Solar photovoltaic power generation is not cost-effective

Do solar photovoltaic energy benefits outweigh the costs?

This article appears in the Spring 2020 issue of Energy Futures, the magazine of the MIT Energy Initiative. Benefits of solar photovoltaic energy generation outweigh the costs, according to new research from the MIT Energy Initiative.

Do solar PV installations have soft costs?

Yet, soft costs — the non-hardware expenses for solar PV installations, such as connection and permit fees — have represented a growing share of total costs, even as solar PVs have become more widespread and affordable. The mechanisms underlying the changes in soft costs over time remain not fully understood.

Is solar PV a competitive source of new power generation capacity?

Solar PV is emerging as one of the most competitive sources of new power generation capacity after a decade of dramatic cost declines. A decline of 74% in total installed costs was observed between 2010 and 2018 (Figure 10).

How does technology affect the cost of solar PV systems?

The findings show that advances in hardware features made the largest contribution to the overall cost reduction of solar PVs. The reduction in the soft costs has also been primarily driven by hardware improvements: more practical system designs might speed up installation, reducing labour or permit costs.

Why is solar photovoltaic technology so expensive?

Since the early 2000s, the total cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has consistently sunk below expert expectations, mostly due to hardware improvements.

Do hardware and non-hardware features reduce the cost of solar photovoltaics?

The cost of solar photovoltaics has declined over the past two decades, but the driving mechanisms are not fully understood. Now, researchers examine the role of hardware and non-hardware features in cost reduction of photovoltaics and develop a model that could be used to understand cost reductions for other energy technologies.