels on people's roofs.

Answer 6

The cost of solar panels have already come down, and will continue to drop.

Those that say that the cost of supplying your home with a solar system is $40,000. are either out of date, or have very large energy needs.

with the progress made by nanosolar, even though they are not producing at the domestic level as of now, they will in the future, and hope to have a price as low as $.99 per watt,please look at the link below.

http://www.nanosolar.com/

Answer 7

There are a couple of ways that solar power will eventually be in the reach of the middle class.

First, there are some emerging new technologies, thin film solar technologies, that seem to hold promise in bringing the price of solar down.  And while the efficiency of thin film is still lower than that of silicon crystal technology, the price PER WATT is anticipated to be much much lower.  

Second, the price of electricity will continue to rise.   Once everyone is paying twenty or twenty-five cents per kWh for their electricity, solar energy starts to look like a bargain.    The price will still be high, but the cost of energy from other sources will be higher.  

And I'm confident that some type of loan or lease program will be availlable so you won't have to pay the full cost of the panels up front.  In some parts of the US, this type of panel leasing program is already available, but hasnt' caught on because the economics just aren't quite there yet.