Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Solar Power Headed For 45% Annual Growth

Posted by Zonk on from the a-photovoltaic-industry-growing-oh-the-hilarity dept.

mdsolar writes "USA Today is running a pretty good article on solar power that gives an overview of the current state of the industry. Highlight include production costs of $1.19/Watt for First Solar, 40% annual cost reductions over the last five years, revenues expected to triple in three years, and a prediction for 2014 as the year when solar photovoltaic power plants become cheaper than other forms of generation. From the piece: 'Like wind power, solar energy is spotty, working at full capacity an average 20% to 30% of the time. Solar's big advantage is that it supplies the most electricity midday, when demand peaks. And it can be located at homes and businesses, reducing the need to build pollution-belching power plants and unsightly transmission lines. In states such as California, with high electricity prices and government incentives, solar is already a bargain for some customers. Wal-Mart recently said it's putting solar panels on more than 20 of its stores in California and Hawaii. Google is blanketing its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters with 9,212 solar panels, enough to light 1,000 homes.'"

6 of 402 comments (clear)

  1. independence ! by polar+red · · Score: 0, Troll

    finally at my fingertips ... I just need a good battery now. f*ck you, corporations.

    --
    Yes, I'm left. You have a problem with that?
  2. Re:Understatement by Gogo0 · · Score: 1, Troll

    How about all the wildlife in those large "useless" plots of land?

    is there going to be a huge PETA backlash against solar energy because the desert scorpions are being threatened?

  3. Re:Understatement by timmarhy · · Score: 0, Troll
    On a normal sized home, no where near enough energy from the sun falls to provide all those requirments, even at near 90% efficent.

    If solar could supply more then it's current piss weak capabilities i'd jump on the band wagon. but having setup and deployed large solar systems to power communications centers, i'm not optimistic that we will get anything useful out of it soon.

    --
    If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
  4. EROEI by mdsolar · · Score: 0, Troll

    The cells do degrade mostly owing to cosmic rays creating defects in the doping layer. So, they'll perform to better than 80% over 25 years. In 100 years they'll degrade to 40%. You get about 66 effective new years in a century. Cells can be recycled: http://www.solarworld.de/solarmaterial/english/pre ss/8AV.3.14.pdf at about a third of the cost in energy to make them originally. Used in a location that give an energy returned on energy invested (EROEI) of 33 for extended life panels (two years payback), the recycled panels will have EROEI of 99. This is higher than any other energy source.
    --
    Rent solar power: http://mdsolar.blogspot.com/2007/01/slashdot-users -selling-solar.html

  5. Re:Walmart by mdsolar · · Score: 0, Troll

    Walmart is not alone, there is Google, mentioned in the article, FedEx, GM, Coke, Kohls, Target, BJs, Cosco, and Staples (articles linked here: http://mdsolar.blogspot.com/2007/08/roof-pitch.htm l). I left out Macy's http://www.environmentalleader.com/2007/06/06/macy s-installs-solar-power-in-26-stores/, Alcoa http://www.environmentalleader.com/2007/08/24/alco a-installs-588-kw-solar-power-system/, Estee Lauder http://www.environmentalleader.com/2007/04/20/este e-lauder-installs-solar-power-system/ and Meyer http://www.environmentalleader.com/2007/03/22/meye r-installs-solar-power-system/.
    --
    Save money with solar: http://mdsolar.blogspot.com/2007/01/slashdot-users -selling-solar.html

  6. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 0, Troll

    Comment removed based on user account deletion