[The Great RJ]

Without massive subsidies, neither solar nor wind can replace coal or nuclear power for generating electricity.

[Straight Vermonter]

Even with unlimited subsidies neither can work.

[wolf78]

Without massive subsidies, neither solar nor wind can replace coal or nuclear power for generating electricity.

Yes and no. If you run an energy-intensive industry, you need 24/7 baseload power. But prices for solar cells have halved over the last year. We're getting close to a point where it makes sense for WalMart (large commercial buildings, access to credit and / or cash at hand) to cover its roofs with solar cell to run the daytime air conditioning rather than pay peak rates. And that would be regardless of subsidies.

The car didn't replace the train as the dominant mode of transportation all at once, it first conquered specific niches. And that is the point where solar is right now. Where we go from there is up to the market to decide (how will the price for coal, for natural gas, for uranium develop, or in the case of solar cell manufacturing: high-grad silicon or arsenic?).