Solar Revolution Powered by Manufacturing Ecosystem and Returns to Scale

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The solar revolution is primarily driven by a giant manufacturing ecosystem in industrial China, along with the nature of the technology itself. Solar cells are essentially identical, allowing for scalability in production. The feedback loop between supply and demand drives prices down significantly, with costs decreasing by 99.9% since 1974. This phenomenon is attributed to the ability to build large factories to meet increasing global demand for solar technology.

No energy source has ever increased as fast as solar photovoltaics. The technology will transform humanity’s energy consumption–even when the sun doesn’t shine. Many people associate champagne with success but wine collectors often shun it. Now global sales are fizzing (10:51). And many chief executives are early birds, not night owls. Does it really pay to be up with the larks (18:32)?

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