PV Gap

Yolanda Said:

How much does solar energy cost per watt?

We Answered:

well your estimate for wind turbines is a little low in practical applications.
the 1 billion dollar 500 megawatt wind farm being built in Washington Iowa hopes to have a production cost of .093 per kwh.
here are some production costs for various types of plants.
costs are given as cents per kwh.
nuclear= 7.5 kwh
super critical pulverized coal=6.5 per kwh.
integrated gasification combined cycle coal(clean coal) =7.2 kwh
same IGCC plant with carbon capture=7.9 to 9.3 kwh
bio mass burning plants=7.5 to 8.8 kwh
solar thermal plants= 17.9 kwh
silicon photovoltaic plants=33.5 to 39.4 cents per kwh
thin film photovoltaic plants=24.6 to 31.5 cents per kwh.

BTW the biomass plants currently in operation burn agricultural & industrial wastes ranging from saw dust to turkey manure

Morris Said:

how much does solar energy cost in BC?

We Answered:

Prices vary! :o

Also, different families require a different amount of solar energy. So, the cost will change depending on who is using this solar energy.

Sonia Said:

how much does solar energy cost in America?

We Answered:

i don't know how much the panels themselves cost, but in my area (and i'm sure in other parts of the country it costs more or less) it would cost about 10,000 dollars for me to have a company come and do all the work. i called them and got an estimate, and for them to come out and install the panels and everything else you need that's what it would cost.
i was trying to convert the whole house to solar power, not just heat.

Florence Said:

How much money does solar energy cost?

We Answered:

The cost depends on a variety of factors, including the lifestyle the residents have, and where the household is located. An area with less sun needs larger solar panels.

If the house has air conditioning, heating, and cooking all running off of electricity, the energy usage will be high, and it may take hundreds of thousands of dollars to supply everything from solar. It would be more efficient to run heating and cooking directly from the sun, rather than making electricity first, but the air conditioning would remain a huge energy eater.

On the other hand, someone who lives a third-world lifestyle in a warm area may have no need for electricity or heat at all.

But let's say that all we need to supply are a modest home in the USA, and we are only supplying electricity. No air conditioning, and heat and cooking are from gas. This kind of house might use 15-20 kWh a day, and a system to supply that would be about $12,000 up front in California, considering the amount of sun, and local rebates.

Gloria Said:

How much would solar energy cost per household?

We Answered:

about 500$

Rose Said:

Is solar energy cost effective option for long run in Calcutta ?

We Answered:

You can determine that for yourself by contacting a vendor and running the numbers.The cost of oil in the US is artificially low, yet solar water heating does pay for itself in the US, assuming that you are reasonably shrewed in negotiating with your contractors.

As far as photovoltaic are concerned, they are not justified in the US, but where the cost of electricity increases, you may be able to justify it. However, newer photovoltaics are more than twice as efficient, so you may want to wait a few years on these.