[SauronOfMordor]

PV panels are getting more efficient and cheaper. They are not yet ready for commercial power generation.

There are places for them: calculators, keeping batteries charged in out-of-the-way places like emergency highway radio-phones, stuff like that. Applications where it's prohibitively expensive to string a power line, or to keep bringing fuel to a regular generator, and which don't need continous high power levels

The existing market will provide an incentive to keep improving the things. As they improve, other market niches will open up. These stupid projects are counter-productive

[sasquatch]

Applications where it's prohibitively expensive to string a power line

We've got a place on the Klamath that's 2 miles from the grid. 150 Watts of panel is enough throughout the summer (most of the place is propane) and the generator runs for about 15 min. per day in the wintertime. BTW that 2 miles is up to something like $30K.
I'd still like to see an up to date energy balance on PV panels.

[RightWhale]

PV panels are getting more efficient and cheaper

Last I heard it was $5 per watt, just the panel, not the associated electronics. Has the cost changed from that?