Rooftop Solar Will Soon Be Cheaper Than Coal in the EU (2014, costs)

[mattec]

A new study suggests that wind and solar plants are already competing economically with fossil fuel in Europe. Soon, even household rooftop solar PV systems will generate electricity more cheaply than coal.

The study from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems says the cost of rooftop solar in the southern parts of Germany is already as cheap as €0.08 per kilowatt-hour. Even in northern Germany, where there is little sun, solar can be generated at €0.14 kilowatt-hour, half the cost of grid-based electricity.

By 2030, the study says, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) from rooftop solar PV will have fallen to around €0.06 per kilowatt-hour. In sunnier regions, such as Australia, the Middle East, southern Europe and the western U.S., not to mention Africa and Latin America, the cost of solar will be lower still, at around €0.043 per kilowatt-hour.

Rooftop Solar Will Soon Be Cheaper Than Coal in the EU : Greentech Media

[CTMountaineer]

Nobody doubts that once in place (ignoring the huge startup costs) "alternative" energy is relatively cheap. The main problems are associated with the major outlays needed to implement it, and even more important the variable reliability. Too many cloudy days, or calm days, and you simply run out of power. Your news source ignores several important factors.

It is impractical except as a supplemental power source, and even then the startup costs are prohibitive.

[mattec]

The costs per kilowatt-hour take into account installation. Also, its a common misconception that solar panels cannot work on cloudy days. While they will be less efficient in cloudy areas, solar panels work off of UV rays, about 50% of which penetrates cloud cover. If you read the article, you would have found out that "Even in northern Germany, where there is little sun, solar can be generated at €0.14 kilowatt-hour, half the cost of grid-based electricity."

Independent energy generation is the future and its coming sooner than most people in this state think.

[snorpus]

Originally Posted by mattec

The costs per kilowatt-hour take into account installation. Also, its a common misconception that solar panels cannot work on cloudy days. While they will be less efficient in cloudy areas, solar panels work off of UV rays, about 50% of which penetrates cloud cover. If you read the article, you would have found out that "Even in northern Germany, where there is little sun, solar can be generated at €0.14 kilowatt-hour, half the cost of grid-based electricity."

Independent energy generation is the future and its coming sooner than most people in this state think.

One euro is worth $1.35 US. (as of 5:30pm, 2/5/2014).

So the solar generation cost in northern Germany is $0.189 per kwH. First Energy charges me $0.061/kwH for generation, and another 0.02/kwH for T&D. I fail to see the compelling advantage for solar.

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by snorpus

One euro is worth $1.35 US. (as of 5:30pm, 2/5/2014).

So the solar generation cost in northern Germany is $0.189 per kwH. First Energy charges me $0.061/kwH for generation, and another 0.02/kwH for T&D. I fail to see the compelling advantage for solar.

There is absolutely no advantage to it. Counting installation, it is more expensive and it is far less reliable.
That is not to say it shouldn't be used as a supplemental energy source, but we are several decades away from universal practical usage. That said, energy is much more expensive in the EU than it is here because they have few energy resources in western Europe and have to import virtually all their energy... most of it from Russia (natural gas) and oil from the Middle East. Using alternatives, while relatively unreliable, offers a more competitive situation there than it does here where we have relatively abundant supplies of energy producing raw materials.