According to projections published by Photon Consulting, the fully-loaded cost of manufacturing, R&D, selling, installing, and operating a solar power system for a vertiaclly integrated solar power supplier will likely decrease to $0.12/kWh, or roughly $1.85/watt installed by the year 2010. In sunny areas, the cost of solar could drop below $0.10/kWh. The report, titled “The True Cost of Solar”, puts the current cost of solar (2006 estimates) at $0.25/kWh, or roughly $3.60/watt installed.

Dr. Richard Swanson, co-founder, President and CTO of SunPower presents an overview of the past, present and future of the solar energy industry in a speech given during the PARC Forum on April 13th, 2006.

Watch the video here.

A visit with Bob Schneeveis, the inventor of an incredibly unconventional Solar Powered Walking Chariot.

Energy Return on Investment (EROI) is the ratio between the amount of energy expended to obtain a particular energy resource and the amount of usable energy acquired from that resource. When the EROEI of a resource is equal to or lower than 1, that energy source becomes an “energy sink”, and can no longer be used as a primary source of energy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EROI

A related concept is the energy pay-back time, i.e. the time required to produce an amount of energy as great as what was consumed during production.

In photovoltaics, crystalline silicon PV systems give energy payback times of 1.5-3.5 years, depending on the installation location. Expected efficiency improvements in silicon solar production techniques will reduce the required energy inputs, thereby bringing an energy payback of 1 year or less for silicon-based PV.

The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research recently surveyed 1,004 adults regarding their thoughts on solar power installations in new homes. The results include the observation that 87% of Americans believe solar electricity should be an option for all new home construction. That percentage has increased significantly from the results garnered one year ago, in which only 79% of respondents expressed the same view.

The survey, commissioned by Sharp Electronics Corp., has generated additional interest among homebuilders who are under increasing pressure to satisfy consumers’ demands amidst a flat real estate market. As more and more consumers express their interest in solar technology, homebuilders are keen to take notice of increasing trends and sales of solar-powered homes.

However, the survey also highlighted consumers’ misunderstandings of solar powered options, including the misconception that solar power is more likely to be able to power lights and heat bath water than to power home electronics and computers.

Accordingly, Sharp has recently launched a solar informational campaign dubbed “Hello Sunshine in hopes of clearing up many of the misunderstandings that consumers express.

Additionally, the survey highlighted the fact that consumers are much more likely to adopt a solar power installation if they do not have to place a large amount of money down to cover the cost of installation and materials. To address these isssues, Sharp initiated an alliance in 2006 with CitiMortgage, enabling consumers to fund their residential solar power system through a home equity program that allows homeowners to offset the the system costs.

Although we have seen other takes on “no money down” solar installations, the options given by Sharp and CitiMortgage present a much more viable financial strategy as a means to implementing residential solar.