How can solar panels be made cheaper?

[Tex]

Okay, so I was doing some random research on the interwebz, like usual.

I keep thinking about the energy problems in the world, and while I do appreciate all it does for me, I abhor fossil fuels. Renewable energy would be so much better, because, well, it's renewable! The one consistent stumper with all of the renewable energy sources in the price tag.

Photovoltaic (PV) technology has indeed gotten quite a bit cheaper nowadays than it has in the past; from my own research, it looks like the price is 100 times lower than it was in 1977, and even 10 times cheaper than it was in 2000.

My question, because I am certainly not an expert in these things, and more for my own curiosity, what can be done to reduce the cost of solar panels even further, and possibly to reduce the cost of installation, that can make solar arrays the standard form of energy in the world?

[Neil1993]

When I last visited MIT, someone showed me a concept for printable solar panels. They were flexible an laid out on some kind of plastic. I'm not sure how efficient they were, though.

The efficiency is the big key. Super efficient panels, like those used in space, are expensive. An array smaller than 300 cm^2 could cost you 8000 dollars.

[Sampa]

for me, I have to say, take the government OUT of the equation!

[Rakaydos]

Space-based manufacture (using space-born or recycled materials, not just prefab components) would turn orbital solar arrays from impractically expensive and expensive to maintain, to "difficult to set up the infrastructure but easy to expand, reasonably priced for 20 hours of direct sunlight a day and reparable by the same means as they were constructed."

[Streetwind]

The efficiency is the big key.

This certainly helps a lot, yes.

If a given area of solar panel can produce more power, then that makes solar panels more affordable - because you need to install less of them to satisfy your needs, thus you pay less!

Of course, this assumes that the higher efficiency panel costs the same as the lower efficiency panel. This is where technological advances come in. As new ways to improve efficiency are developed, they become the new "expensive high end", while the previous expensive high end moves down into the mainstream and the previous mainstream moves down into the low cost area. So as a result, as time passes, the panels get you better and better efficiency at the same price point, allowing you to pay less through using smaller installations.

Then there's economies of scale, which are also tied to technological development of efficiency. When solar power was in its infancy, few companies built them, and only in small amounts, because they simply weren't viable for mass deployment yet. This made them doubly expensive and doubly unviable for mass deployment (yay Catch-22!). But when you get better panels, and people realize they can get away with buying less panels and therefore paying less, an increasing amount of people suddenly become interested. Despite needing less panels per person, the demand actually increases. This spurs companies into creating larger amounts of panels, which lets them benefit from economies of scale. Additionally, more companies enter the market to make solar panels, which results in increased competition (we've seen a massive surge of this in the last five to ten years). Both of these things further bring down the price, which further increases demand as even more people see solar panels move into their price comfort zone. The previous Catch-22 now turns into a positive feedback loop.

And then there's manufacturing techniques and materials. In a highly competitive market environment, companies will look for new ways to ensure their own survival and one-up the competition. One such way that's gained increased focus over the recent years is not to push for developing something new (everyone else is already doing that), but to additionally also push for better ways to make what already exists. Imagine two companies that focus on mainstream range panels, while licensing the technology from a developer (like a scientific laboratory). They both produce whatever qualifies as mainstream at the moment, with better and better panel tech filtering down to them from their patent holder. If one of these two companies manages to find a way to produce the exact same thing as their competitor at 20% less cost than their competitor, they can increase both their market share and their profit margins!

Combine all three of them, and you get this very strong reduction in cost per power produced over the years. This trend is very likely to continue, too.

[Motokid600]

Making solar panels more efficient is going to be hard. There more to it then a better solar cell. The DC-AC inverter makes up a portion of the cost and is also an area upon which needs to be expanded. Its either have a micro-inverter for each panel which kills reliability, life time and increases maintenance. Or have a single large one the size of a small fridge somewhere. Then theres heat. Which kills efficiency. Distance of the arrays feed. ( longer the wire the bigger the gauge needed and you'll loose power in translation ). I use to install arrays on houses and farms. And I can speak for the northeast part of the US when I say solar panels are NOT worth it for a residence unless you have a lot of property. You have to get a hundred holes drilled into your roof which will destroy it over time. Many companies actually offer new roofs to go with the solar panels. And by time your finished off paying for your solar panel array ( and possibly a new roof ) they will have lost a great deal of efficiently and are on the end of their lifespan.

Large ground arrays however are worth it if you have the room and money. Maintenance is a breeze. So not only does the solar panel have to get better the ridiculous amount of red tape that goes with them has to go.

[magnemoe]

One obvious effect is that the high efficiency from the expensive panels will trickle down to the mainstream ones, its here the scale an money is.

However the high efficient panels are already pretty good, its hard to take them longer, yes you can do stuff like focusing but that complicates things a lot.

Mass produced solar panels are already produced in so huge quantities I don't think its much to win here, yes they will find ways to cut costs but don't expect breakthroughs.

Printable panels will be cheap might be an game changer, current printable has low efficiency.

Main downside is that you still need installation and converters, also maintenance so you have plenty of fixed costs

However an flexible panel would have one serious benefit in that it don't have to be stiff so you can save on the frame, not sure if hanging it like a sail is smart however

- - - Updated - - -

Not exactly PV panels, but then I was in Morocco everybody had solar powered water heaters. Pretty much one standard model and it was everywhere from farms too tourist appointments.

I don't know how they was regulated but they worked pretty well, one unit with panel and the hot water container, it would have to shut down the flow from container to the panel then it did not heat enough. And yes it would need strong sun every day or cold showers.

[hugix]

Just a mindfart, but most solar panels I see nowadays are stationary. Most people place a couple of meters of panels on their roofs. But these only get their optimal power output a few hours a day when the sun is right on top of them at noon. When the sun is rising / sinking there is less than maximum output.

Would it be beneficial to place the panels on a small motor that slowly turns the panels to the sun.

These panels are on top of a building on my old college campus. Would it work better if they could rotate with the sun?

[Rakaydos]

These panels are on top of a building on my old college campus. Would it work better if they could rotate with the sun?

The solar panels would work better. The motors to rotate them, however, would add to cost and maintanace, giving the panel system a lower lifetime-expected cost-efficency.

[StrandedonEarth]

Not exactly PV panels, but then I was in Morocco everybody had solar powered water heaters. Pretty much one standard model and it was everywhere from farms too tourist appointments.

I don't know how they was regulated but they worked pretty well, one unit with panel and the hot water container, it would have to shut down the flow from container to the panel then it did not heat enough. And yes it would need strong sun every day or cold showers.

In the Okanagan region there are hostels for the transient fruit pickers that have solar water heaters for the showers. Given that busy season is in full summer, I don't think there was much of a shortage of hot water.

It's also fairly easy to make a solar water heater for those cheap Intex inflatable outdoor pools, but I never did get around to that.

Edited February 13, 2015 by StrandedonEarth

[Tommygun]

I think its been mass production and standardization that are biggest things that have brought down the prices in more recent years.

Many home installations are modular now and you can design them by just grouping together enough modular sections to give the power you need.

Later you can even add more power to a home by just installing new sections. They don't necessarily need to be made by the same company.

You just need to make sure you install standardized components when you first plan the system.

If governments can be talked into or continue to subsidize solar, then industries will continue to mass produce and drive the prices down.