|
|
| Conference | |
| About us Feedback Register Contact Advertise Editorial Finditforme | Publications Partners Links Discussions Quiz |
Channel Homepages
» Home
» Sustainable Business » Green Buildings » Contaminated Land » Water/Wastewater » Waste/Recycling » Energy/Carbon » edie Ireland » Resource Centres » Sustainabilitylive! Site SponsorTo see all site sponsors, click here
Supplier Links» Energy & Carbon» Climate Change and Low Carbon » Energy Management » Sustainable Business » Financial Services » Renewable Energy - Point Of Use |
5 April 2007 Solar costs 'to catch up with coal by 2010' High demand will keep prices up despite low production and installation costs, the study predicts "The True Cost of Solar Power" suggests that PV companies will see this growth as an excellent opportunity to expand their earnings in the coming years. The report takes a close look at each level in the PV value added chain, and its predictions suggest that by 2010 solar electricity will be produced for $0.12 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in Spain, $0.18 in Southern Germany, and $0.13 in California. It further predicts that industry leaders will even be able to produce solar electricity in Spain for as low as $0.10/kWh, which is equivalent to the delivered cost of electricity from a new coal power plant. These economics could quickly result in a very large market opportunity for solar energy. Michael Rogol, one of the study's authors said: "Prices for solar electricity in 2004 have become disconnected from costs. Because the demand is much greater than the supply, a reduction in cost will not automatically trickle down to the consumer. "This scenario will likely continue for several years, with solar prices remaining strong due to very large demand," he said. Until now, solar electricity has had the reputation of being a very expensive energy source. But this view only takes into account prices for systems and the very high subsidies they receive. For instance, in 2007, the price of solar electricity in Germany is roughly $0.50/ kWh, compared to residential grid-based electricity prices of under $0.20/kWh. Solar is only economic for installation on rooftops because of the feed-in tariffs for solar electricity of $0.60/kWh. But when it comes to competitiveness, the decisive factor isn't the system's market price, or the feed-in tariffs, but rather the production and installation costs. When looking at the cost side of the equation, by 2010 solar electricity will cost less than the residential electricity price for 50 percent of all residential consumers in the OECD - that would be an addressable market of at least 1,500 GW. The results come from an international study by Photon Consulting, which took cost information from PV companies, added them together and then formed an average. The report's authors say the study's accuracy has been peer reviewed by executives from several large PV companies. The report only examines costs structures for crystalline cells, with an examination of thin-film technologies to follow at a later time. Dana Gornitzki Source: edie newsroom
This story is tagged as:
consumer | electricity | solar Click on a keyword to see more stories on that topic Share this
© Faversham House Group Ltd 2007. edie news articles may be copied or forwarded
for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent.
|
 You are notlogged in » Log in here Why not register for your free weekly newsletter? Related Stories ScottishPower will use 100% renewable energy after winning Scotland's biggest ever power contract. » EDF hit with £2m fine for poor service Power company EDF Energy has been hit with a £2m fine for not connecting people to its network quickly enough.» Irish power firm opens its largest UK station A joint venture between an Irish and British energy supplier will see a half a million euro power plant open near Southampton. » Free green building advice for London businesses Businesses in London are being offered free advice on how to improve the environmental performance of the buildings they own or operate from.
Related Media» Fashioning the FutureThe London School of Fashion recently held the 'Fashioning the Future' award for the second year in a row.
College head Dr Francis Corner tells edie about the awards and why sustainability is com...
» Greenpeace unleashes the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in CopenhagenGreenpeace campaigners say climate change will bring war, famine, pestilence and death to the world.
» Sea Change At CopenhagenLouise Burfitt-Dons expects a sea change at Copenhagen next week
» See more
|
Send to a friend
Link to this page
Comment
| Conference | |
| About us Feedback Register Contact Advertise Editorial Finditforme | Publications Partners Links Discussions Quiz |
» Discussion - Can we cut building emissions fast enough to meet targets?
» Discussion - Will energy meters cut climate change or are they a gimmick?