Advancements in Solar Energy

Senior energy analyst Glenn Doty shares my euphoria about the recent advancements in solar energy and suspects that the levelized cost of energy (“LCOE” — one of the most important metrics of the value of an energy source) of the record-breaking solar array (pictured) in the western part of the US will be “close to ~$130-$140/MWh.” He continues, “If so, that’s pretty good.  This is looking more and more promising by the year.”

I totally agree.  As I’m fond of saying, the battle here, if by that we mean clean energy vs. fossil fuels, has been won by the good guys, due largely, if not exclusively, to the falling costs of technology and the advancements in materials science of which solar (and wind) are two key examples.  The problem, of course, is the time it will take for all this to play itself out, and the long-term environmental damage that will be caused in the process.  The extent is unknowable at this point.  We who care about this stuff can only work hard, and hope.