The price of polysilicon, the stuff that a large portion of commercially available solar panels use, is NOT increasing. In fact, just the opposite has happened.

The price of polysilicon, the stuff that a large portion of commercially available solar panels use, is NOT increasing. In fact, just the opposite has happened. If you want to know why Solyndra really failed so dramatically, you need to understand what this chart means to the solar industry: http://etfdailynews.com/2012/03/27/solar-energy-industry-beyond-solar-tariffs-tan-fslr-spwr-yge-stp/ http://etfdailynews.com/2012/03/27/solar-energy-industry-bey... Prices of polysilicon are forecasted to drop over the long term. That means any technology that wants to compete in solar cells had better be really, really cheap. First Solar can produce modules at around $.70/Watt. Many Si module manufacturers are producing at sub $.90/Watt. Given that Si modules that have been in place for decades and still function, any other materials are a risk for a 25+ year investment. (I also graduated as an EE, but I also work in PV test and measurement, so I work with this stuff everyday, and my paycheck depends on it.)