Solar will become economically competitive nationally when the unsubsidized LCOE of solar energy reaches roughly $0.06/kilowatt-hours (kWh) at the utility scale (PV and CSP), $0.08/kWh at the commercial scale, and $0.09/kWh at the residential scale.67 In addition, finding ways to integrate variable generation into the electric grid will enable widespread deployment. This outcome would require installed costs to reach roughly $1/W for utility-scale PV systems, $1.25/W for commercial rooftop PV, and $1.50/W for residential rooftop PV, and $3.60/W for CSP (including thermal energy storage).68 Since 2010, the industry has progressed by more than 60% of the way toward these targets, and costs continue to drop year after year.
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