Passing along some encouraging news about renewable energy …
Solar power keeps getting more cost efficient. First Solar of Tempe, AZ, says they’ve broken the $1/watt photovoltaic (PV) module cost barrier. By 2014 they expect PV modules to cost $580/kilowatt, or 58¢/watt.
Balance of system costs, which is everything except modules, is projected to be $950/kilowatt for utility scale projects. PV modules will represent less than half the cost of a solar power plant.
It’s a huge improvement. In 2008, 1,000-kilowatt size solar plants cost $5/watt.
First Solar says they’ll sell power form their projects for 10¢ – 12¢ per kilowatt-hour.
So what does it mean? Heck if I know. I’m not an engineer. But it sure sounds like things are headed in the right direction on the green front.
And after a summer of watching Texas Tea spill into the Gulf of Mexico, I’ll take all the good news about green energy that I can get.
More here …
