Cost of PV Cells Has Dropped 99% Since 1977, Bringing Solar Power to Grid Parity

The price of solar photovoltaic cells has dropped 99% in the past quarter century.  So in an increasing number of markets around the country, solar is at or very close to grid parity.

David Eves, the CEO of Xcel Energy’s Colorado subsidiary told the Denver Business Journal solar power is now cost-competitive with natural gas-fired generation:

“This is the first time that we’ve seen, purely on a price basis, that the solar projects made the cut — without considering carbon costs or the need to comply with a renewable energy standard — strictly on an economic basis.”

Cost of PV Cells Has Dropped 99% Since 1977, Bringing Solar Power to Grid Parity - by Joe Romm