[nonethewiser]

> Installation and management for large scale commercial companies is _much_ cheaper.

Even when you need to transport it thousands of miles? Thats where most people are in relation to the deserts in the US.

[PaulDavisThe1st]

The tradeoffs:

1. we already have a grid

2. the US southwest is where the sun is. insolation per unit of area is crazy high compared to elsewhere, meaning you need less panels per unit of generating capacity.

[anonuser123456]

2.5% loss per 1000km.

1.45$/w for commercial install

2.95$/w for residential install.

That doesn’t include management economies of scale.

Big chunks of the US can’t do solar in the winter, so you need long range transmission anyway.

[fbdab103]

As a point of reference, it is about 4000 km from LA to New York. Assuming a linear drop-off (probably not true, but close enough), you would only lose 10% crossing the country.

Solar panels might be decreasing in cost 10% annually, so over-building to accommodate that seems entirely feasible.