Hawaii photovoltaic going exponential: Oahu more installs in a year than in previous decade, Kauai to get 50% of daytime load by 2015

[mfyahya]

Re: Hawaii photovoltaic going exponential: Oahu more installs in a year than in previous decade, Kauai to get 50% of daytime load by 2015

Panels are under $1/watt even at retail quantities now. Around $5K in panels for a typical house. Maybe another 2-3k for the inverter and installation/wiring. Batteries can be avoided if using the grid to sell power back to the electricity company.
It's quite affordable now.

[c1ue]

Re: Hawaii photovoltaic going exponential: Oahu more installs in a year than in previous decade, Kauai to get 50% of daytime load by 2015

How nice that Hawaii has decided to spend tons of money subsidizing the wealthier residents - who can afford PV systems - rather than upgrade from their crude oil based electricity generation today.

The extra fun will be when the remaining 50% of consumers must pay more than double their bills to compensate both for feedin tariff credits and the exemption from distribution/taxation/etc which is part of existing electrical bills.

[Southernguy]

Re: Hawaii photovoltaic going exponential: Oahu more installs in a year than in previous decade, Kauai to get 50% of daytime load by 2015

I am getting cheaper quotations for solar panels from China; last was: "I can offer FOB shanghai 0.53-63 USD/w for 40 feet container order." That is for a range of panels from 5 to 310 pwatts. Mono and poly crystal as well.
A year ago prices were about 80 cents.
Leveled cost of operation for photovoltaic on places with temperate climate (not equatorial nor arctic-antarctic seems to be around $100 per MWh.
Not higher than natgas in places with "normal" prices for same, which naturally excludes the US. The advantege of gas is, still, free availability.

[mooncliff]

Photovoltaic in Hawaii is really going exponential, in spite of changes in subsidies.
Hawaii passed UNsubsidized grid parity last year.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/b...oahu-this.html

By 2015, KIUC expects to draw 50% of its daytime electrical load from PV systems, the highest percentage of solar on any grid in the U.S."
http://www.solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/current/2013/kw01/alexander-baldwin-completes-6-mw-pv-plant-in-hawaii.html