The evolution of the Solar Energy cost from its commercial early days use

It was in 1956 when the first commercial solar cell was made available to the public at a very expensive $300 / watt. It was being used in radios and toys by then.

The space programs started to employ solar technology in 1958 when the “Vanguard I” was launched with the first satellite using solar energy to generate electricity. No doubt that the spatial programs were challenging for creativity as the sun is the only source of energy in space.

The Energy Crisis of the seventies awaked the need to find alternative sources of energy not to be fully dependent on finite resources (coal, oil and gas). Solar energy cells dropped dramatically to about $20 / watt.

Today the use of solar energy is progressing rapidly and new business is being developed around this renewable energy. Many Governments on developed and emerging countries have worked out their financial solutions through subventions and Feed in Tariffs to incentivise its commercial use. The cost is now $ 1 / watt and will continue to drop as new innovative technologies are created.

Flying in the future... have a glance with Airbus

In the past, air travel has mainly focussed on getting people from A to B as safely and as quickly as possible. But in the future, travelling could be an entirely different experience integrating different stages of the journey, making the trip so enjoyable that passengers won’t want to arrive, or even changing the way you pay.
Speedier air travel may not suit everyone. A lot of people simply love the experience of being above the clouds and away from it all.
Can you imagine the next generation of cruise ships being in the sky and not on the sea, with packages to suit everyone – complete with swimming pools, spas and even golf courses !... And perhaps you won’t even have to pay for your ticket !..., with the operators making their money from casino takings, restaurants and other attractions.
Do you want to see more about the experience of flying in the future?.... go to the "Future by Airbus" 

Solar Power is the Future... whatever happens on financial sector

The solar market is still virtually untapped and so much remains to be discovered. Someday solar powered airplanes will be taking off from airports around the globe. Solar cells and panels will continue to shrink and become more capable, powering everything that is currently powered via electricity at some future time.

Solar energy usage has advanced dramatically since the ancient Greeks began using it to light their cooking and heating fires. What is so exciting about solar power is we have only just begun to tap its potential. Innovative minds will continue to optimize the technology and develop exciting uses well into the future using solar power.

Solar PV. Decreasing prices and generation cost.

Over the last 20 years, PV has already shown impressive price reductions, with the price
of PV modules decreasing by over 20% every time the cumulative sold volume of PV
modules has doubled. System prices have declined accordingly; during the last 5 years
a price decrease of 50% has been achieved in Europe. System prices are expected to
decrease in the 10 coming years by 36-51% depending on the segment.
Importantly, there is a huge potential for further generation cost decline: around 50%
until 2020. The cost of PV electricity generation in Europe could decrease from a range
of 0.16-0.35 €/kWh in 2010 to a range of 0.08-0.18 €/kWh in 2020 depending on
system size and irradiance level.

Source: European Photovoltaic Industry Association - Solar PV competing in the energy sector