Solar Panel Costs Drop to 12 Cents per Watt

The cost of solar panels has fallen from $5–6 per watt 26 years ago to 12 cents per watt today, reports the Financial Times. The cause is cited as growth in Chinese manufacturing, which led to solar generation surpassing coal in the US for the first time in June.

• Price fell from $5–6 to 12 cents per watt over 26 years
• In June, US generated more energy from solar than coal for the first time
• China leads in clean energy installations, overloading grids
• In Spain, solar surplus collapsed the energy economy