When will solar finally hit prime time? According to Halal (2008), solar is still too expensive with photovoltaic cells costing $3-$4.00 per watt to build; gas and oil is currently at $0.40 per watt. Estimates of total solar costs are (which include usage) to be between $.20-$.40 per kilowatt hour and oil is much lower at $.04-$.12 per kilowatt hour. But nanotechnology can make solar more affordable by creating plastic solar cells at $.20 per watt with an increase in efficiency.
So, when will solar become mainstream? Halal (2008) suggests that the solar costs will become competitive with other energy sources between 2012-2015.
*Halal, W. (2008). Technology's Promise: Knowledge on the Transformation of Business and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, NY.
I want one! One relative built a solar powered home and it was so popular, it sold before he could get too comfortable in it. *laughs*
ReplyDeleteBeyond the panels, it included bricks and an entire house design to support cooling and heating efficiency. While this still falls within the definition of passive solar energy, it was elegant in its construction.
The problem is the effeminacy and the expense of the materials. It is not public knowledge, but current commercial solar cells are less than 5% efficient! That is the reason for the lack of research into new materials. The drastic difference between the cost per watt of solar adn the cost per watt of coal has absolutely made the research impossible. It is taking a global initiative to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels that has made solar worth investing in. The company that develops a cheap solar 'shingle' that will replace our current passive shingles will be the company that saves our planet in my opinion.
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