The costs are based on a 20 year life cycle and assumes the panels will be replaced every twenty years. The panels also start losing capacity almost immediately as the silicon oxidizes or gets degraded by the light and heat so there is a continual drop in output with age hence the replacement requirement is reasonable. Insurance cost against damages are also included. But in the view of people such as yourself who do not understand the time value of money or discounted cash flow, the costs assessment would seem puzzling.

Renewable energies such as solar power are, for the most part, still more expensive than conventional energies because they have only been used on a comparatively small scale so far. However, the prices of conventional energy sources do not include the costs of environmental and climate damage. Since the renewable energies have great advantages with regard to climate and resource protection as well as security of supply, it is a globally correct endeavor.



As with every emerging technology, the prices for solar cells are falling with the increase in series production and technological innovations. Because similar programs to the ones in the USA are also being launched in other countries like Japan, Germany, Spain, Netherlands etc., it can be assumed that the costs for solar power will continue to fall in the coming years. Experience has shown us that each time the total production quantity has doubled; the prices for solar modules on the world market have fallen by 20 %.

Its very hard to produces the solar materials and its artificially produced but the coal is naturally consumed so that we just have to collect whereas to produce solar energy companies need a large capital to produce so....

Since the technologies invented are less to deal with the solar energy it costs high. The solar energy can be used as an energy resource in our houses and in the industries if we can find such technologies to collect it and use it. The energy is needed for all the activities and also the energy is the problem which is the problem of the society now and it can become a greater problem in the future. So, we can utilize the natural energy resources in maximum. Also, there should be correct awareness programs to understand the benefits of solar energy to the people.

16 cents per kWh, vs. 9 cents per kWh. That's about right.

The 16 cents comes from the amortization of various fixed costs, which include the solar array itself, but also the support structures and electronics to convert the power to AC suitable for transmission over long distances. Panels do wear out over time, perhaps 25 years, so eventually need to be replaced.

A coal plant has fixed costs, too, which are just lower than solar for the time being. The variable costs of the fuel (coal, it's mining and distribution) are higher.

Simple answer? Big oil! Oil companies are not going to go down without a fight, they'll keep the electric car so expensive no one will buy them, same with solar technology....

The numbers come from the Republocrats in government who also own the coal mines

its expensive because u will not need to pay regularly ike electric bills but only few times for maintainence

Solar energy is expensive but it'll be worth it because all of your money will come back as a reward which is cheaper energy or electricity I dunno because I'm not an expert at this. xP

According to the US department of energy, solar energy costs $156.90/megawatt-hr, while coal costs $99.60/megawatt-hr. I understand how producing semiconductor solar cells are expensive, but once the cells are produced, they requires little maintenance and will work by itself without the need of fuel. So where does the numbers comes from? Thanks.