http://cleantechnica.com/2013/09/24/new-solar-cell-efficiency-record-of-44-7-set/
The falling cost of solar power is completely separate from the 44.7% efficiency record. Several factors are at play in solar cost reductions:
a) economies of scale. see this link: http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data
b) installation cost and market competition. We have a much more experienced installer base (in USA) than we did a few years ago. This leads to further cost reductions. In the USA, the SunShot initiative has focused on reducing costs of permitting, inverters, racking, and "remainder of system." This is a great program, though I have seen one of the ideas (pre-panelization of modules) in action and there were some issues with implementation. http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/sunshot-initiative
c) trade barriers/tariffs/and possible government price supports. Without getting into politics too much, this could be a factor in module prices seen in the USA. As of Jan 2014, a majority of the poly-crystalline solar modules sold in the USA are made in China. And some of those assembled in the USA are put together from China-produced wafers.
d) Past consolidation in the solar market. In short, if Company A spends $500 million to set up a module manufacturing plant, then the company fails, that equipment does not disappear. Company B can now by that equipment at auction, spending a fraction of the original cost, and have a much lower cost of production. (lower equipment costs = lower debt payments)
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