Cost of solar photovoltaic cells, plotted over time

[n2doc]

[arachadillo]

1. Solar PV Costs

That's a very nice chart. Couple it with the fact that some really innovative installation technologies are currently being introduced into the market will only help reduce what industry analysts call soft costs
http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059981046

For example, PV installation experts are developing ways to manufacture rooftop frames for PV modules in order to place them on rooftops, store tops, school roofs, etc, ten times faster than recent installation practices.

So, despite current PV module sales slump, continued innovation in both the PV module area (increased efficiency like the Panasonic HIT technology (sorry not selling Panasonic, just presenting an industry PV module efficiency leader) and installation technologies should help the distributive solar power sector of the market continue on its upward trends.

[Socialistlemur]

3. So how much are the other costs?

I was wondering, say the cost is $1 per watt, that's $1 million per mega watt, but what's the rest of the story? How much does it cost per megawatt installed in a large scale facility? And how do they estimate these watts? With full solar exposure? What's the derating for humidity, clouds, smog, and the sun at a lower angle? Anybody wants to post some figures?

[FogerRox]

2. Hmmm..... reminds me of......

A progressive geometric curve....