Re: SOLAR ENERGY MAY SOON GET MUCH CHEAPER

 In sci.physics usenet@mantra.com wrote:

<snip>
 

Material costs for anything other than jewelry is typically not a
particularly significant part of delivered cost.

<snip rest>

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

  In sci.physics usenet@mantra.com wrote:

http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Solar-Energy/Solar-Energy-May-Soon-Get-Much-Cheaper.htm  

They wrote a breathless press release, nothing more.

The delivered cost of just about any manufactured item has little to do
with the raw material cost to build it.

Add to that the fact that a solar energy system is far more than just a PV
cell of some sort and requires permits and licensed installers.

In all the systems I seen to date the cost of the solar panel is about
a third of the installed system cost and the material cost is a tiny fraction
of the panel cost.


--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

 jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:

http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Solar-Energy/Solar-Energy-May-Soon-Get-Much-Cheaper.htm  

Are these permits and installers the price of
getting subsidies?
What if one can do the job with one's own funds
and labor?


The info that started this thread suggests a much
lower cost because of
the increased efficiency but, I guess as usual,
time will tell.

 
http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Solar-Energy/Solar-Energy-May-Soon-Get-Much-Cheaper.htm  

Umm, no, they are the price of having building codes to make sure your roof
doesn't blow away with the solar panel in the first windstorm.


In the US and most first world countries, attaching to the local grid will
require a licensed electrician and in many places just running wires through
your house will require one unless you want to void your homeowners insurance.

If you just want to put lights in a barn, you could do it yourself.
 

Reread the first sentence of the quoted paragraph:

"The savings in the new cell technology is that only 2% of the cell is
composed of semiconductors -- the most expensive component."

If in fact effiency goes up less panel area would be required and the system
cost should come down, if.

One day we may see something more substantial than yet another press release,
but personally I've been waiting for that to happen for several decades, so
pardon me if I'm a bit dubious.


--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

 

You might want to google the OP to understand.
Email on polite request in newsgroup