>>Solar energy could provide approximately 10% of the required energy but at 120% of the cost!
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>It took me a while to spot this one.
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>How do they calculate the cost of solar energy? It's simply incomparable, because you only have the initial investment, and maybe some minimal maintenance later.

I think it has to do with the sheer volume of initial investment to provide the same energy you would get from other forms. Four panels on top of your roof are not going to heat your house. Now, if your roof was made of these panels, and your basement was one huge energy cell, and you lived in a sunny climate, you might have a shot, but paying back the loan on the intitial investment might take some help from your grandkid's grandkids.