Solar Love
  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls

Solar Love

  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls
Going SolarMarket ResearchPVRooftop SolarSolar $Solar IncentivesSolar PolicySolar Research

Solar Panels Cost Less Than Electricity

by Zach July 13, 2013
written by Zach July 13, 2013
Solar Panels Cost Less Than Electricity

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a leading institution documenting and researching the solar rooftop revolution in the US (and elsewhere to some degree). Based on its Rooftop Revolution report, below is a Solar Rooftop Revolution infographic from ILSR. It highlights the time when US rooftop solar power is projected to cost less (without subsidies or other incentives) than grid electricity across, on average. It’s a fun infographic and based on a great report… but the focus on unincentivized solar grid parity misses the much bigger story we’re living in today — that solar panels cost less than electricity today (when you include important and well deserved solar incentives). Check out the commentary below the infographic for more on that.

solar panels cost less than electricity infographic

Solar Panels Cost Less Than Electricity Today

From Cost of Solar:

The Item This Solar Grid Parity Infographic Leaves Out

Solar grid parity and the solar panel cost projections in the infographic above are based on a lot of assumptions (e.g. how long the solar panels will be working and in use, the projected drop in the cost of solar, the projected rise in electricity prices, etc.). ILSR would be happy to tell you this, and does right up front in its Rooftop Revolution report [PDF]. One of the key assumptions (and points) in the analysis above, however, is that these solar cost and solar grid parity projections are for unsubsidized solar.

It’s mentioned in the infographic there, but you could have easily missed it, and what that actually means is not explained at all. Basically, the ILSR study is a look at the big picture and a look at what is likely to happen as solar tax incentives or subsidies are removed. However, nationwide, that isn’t scheduled to happen until 2016… and there are also many local and state solar subsidies across the country. In other words, while solar power is projected to hit “grid parity” on average nationwide by about 2017, with subsidies available today, most of you reading this are probably already at grid parity, and certainly at “economic parity” — the point where it makes more financial sense to go solar than to keep paying the electric company for your electricity. Solar panels cost less already (if you take these important incentives into account) than buying electricity from the grid. Seriously. Look into it.

Check out the full Cost of Solar post on this for more on US solar subsidies and in order to see why going solar today makes so much sense and why solar leasing is actually a great option for many consumers.

cost of solargrid parityinfographicsInstitute for Local Self-Reliancesolar grid paritySolar Rooftop Revolutionsolar subsidiesunsubsidized solarunsubsidized solar grid parity
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterest
Zach

is the director of CleanTechnica, the most popular cleantech-focused website in the world, and Planetsave, a world-leading green and science news site. He has been covering green news of various sorts since 2008, and he has been especially focused on solar energy, electric vehicles, and wind energy since 2009. Aside from his work on CleanTechnica and Planetsave, he's the founder and director of Solar Love, EV Obsession, and Bikocity. To connect with Zach on some of your favorite social networks, go to ZacharyShahan.com and click on the relevant buttons.

previous post
Germany’s Latest Solar Power Record
next post
Top Solar Power Companies…

You may also like

India’s NTPC Offers Solar Project Management Services To...

June 9, 2019

Neighborhood Power Installing 10 Megawatt Solar Bifacial+Tracker Project...

November 20, 2018

EDF Renewables Commissions 110 Megawatts Of Solar In...

October 30, 2018

Maui Switches On Another 2.87 Megawatts Of Solar...

October 8, 2018

Capital Dynamics Acquires 121 Megawatt Springbok 3 Solar...

September 27, 2018

EnSync Energy Sells CAL FIRE Solar PPA Project...

August 20, 2018

Solar Bids In India Decline After Duty Reprieve

May 16, 2018

India Plans 20 Gigawatt Solar Tender To Circumvent...

May 16, 2018

Invenergy Signs PPA With Georgia Power For 160...

May 14, 2018

California Solar Mandate Bumps Solar Forecast By 14%...

May 14, 2018

Follow Me

Facebook

Recent Posts

  • Meet PVCase: A 3D Solar Design Software That Every PV Designer Should Consider

    June 12, 2019
  • Mitsui To Partner With Indian Company For Distributed Solar Projects

    June 10, 2019
  • India’s NTPC Offers Solar Project Management Services To ISA Members

    June 9, 2019
  • Equinor & Scatec Solar Complete 162 Megawatt Brazilian Solar Plant

    November 29, 2018
  • Gamesa Awarded 400 Megawatt Solar Project In Egypt

    November 29, 2018
  • Facebook

@2019 - All Right Reserved solarlove.org


Back To Top