In an online panel discussion, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and others today discussed America’s growing solar industry. Dr. Chu said the industry has a lot of room for development – especially in lowering soft costs and improving electronic components – yet in terms of cost per watt, solar will soon rival other forms of energy.
“Without subsidy, solar power can hold its own against other forms of energy,” Chu said during the video chat. “We’re going further than reaching for the moon. We’re reaching for the sun. It’s important that we recognize this is now within grasp.”
Dr. Chu, who recently announced he would not seek a second term, has been an advocate for solar energy. Under Dr. Chu’s leadership, the Department of Energy launched the SunShot Initiative, an effort to advance solar photovoltaic technology developments; promoted the clean energy loan guarantee program, spurring $55 billion in economic investment; and advanced the prominence of solar energy as a critical energy source.
Dr. Chu used the Google+ Hangout as a moment to discuss three concepts that are pushing solar ahead (quotes are modified):
The Sunshot Initiative
If you look at how much it costs for a homeowner in Germany to install solar, it’s roughly $2.50 per watt. In the U.S., the average is around $5.50 a watt. The module itself is becoming commodity price, within 5 or 10% around the world. Already, the soft costs are more than the hard costs. As we get to our SunShot Goal of $2 a watt on a home rooftop, soft costs are key. The technology is racing ahead.
A new technology
One thing that will get us to this goal is a radical new approach to solar where the different layers are lattice matched. There is an expectation that the modules could be more robust. It’s a higher efficiency. That’s an example of how much technical headroom there is in the solar field.
And solar thermal
It’s an old idea engineered better. You can go to scale and be commercially viable. These are three examples of how we’re taking a technological lead in this area. Within a decade, we’ll be the world leader in not only the R&D part, but also the manufacturing, deployment and demonstration of these components.
Other speakers on the webcast included Jeffery Halsey, Florida’s director of pollution prevention, remediation and air quality division; Jeff Allen, vice president of business development at Solar Junction; and Joe Desmond, senior vice president at BrightSource Energy.
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