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The Home Solar Power Systems Scoop

September 15th, 2009

Price per watt is the primary unit of measurement for the solar energy. Watt Peak (Wp) is the direct current watts output of a solar module as measured under an Industry standardized Light Test before the Solar Module leaves the manufacturers facility.

Solar modules has dropped from around $27 Watt Peak (Wp) in 1982 to around $2.49 Wp today and can be expected to dive much further in the future. At $1 Wp, grid parity will have been achieved and Photovoltaics (PV) will be able to compete with the prevailing price of electricity.

Solar panels that cost less than $1 per watt to produce are on their way, as Colorado State University’s new method for low-cost, high-efficiency solar panels looks set to begin mass production. They will be sold for about $2 per watt to the public, about half the cost of current solar panels. The cost reduction comes from a new, continuous manufacturing process which uses cadmium telluride thin film rather than the more expensive crystalline silicon.

The lowest thin film module price is at $2.49 per watt (1.89 per watt) from a Germany-based retailer. As a general rule, it is typical to expect thin film modules to be at a price discount to crystalline silicon (for like module powers). As thin film manufacturers expand production, prices are expected to drop dramatically.

Thin Firm CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) modules to generate relatively more electricity under high ambient (and therefore high cell) temperatures. Which means it is more efficient should there be high temperatures.

Thin-film solar technologies often use non-silicon semiconductor materials including copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) to create photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. Without the expensive and often sparse silicon, the cells are cheaper in terms of materials costs. The non-silicon materials can also be printed on flexible or light substances, which can create new applications for solar. Many companies are using thin-film technology to produce low-cost solar panels. The cost reduction comes from a new, continuous manufacturing process which uses cadmium telluride thin film rather than the more expensive crystalline silicon. Non-silicon semiconductor materials including copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) used to create photovoltaic cells.

The measurement of kilowatt-hours per kilowatt installed is an important factor. Calculate the average total solar watt output per dollar outlay. In most cases, when you are reach $0.15/kWh or better, you are competitive with your electric company.

There are cabling costs battery banks and inverters to consider. Calculating solar output, use an average of 5 hrs per day of sun. Eg. 4 x 80w panels produce 320 watts x 5 hrs should produce 1600 watts or 1.6 Kw per day. A 1000w system would produce about 4 Kwh per day. Most families use between 3-10 Kwh per day. Harness your very own experience with a do it yourself solar panel kit and discover this energy saving technology.

Harness free energy to create home solar power for homes and to pay for your power needs. Look over wind power kits and when you make more power than you use the electricity company will pay you for the power!

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  1. September 18th, 2009 at 02:51 | #1

    It’s good to see prices coming down so quickly

  2. September 18th, 2009 at 02:53 | #2

    I think once we see $1/Watt, then solar power will really take off.

  3. September 18th, 2009 at 02:54 | #3

    Agreed on the $1 thing. It must be about the level that makes it competitive with coal.

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