Japan launches 70-megawatt solar plant, largest in the world.
Nearly 300,000 offshore solar panels will provide enough power for 22,000 homes as post-Fukushima Japan struggles with energy sources.
The move comes as Japan struggles with energy sources as nuclear power plants were shut down after meltdowns hit Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima plant in 2011.
Yes, but not sufficiently. It is estimated that mass production could reduce the cost of solar energy by as much as 40%. However, this would still mean its price would be about 3 times higher than fossil fuels or hydro. So, mass production would not make solar energy economically competitive.
It depends were you buy your regular electricity.
In the fabrication costs there is a learning curve (as for every product) which reduces the price by 20% after a doubling of total production volume. (something like that)
Mass production always reduces the cost.. the time it needs for the doubling of production volumes depends on each other's engagement.
But in the long end, PV is free energy..
In the long end, nuclear fission is ... death.
I hope Nuclear fusion will be substitute the Nuclear fission soon..
The cost of manufacturing polycristaline PV panels involve the manufacture of the cells and then connecting the cells into a panel. The first only makes economic sense in enormous sized plants, and making them any bigger is not going to substantially bring the cell prices down, as these plants are as big as they are going to get already.
Modern plants, assembling of the cells into panels, involves a highly automated process, requiring little human intervention. The only variables here are for faster machines, more production lines and utilization, i.e. the line run at full capacity.
I have my reservations about us seeing lower PV panel prices in the short term, and then not by much. What we do see in the industry, is that if one places a big order, you can negotiate better rates with the supplier i.e. a couple of cents per watt.
For the longer term, we will see new PV- or PV related technologies that are easier/cheaper to manufacture with higher efficiencies, requiring less panels for a given size, ultimately lowering the price.
With current technology fusion suffers from same flaws as fission: high upfront costs, high maintenance, centralized distribution network, constant power output and it will probably have similar potential for accidents (unless a controlled hydrogen bomb does not sound dangerous). I like that solar can be decentralized, reducing distribution costs, although it can't be the only energy source without much better energy storage.
I fully agree with Andreas. PV has already reached a very low price per kWh. In fact the current price is already lower than the price which France's EDF will get for their new nuclear power station (Hinkley Point C project) in southwest England for the next 35 years:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/21/uk-britain-nuclear-hinkley-idUKBRE99J03X20131021
And the price learning curve of PV (as mentioned by Lukus) will go on ...
Of course there are still things to be solved like storage and the intelligent integration of renewable energy into the grid.
Thanks Andreas. Now, we are close to the end of 2013 , do you have an idea idea where we can find info. for this year?
Are these german numbers?
Probably.. ah.. i was in a dream.. world global green energy production of 25%..
Hey, but this is possible within 10 years.. how long did Germany take for that?
Here you can find the electricity production from wind and PV in 2013 on a weekly and monthly base:
http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/downloads-englisch/pdf-files-englisch/news/electricity-production-from-solar-and-wind-in-germany-in-2013.pdf
Hi Walid,
When we look at the statistics of PV panel production and PV panel cost, I figger the answer to your question is yes.
Over the past several decades, PV manufacturing costs and sales prices have dropped dramatically while experience accumulated by solar manufacturers and developers, utilities, and regulatory bodies has shortened the time and expense required to install a fully operating PV system. These gains have come partly through research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) and partly through market stimulation. Best-in-class installed PV prices in late 2010 were about $3/watt for utility-scale systems, with an average of about $3.80/W. Prices continue to decline following the global trend of continuous price and performance improvements.
Look at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/47927_chapter4.pdf
and convince yourself,
Cheers,
Frank
https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=6-lHc43IoCkC&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&dq=mass+production+reduce+PV+cost&source=bl&ots=ORvDoif6B_&sig=aK_6Y8woe0ZIsqFuC6W5mW1ORXs&hl=tr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjvjqDP4fLYAhVGkiwKHRiiCMkQ6AEIQzAH#v=onepage&q=mass%20production%20reduce%20PV%20cost&f=false
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