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Why We Are Here => Economics & Investing => Topic started by: rcjordan on September 22, 2022, 12:43:35 AM

Title: US installs record solar capacity as prices keep falling
Post by: rcjordan on September 22, 2022, 12:43:35 AM

https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/09/us-installs-record-solar-capacity-as-prices-keep-falling/
Title: Re: US installs record solar capacity as prices keep falling
Post by: Brad on September 22, 2022, 09:51:11 AM
That was darn interesting.  I had no idea solar had become so competitive. 
Title: Re: US installs record solar capacity as prices keep falling
Post by: ergophobe on September 25, 2022, 03:08:48 PM
They don't get into the "why" of the price change. A few years ago I read something that said there were two principle reasons:

1. China overbuilt capacity and so there was a glut of panels. The question was whether or not that meant a short-term or long-term fall in prices, and it appears it is long-term

2. Standardization. They went to a jobsite with an installer team and found they had only one hand tool, a special tool that had all the wrench sizes needed to assemble a panel array. The installer said that what was a 2-3 day job a few years before, was their morning install before an afternoon install. Obviously that's residential, not commercial like in the article. Still, I bet there are similar process efficiencies on the commercial end.