Advanced Energy Perspectives

Sometimes, it’s not so bad to be proved wrong. Late last month, David Keith, a Harvard professor of applied physics and public policy, published a piece in Greentech Media, revisiting his 2008-2011 projections on the cost of solar modules, in which he was skeptical about predictions of falling prices. But solar has gotten much cheaper much faster than he thought. In 2008 he predicted only even odds of lowering the price of a solar power system to $0.30 per watt in 2030. In reality, the prices have already lowered to $0.50 per watt, and for large installations in the best locations, the cost of electricity from solar PV, without subsidy, is now under $40 per MW-hour, and could be at $20 by 2020. “Compared to other new sources of supply, this would be the cheapest electricity on the planet,” wrote Keith. 

We here at Advanced Energy Perspectives are no strangers to being wrong, but we’ve also long known that the rapid innovation in technologies and business models is driving down the cost of advanced energy, and renewables in particular, making it more desirable for customers of all kinds. This week we saw several examples of this trend.

American offshore wind has been just over the horizon for years, but it wasn’t until recently that we could point to real, tangible movement. Last summer, off the coast of Rhode Island, Deepwater Wind “broke water” on a relatively small demonstration project. In July, the company delivered the foundations that will eventually support five wind turbines about 12 miles from the Rhode Island coast. As Deepwater prepares to kick off their second construction season, we find ourselves asking, wait… Wasn’t Massachusetts supposed to win the race for offshore wind?

This week, advanced transportation was making headlines across the country… but this week it’s not just electric cars and charging infrastructure. The news was full of solar planes, storage trains, and automated automobiles, as well as some of those EVs we love (though not everyone is loving them). Read on for this week’s advanced energy news update.

Every week we see news of advanced energy companies and technologies challenging the energy status quo and growing the industry. This week was no different, with the news that the United States had reached 1 million solar installations. As always, AEE’s members are right at the fore, driving the industry and the economy forward.

One of the most exciting things about advanced energy is its promise for the future. Yes, advanced energy is revolutionizing the way we generate, transmit, and use energy today, and some forms have been in use for thousands of years (check out Wikipedia’s entry on early river-based hydropower systems), but the promise of future technology is enough to get any red-blooded American excited. Well, this red-blooded American, anyway. From new ways to get power from the ocean to small-scale nuclear energy to a solar array fit for any Mouseketeer’s clubhouse, come with us to a journey to Tomorrowland.