The price of solar power just fell 50% in 16 months

Re:The price of solar power just fell 50% in 16 months by samfpetersen on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @11:48AM (#11621676)

Is this not just a symptom of oil prices dropping? Solar has to remain competitively priced or the industry is screwed

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Re:The price of solar power just fell 50% in 16 months by mtgx on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @11:58AM (#11621783)

No, solar installations have doubled every 2 years, which would be inline with the price dropping in half every 2 years, too.

http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/22/exponential-growth-globa...

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Re:The price of solar power just fell 50% in 16 months by RivieraKid on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @12:06PM (#11621854)

I'd guess that the profit margins were minimal before oil price drop, so lower demand for solar should not result in producers lowering their margins.

But perhaps the inputs for manufacturing solar energy are dependent on oil price (transportation etc.).

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Re:The price of solar power just fell 50% in 16 months by TheCoelacanth on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @12:12PM (#11621905)

Natural gas maybe. Oil probably not since it is rarely used for electricity.

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Re:The price of solar power just fell 50% in 16 months by ohitsdom on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @11:52AM (#11621715)

An entire industry can't just lower prices to meet a competitor.

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Re:The price of solar power just fell 50% in 16 months by rhino369 on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @02:47PM (#11623184)

Without subsidies an industry can't not just lower prices to meet a competitor.

Especially with the sort of auction pricing in energy markets. If the going rate for energy is 5 cents a KW*hour, then you can't sell it for 6 cents.

Solar survives off subsidies in the USA. Though in places like Dubai it might be a competitive energy provider.

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