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> Utility scale solar on the other hand is far cheaper. I guess it all depends on your definition of "far cheaper." The DOE reported this year [1] that the pri

• Retric 12y ago
  ~1/2 the cost of rooftop solar = far cheaper. Also from your chart PV = 130 which is between Conventional Combustion Turbine = 128 and IGCC with CCS = 147.4. But that's "U.S. Average Levelized" so some solar is well below that number. In the end it's a complex subject where for example building solar power plants reduces the value of solar power. Edit: Further down the page you find the minimum cost for PV solar = 101.4 which is below the max cost of Conventional Coal = 114.4 or Advanced Nuclear = 102.0 and close to the average cost of coal 95.6. So there is quite a bit of overlap.
  • mcone 12y ago
    You're absolutely right about it being a complex subject. In addition, some energy "costs" simply can't be calculated, such as the environmental damage and the human toll documented in this article. But at the end of the day, most people just want their gas and electric bills to be as low as possible. So I think there is a conflict here between low energy prices and "doing the right thing," for lack of a better way of saying it. At this point in time, the high cost of solar electricity (whatever the cause) relative to other sources is a huge barrier to adoption.