As the deployment of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased, so too has the desire to track the cost and price of these systems. This report helps fill this need by summarizing trends in the installed price of grid-connected PV systems in the United States from 1998 through 2013, with partial data for the first half of 2014. The analysis is based on project level data for more than 300,000 individual residential, commercial, and utility-scale PV systems installed across 33 states, representing 80% of all grid-connected PV capacity installed in the United States through 2013. Researchers found that installed prices continued declining in 2013, falling year-over-year by $0.7/W, or 12-15% depending on system size range, and data for the first six months of 2014 indicate that installed prices have continued to fall. This recorded decline since 2008 is largely attributable to module price reductions.

DateSeptember 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
TopicSolar Basics & Educating Consumers; Financing, Incentives and Market Analysis
SubprogramSoft Costs
AuthorLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

http://emp.lbl.gov/publications/tracking-sun-vii-historical-summary-installed-price-photovoltaics-united-states-1998-20