News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

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 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.

[ Parent | on HN ]
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.
[ Parent | on HN ]
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.
[ Parent | on HN ]
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.

[ Parent | on HN ]