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Residential solar will be cheaper than grid electricity in 25 states by 2015 says utility CEO
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/05/1311341/-Residential-solar-will-be-cheaper-than-grid-electricity-in-25-states-by-2015-says-utility-CEO
Residential solar will be cheaper than grid electricity in 25 states by 2015 says utility CEO
by HoundDog
Sat Jul 05, 2014
Cynthia Shahan of Clean Technica reports Residential Solar Cheaper Than Grid Electricity In 25 States By 2015, Utility CEO States. The cost of solar panels has come down 75% in the last four years. Although a trade war with China and India over low cost solar panels will be a "bump in the road," this basic trend is going to continue as the learning curve for the global solar photovoltaic industry is now well established at a 20% reduction of unit manufacturing cost for every doubling of the installed base.
David Crane, CEO of utility NRG sees major disruptive impact for the traditional U.S. utilities industries, and he has decided to "switch rather than fight."
David Crane, who runs NRG Energy, says that in fully half the states of the union, electricity from residential solar panels will be cost-competitive with that delivered by local electric utilities by next year.
Another important matter is that electric vehicles will enable a more decentralized, self-sufficient energy system. John writes: “Once homes can not only generate but store energy, it’s at least possible they could decouple from the grid entirely–meaning they’re lost to their local utility forever.”
“Crane is positioning NRG to be the supplier of solar arrays, fuel cells, and microturbines to power customers in this age of grid obsolescence,” Navigant Research writes. “It’s remarkable to see a utility betting on the grid’s eventual obsolescence, but it’s important to note that within that framework, NRG is still maintaining its core business as a power provider.”
<snip>
Residential solar will be cheaper than grid electricity in 25 states by 2015 says utility CEO
by HoundDog
Sat Jul 05, 2014
Cynthia Shahan of Clean Technica reports Residential Solar Cheaper Than Grid Electricity In 25 States By 2015, Utility CEO States. The cost of solar panels has come down 75% in the last four years. Although a trade war with China and India over low cost solar panels will be a "bump in the road," this basic trend is going to continue as the learning curve for the global solar photovoltaic industry is now well established at a 20% reduction of unit manufacturing cost for every doubling of the installed base.
David Crane, CEO of utility NRG sees major disruptive impact for the traditional U.S. utilities industries, and he has decided to "switch rather than fight."
David Crane, who runs NRG Energy, says that in fully half the states of the union, electricity from residential solar panels will be cost-competitive with that delivered by local electric utilities by next year.
Another important matter is that electric vehicles will enable a more decentralized, self-sufficient energy system. John writes: “Once homes can not only generate but store energy, it’s at least possible they could decouple from the grid entirely–meaning they’re lost to their local utility forever.”
“Crane is positioning NRG to be the supplier of solar arrays, fuel cells, and microturbines to power customers in this age of grid obsolescence,” Navigant Research writes. “It’s remarkable to see a utility betting on the grid’s eventual obsolescence, but it’s important to note that within that framework, NRG is still maintaining its core business as a power provider.”
<snip>
12 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
We need to either go all in on an upgrade or do away with it completely. Smaller more central stations make more sense. We are in an elastic development phase demographically. I wish I could live to be really really really old. Just to see how it all shakes out.
There's a company called Verengo that has an ad out with Ed Asner saying it's "a no-brainer" (...always liked Asner).
They say they install with no cost, but you pay a monthly fee for the power, I guess.
Somehow, that doesn't sound like a no-brainer. I'd rather pay for installation, and store or sell my own power.
There's probably going to be many of these kinds of companies popping up.
I may have this completely wrong, if so, sorry in advance of any comments. 
