What do the correlations between conventional energy pricing trends and alternative energy trends show now?
Pernick: Conventional energy prices are extremely volatile. Over time, you can make the case that those will continue to increase, especially oil. On the other hand, clean energy prices in general have been going down. Solar power is a very striking example. For every doubling of solar PV modules [the technology used to convert sunlight into electricity], there’s about an 18% decline in pricing. IU.com: Is that a big change from past years? Pernick: In 2007, for the first time, the solar industry started using more silicon than the high-tech semiconductor industry. From 2006 through 2008, we saw a significant shortage of silicon. But that three-year period is ending, which will further help to reduce costs of solar energy going forward. Some of the large manufacturers such as Suntech Power (STP) last year started initiating price reductions of around 25% on solar cells and panels. And we’re seeing more price reductions this year. That bodes well for the solar industry and solar PV modu
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