Emerging solar cell company First Solar reports that their new "thin film" solar cells produce electricity at a cost of 5.8 cents per kilowatt hour. This price compared to new coal is around 4 cents cheaper. The new plant has an output capacity of 50 Megawatts.
Whether the plant will succeed in supplanting coal power generation is unlikely, simply because the demand for power generally increases as more consumer goods use electricity. Currently only the El-Paso plant is running, but hopefully more will come.
The article link: http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/03/thin-film-solar-power-to-be-sold-for-less-than-coal/
Scanning through the comments provides an interesting view of some peoples strong opinions on the issue of solar power.
It would be great if this actually happened! I believe solar energy is the best alternative energy technology that we have at this point, especially for the southern United States.
ReplyDeleteThis article shines light on a potentially successful solar power operation. It seems that solar power is viewed as an expensive alternative, when really it will have the greatest payoff in the long run. The sun is a seemingly unlimited resource (assuming it will continue to be in existence for several more years) that can be harnessed and used over and over again. Although there are downsides, such as overcast days and darkness at night, a renewable resource as valuable as the sun should be taken advantage of before coal, oil, or other fossil fuels. The southwestern United States is an especially good place for solar power generation because of the intensity of sun that reaches it year round.
ReplyDeleteIts awesome to see that the price of solar is dropping as demand is increasing. We as a country need to embrace renewables as our future energy source and invest in the research to make the solar panel even cheaper and more efficient. This would help to lessen the strangle hold that the Oil companies have on the US citizens.
ReplyDeleteI wish this would go into full effect and solar power would be more widely spread. It is a constant energy source, when energy isn't being used, but the panels are still collecting, that energy can be stored in large batteries for those cloudy days. My house will have solar panels, no doubt about it.
ReplyDelete