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Why Solar Installations Cost More in the U.S. than in Germany
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/509196/why-solar-installations-cost-more-in-the-us-than-in-germany/[font face=Serif][font size=5]Why Solar Installations Cost More in the U.S. than in Germany[/font]
[font size=4]A new report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory points to specific areas where costs could be lowered.[/font]
[font size=3]In 2011, residential solar system installers paid a little over $1.80 per watt for solar panels in both Germany and the United States. In Germany, installers added $1.20 to the cost of the solar panel to complete an installation. But in the U.S., they tacked on $4.36 per watt, more than three times as much.
A report (PDF) released this month by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory explains why.
The most obvious difference between the United States and Germany is the total amount of solar power installed in each country—there’s five times as much installed in Germany.
The study concludes, however, that the learning curve isn’t enough to explain the price disparity—it might account for only half of it. Instead, based on a survey of U.S. and German installers, it seems that there are some fundamental differences in the U.S. and German markets that could keep prices higher in the U.S.—unless something is done to address them.
…[/font][/font]
[font size=4]A new report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory points to specific areas where costs could be lowered.[/font]
[font size=3]In 2011, residential solar system installers paid a little over $1.80 per watt for solar panels in both Germany and the United States. In Germany, installers added $1.20 to the cost of the solar panel to complete an installation. But in the U.S., they tacked on $4.36 per watt, more than three times as much.
A report (PDF) released this month by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory explains why.
The most obvious difference between the United States and Germany is the total amount of solar power installed in each country—there’s five times as much installed in Germany.
The study concludes, however, that the learning curve isn’t enough to explain the price disparity—it might account for only half of it. Instead, based on a survey of U.S. and German installers, it seems that there are some fundamental differences in the U.S. and German markets that could keep prices higher in the U.S.—unless something is done to address them.
…[/font][/font]
24 replies
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Are we currently exporting our coal and oil to the developing world?
Because coal production doesn’t seem to show that:
[font size=1]Based on data from http://www.eia.gov/coal/production/weekly/[/font]
Its increased by 50% in the last decade alone.
China & India build 4 new coal plants every week. These plants must operate many decades to become cost-neutral. They are not building them to look at.
Do you really suggest that we are soon to see a new "golden age" where we just let dirty energy sit idle beneath our feet that could readily be used in some part of the world?
What will prevent exports from increasing when global coal consumption is ever increasing?
This increase in exports marks a significant reversal from the general downward trajectory of U.S. coal exports beginning in the early 1990s, which bottomed out in 2002 just under 40 million tons, the lowest level since 1961. Coal exports in 2011 rose 171% from 2002, with only a brief interruption by the global recession. Export growth accelerated after the recession, with consecutive post-2009 growth of more than 20 million tons per year, a level of growth not seen since the 1979-to-1981 export boom. Current data for 2012 (through August) show coal exports are growing even faster and should more than double 2009 export levels, buoyed by growth in U.S. steam coal.
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=8490
We are using less and the world is demanding more. Is a green future really possible?
Here are some interesting graphics:
The IEA predicts that in OECD countries the decline in coal burning over the next five years will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 250 million tonnes. But that will be far outweighed by an increase of about 3500 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, as coal consumption intensifies in the non-OECD world.
http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2012/12/the-ieas-coal-projections-on-demand-and-emissions