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A comment on Pakistan says rooftop solar output to exceed grid demand in some hubs next year. Parent comment

Re:Pakistan says rooftop solar output to exceed grid demand ... by kragen on Friday November 28, 2025 @01:52AM (#46076202)
It shouldn't be, I agree. And eventually it won't be. But SEIA's report https://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-market-insight... said that, in Q1 of 02024, utility-scale fixed-tilt installations in the USA averaged 98¢ per peak watt, of which 40¢ was the PV modules; and residential installations averaged 325¢ per peak watt, of which 20¢ was the PV modules, which is an atypically low share, historically speaking.

Where do you live?

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Re:Pakistan says rooftop solar output to exceed grid demand ... by pfdietz on Friday November 28, 2025 @07:19AM (#46078004)
I'm surprised at the 40¢ figure for utility scale. Are you sure that didn't include the mounting hardware? Utility-scale PV is typically with 1-axis trackers.

Another possibility would be that utility scale solar optimizes to a much large disparity between DC rating and AC rating than does domestic rooftop PV.

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Re:Pakistan says rooftop solar output to exceed grid demand ... by kragen on Friday November 28, 2025 @01:09PM (#46081125)
I was surprised at it too, but remember that the US basically doesn't allow Chinese solar panels to be imported.
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Re:Pakistan says rooftop solar output to exceed grid demand ... by pfdietz on Friday November 28, 2025 @11:28PM (#46085168)
Wait, so those were not US residential cost figures you quoted? Because I don't see how they'd allow Chinese imports for only residential installation.
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Re:Pakistan says rooftop solar output to exceed grid demand ... by kragen on Friday November 28, 2025 @11:41PM (#46085209)
Those were also US, yes. I don't know why they were so much cheaper. Possibilities include:

- Maybe the SEIA is wrong.

- Maybe utility-scale projects sign contracts to buy PV modules further in advance. The prices were falling rapidly.

- Maybe residential installers were buying low-cost panels with lower efficiency or with no warranty.

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