T.J. Rodgers Interview

Interesting to read.

Cypress' T.J. Rodgers on solar, politics, and capitalism, part 1 Clarification. If you have half the efficiency at half the price, but 70% of the cost is in non solar cell stuff (frames, panels, etc.), your final cost would actually be more. In math terms, 50% efficiency x 2 (twice the modules needed) x 2 the other costs x 70% = 140% the cost of using non thin film technology. The question is can the cost of thin film go down dramatically so it's a 1/3rd the cost?
Cypress' T.J. Rodgers on solar, politics, and capitalism, part 2

Japan did have subsidies on solar power until recently, when the price of solar in Japan became competitive with other power sources. The subsidies for Solar in Japan ended in 2005. In Japan, the power grid is required to buy solar power at retail rates. I believe it's common in the US for solar power from home owners to be sold not wholesale rates. The estimated payback time as of October 2007 in Japan was 20 years.

Some interesting solar history from 2004. Japan produced 46% of solar cells, Germany was #2, and US production had actually decreased in 2003 by 14%. Japan's subsidy was 50% of the installation, and then with the falling in price of solar went to 10%. Astropower, the largest producer of solar cells in the US went bankrupt, and was bought by GE.