05-07-2012, 05:03 AM
Put, with all respect, but solar by many accounts IS already economical in a few places (those with high electricity tariffs and plenty of sunshine, like Hawai). You might have noticed that panel prices crashed 50% last year and innovation is continuing unabated:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/464981-t...innovation
Having said that, First Solar, I dunno, Gator. They use a different technology (CdTe thin film) which has less efficient conversion efficiency which used to be made up by price advantage. But the latter has been eroded by the sharp falls in the raw material price of competitive technology (crystalline silicon), I'm not at all sure they can keep up with that.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/485821-s...the-bottom
http://seekingalpha.com/article/464981-t...innovation
Having said that, First Solar, I dunno, Gator. They use a different technology (CdTe thin film) which has less efficient conversion efficiency which used to be made up by price advantage. But the latter has been eroded by the sharp falls in the raw material price of competitive technology (crystalline silicon), I'm not at all sure they can keep up with that.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/485821-s...the-bottom