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Setting the solar story straight: 5 common myths about solar energy

Setting the solar story straight Solar is getting cheaper 14 Solar PV 12 Retail price The cost of solar energy is falling fast. Since 1980, there has 10 been an average reduction of seven percent per year in the cost per watt of solar cells. One of the most common myths is that solar is too expensive. This myth merely looks at the 8 Black coal current price of solar or uses price assumptions which are based on average module prices over the past five years. 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Source: Boston Consulting Group, Perspective on Solar PV, November 2011 Solar reduces electricity costs long term Utilities Banks Industry During hours of peak electricity demand, utilities charge a premium Households rate for electricity. As more solar capacity is added, wholesale Farmers prices are reduced during peak hours. An oft-repeated myth is that Project developers solar is raising costs for consumers. But where is the money going? Data from Germany show that most of the subsidies flow on to households, business owners and farmers. Source: trend:research, Where the money for renewable energy is going. 2011 Solar generates a net surplus of energy A certain amount of energy is required to produce a solar installation. A large installation 'pays back' this energy debt in 1.5 to 2.5 years and generates 10 to 20 times this amount of energy in its lifetime.2 One persistent myth is that solar requires more energy to manufacture than it produces. Although true in the 1970s when the technology was in its infancy, this has been untrue for decades. Solar still works on cloudy days It has been shown that some solar modules are actually more efficient in low light conditions. One well-worn myth is that solar does not work in cloudy conditions. On the contrary, on a cloudy day a solar system will produce about half of what it does on a sunny day. Actually, many countries with cloud cover like Germany, China and Canada are embracing solar energy. Solar is becoming competitive with fossil fuels 2,800 Solar PV system prices (€/kWp) In 2010 the price of solar fell below that of nuclear energy. 15 Now it is clearly on track to fall below fossil fuels too. A common myth says solar cannot 2,600 2,400 compete with fossil fuels on price. When one factors in the environmental and health costs of coal, it is actually more expensive than solar already.16] 2,200 2,000 But even without factoring these in, solar is still set to surpass all fossil fuels 1,800 as its costs plummet. 1,600 Jan 2011 Aug 2011 Mar 2012 References SOLAR pv magazine 1. DOE NREL Solar Technologies Market Report, Jan 2010 2. Progress 3. TÜV Rheinland & Solarpraxis AG, PV+Test, May 2012 Photovoltaics: Research & Applications, Vol 16, Issue 1, pp. 17-30, Jan 2008 PHOTOVOLTAIC MARKETS TECHNOLOGY 4. http://www.yourturn.ca/solarlour-system/how-much-power-can-it-produce/ Follow the latest solar industry news at: 5. Blackburn & Cunningham, Solar and Nuclear Costs - The Historic Crossover, Duke University 6. Epstein et al, Full cost accounting for the life cycle www.pv-magazine.com PERHER coal, Harvard University ins of energy (€ cents/kWh) Setting the solar story straight Solar is getting cheaper 14 Solar PV 12 Retail price The cost of solar energy is falling fast. Since 1980, there has 10 been an average reduction of seven percent per year in the cost per watt of solar cells. One of the most common myths is that solar is too expensive. This myth merely looks at the 8 Black coal current price of solar or uses price assumptions which are based on average module prices over the past five years. 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Source: Boston Consulting Group, Perspective on Solar PV, November 2011 Solar reduces electricity costs long term Utilities Banks Industry During hours of peak electricity demand, utilities charge a premium Households rate for electricity. As more solar capacity is added, wholesale Farmers prices are reduced during peak hours. An oft-repeated myth is that Project developers solar is raising costs for consumers. But where is the money going? Data from Germany show that most of the subsidies flow on to households, business owners and farmers. Source: trend:research, Where the money for renewable energy is going. 2011 Solar generates a net surplus of energy A certain amount of energy is required to produce a solar installation. A large installation 'pays back' this energy debt in 1.5 to 2.5 years and generates 10 to 20 times this amount of energy in its lifetime.2 One persistent myth is that solar requires more energy to manufacture than it produces. Although true in the 1970s when the technology was in its infancy, this has been untrue for decades. Solar still works on cloudy days It has been shown that some solar modules are actually more efficient in low light conditions. One well-worn myth is that solar does not work in cloudy conditions. On the contrary, on a cloudy day a solar system will produce about half of what it does on a sunny day. Actually, many countries with cloud cover like Germany, China and Canada are embracing solar energy. Solar is becoming competitive with fossil fuels 2,800 Solar PV system prices (€/kWp) In 2010 the price of solar fell below that of nuclear energy. 15 Now it is clearly on track to fall below fossil fuels too. A common myth says solar cannot 2,600 2,400 compete with fossil fuels on price. When one factors in the environmental and health costs of coal, it is actually more expensive than solar already.16] 2,200 2,000 But even without factoring these in, solar is still set to surpass all fossil fuels 1,800 as its costs plummet. 1,600 Jan 2011 Aug 2011 Mar 2012 References SOLAR pv magazine 1. DOE NREL Solar Technologies Market Report, Jan 2010 2. Progress 3. TÜV Rheinland & Solarpraxis AG, PV+Test, May 2012 Photovoltaics: Research & Applications, Vol 16, Issue 1, pp. 17-30, Jan 2008 PHOTOVOLTAIC MARKETS TECHNOLOGY 4. http://www.yourturn.ca/solarlour-system/how-much-power-can-it-produce/ Follow the latest solar industry news at: 5. Blackburn & Cunningham, Solar and Nuclear Costs - The Historic Crossover, Duke University 6. Epstein et al, Full cost accounting for the life cycle www.pv-magazine.com PERHER coal, Harvard University ins of energy (€ cents/kWh) Setting the solar story straight Solar is getting cheaper 14 Solar PV 12 Retail price The cost of solar energy is falling fast. Since 1980, there has 10 been an average reduction of seven percent per year in the cost per watt of solar cells. One of the most common myths is that solar is too expensive. This myth merely looks at the 8 Black coal current price of solar or uses price assumptions which are based on average module prices over the past five years. 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Source: Boston Consulting Group, Perspective on Solar PV, November 2011 Solar reduces electricity costs long term Utilities Banks Industry During hours of peak electricity demand, utilities charge a premium Households rate for electricity. As more solar capacity is added, wholesale Farmers prices are reduced during peak hours. An oft-repeated myth is that Project developers solar is raising costs for consumers. But where is the money going? Data from Germany show that most of the subsidies flow on to households, business owners and farmers. Source: trend:research, Where the money for renewable energy is going. 2011 Solar generates a net surplus of energy A certain amount of energy is required to produce a solar installation. A large installation 'pays back' this energy debt in 1.5 to 2.5 years and generates 10 to 20 times this amount of energy in its lifetime.2 One persistent myth is that solar requires more energy to manufacture than it produces. Although true in the 1970s when the technology was in its infancy, this has been untrue for decades. Solar still works on cloudy days It has been shown that some solar modules are actually more efficient in low light conditions. One well-worn myth is that solar does not work in cloudy conditions. On the contrary, on a cloudy day a solar system will produce about half of what it does on a sunny day. Actually, many countries with cloud cover like Germany, China and Canada are embracing solar energy. Solar is becoming competitive with fossil fuels 2,800 Solar PV system prices (€/kWp) In 2010 the price of solar fell below that of nuclear energy. 15 Now it is clearly on track to fall below fossil fuels too. A common myth says solar cannot 2,600 2,400 compete with fossil fuels on price. When one factors in the environmental and health costs of coal, it is actually more expensive than solar already.16] 2,200 2,000 But even without factoring these in, solar is still set to surpass all fossil fuels 1,800 as its costs plummet. 1,600 Jan 2011 Aug 2011 Mar 2012 References SOLAR pv magazine 1. DOE NREL Solar Technologies Market Report, Jan 2010 2. Progress 3. TÜV Rheinland & Solarpraxis AG, PV+Test, May 2012 Photovoltaics: Research & Applications, Vol 16, Issue 1, pp. 17-30, Jan 2008 PHOTOVOLTAIC MARKETS TECHNOLOGY 4. http://www.yourturn.ca/solarlour-system/how-much-power-can-it-produce/ Follow the latest solar industry news at: 5. Blackburn & Cunningham, Solar and Nuclear Costs - The Historic Crossover, Duke University 6. Epstein et al, Full cost accounting for the life cycle www.pv-magazine.com PERHER coal, Harvard University ins of energy (€ cents/kWh) Setting the solar story straight Solar is getting cheaper 14 Solar PV 12 Retail price The cost of solar energy is falling fast. Since 1980, there has 10 been an average reduction of seven percent per year in the cost per watt of solar cells. One of the most common myths is that solar is too expensive. This myth merely looks at the 8 Black coal current price of solar or uses price assumptions which are based on average module prices over the past five years. 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Source: Boston Consulting Group, Perspective on Solar PV, November 2011 Solar reduces electricity costs long term Utilities Banks Industry During hours of peak electricity demand, utilities charge a premium Households rate for electricity. As more solar capacity is added, wholesale Farmers prices are reduced during peak hours. An oft-repeated myth is that Project developers solar is raising costs for consumers. But where is the money going? Data from Germany show that most of the subsidies flow on to households, business owners and farmers. Source: trend:research, Where the money for renewable energy is going. 2011 Solar generates a net surplus of energy A certain amount of energy is required to produce a solar installation. A large installation 'pays back' this energy debt in 1.5 to 2.5 years and generates 10 to 20 times this amount of energy in its lifetime.2 One persistent myth is that solar requires more energy to manufacture than it produces. Although true in the 1970s when the technology was in its infancy, this has been untrue for decades. Solar still works on cloudy days It has been shown that some solar modules are actually more efficient in low light conditions. One well-worn myth is that solar does not work in cloudy conditions. On the contrary, on a cloudy day a solar system will produce about half of what it does on a sunny day. Actually, many countries with cloud cover like Germany, China and Canada are embracing solar energy. Solar is becoming competitive with fossil fuels 2,800 Solar PV system prices (€/kWp) In 2010 the price of solar fell below that of nuclear energy. 15 Now it is clearly on track to fall below fossil fuels too. A common myth says solar cannot 2,600 2,400 compete with fossil fuels on price. When one factors in the environmental and health costs of coal, it is actually more expensive than solar already.16] 2,200 2,000 But even without factoring these in, solar is still set to surpass all fossil fuels 1,800 as its costs plummet. 1,600 Jan 2011 Aug 2011 Mar 2012 References SOLAR pv magazine 1. DOE NREL Solar Technologies Market Report, Jan 2010 2. Progress 3. TÜV Rheinland & Solarpraxis AG, PV+Test, May 2012 Photovoltaics: Research & Applications, Vol 16, Issue 1, pp. 17-30, Jan 2008 PHOTOVOLTAIC MARKETS TECHNOLOGY 4. http://www.yourturn.ca/solarlour-system/how-much-power-can-it-produce/ Follow the latest solar industry news at: 5. Blackburn & Cunningham, Solar and Nuclear Costs - The Historic Crossover, Duke University 6. Epstein et al, Full cost accounting for the life cycle www.pv-magazine.com PERHER coal, Harvard University ins of energy (€ cents/kWh) Setting the solar story straight Solar is getting cheaper 14 Solar PV 12 Retail price The cost of solar energy is falling fast. Since 1980, there has 10 been an average reduction of seven percent per year in the cost per watt of solar cells. One of the most common myths is that solar is too expensive. This myth merely looks at the 8 Black coal current price of solar or uses price assumptions which are based on average module prices over the past five years. 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Source: Boston Consulting Group, Perspective on Solar PV, November 2011 Solar reduces electricity costs long term Utilities Banks Industry During hours of peak electricity demand, utilities charge a premium Households rate for electricity. As more solar capacity is added, wholesale Farmers prices are reduced during peak hours. An oft-repeated myth is that Project developers solar is raising costs for consumers. But where is the money going? Data from Germany show that most of the subsidies flow on to households, business owners and farmers. Source: trend:research, Where the money for renewable energy is going. 2011 Solar generates a net surplus of energy A certain amount of energy is required to produce a solar installation. A large installation 'pays back' this energy debt in 1.5 to 2.5 years and generates 10 to 20 times this amount of energy in its lifetime.2 One persistent myth is that solar requires more energy to manufacture than it produces. Although true in the 1970s when the technology was in its infancy, this has been untrue for decades. Solar still works on cloudy days It has been shown that some solar modules are actually more efficient in low light conditions. One well-worn myth is that solar does not work in cloudy conditions. On the contrary, on a cloudy day a solar system will produce about half of what it does on a sunny day. Actually, many countries with cloud cover like Germany, China and Canada are embracing solar energy. Solar is becoming competitive with fossil fuels 2,800 Solar PV system prices (€/kWp) In 2010 the price of solar fell below that of nuclear energy. 15 Now it is clearly on track to fall below fossil fuels too. A common myth says solar cannot 2,600 2,400 compete with fossil fuels on price. When one factors in the environmental and health costs of coal, it is actually more expensive than solar already.16] 2,200 2,000 But even without factoring these in, solar is still set to surpass all fossil fuels 1,800 as its costs plummet. 1,600 Jan 2011 Aug 2011 Mar 2012 References SOLAR pv magazine 1. DOE NREL Solar Technologies Market Report, Jan 2010 2. Progress 3. TÜV Rheinland & Solarpraxis AG, PV+Test, May 2012 Photovoltaics: Research & Applications, Vol 16, Issue 1, pp. 17-30, Jan 2008 PHOTOVOLTAIC MARKETS TECHNOLOGY 4. http://www.yourturn.ca/solarlour-system/how-much-power-can-it-produce/ Follow the latest solar industry news at: 5. Blackburn & Cunningham, Solar and Nuclear Costs - The Historic Crossover, Duke University 6. Epstein et al, Full cost accounting for the life cycle www.pv-magazine.com PERHER coal, Harvard University ins of energy (€ cents/kWh)

Setting the solar story straight: 5 common myths about solar energy

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This infographic addresses five common myths about solar energy.

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