Talk:Balance of system

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Referenced URL

I think the referenced page has moved here: http://www.eere.energy.gov/basics/renewable_energy/flat_plate_pv_balance.html TigerDE2 (talk) 12:05, 24 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Should the definition of Balance of System be broadened?

Would it not be useful to define "Balance of System" more broadly, not just for solar power? An antonym is needed: where there is Balance of System, there are also one or more Innovations. In solar power, the Innovation is the economically practical solar cell. Balance of System relates to technological dynamics, to the way innovations and established technologies combine.

 • Where an Innovation or combination of innovations can be sold by itself without imposing additional costs on the buyer, Balance of System is meaningless. 
 • Where all components of a system are established technology, Balance of System is meaningless.

Please consider, "Balance of System is the sum of costs of the parts of an innovative product that are established technology."

Since the costs of land for a free-standing solar electric generating system may be, but need not be, included in Balance of System, one might ask whether all the other costs of doing business (administration, finance, regulatory clearances, waste management, housing, marketing, taxes, etc.) should also be included. For example, for a product of a kind not yet accepted in the marketplace, marketing costs will be higher than those for an established product. Is excess marketing cost part of the cost of providing the Innovation, or is it part of Balance of System, or is it neither? Alternatively, Balance of System could be limited to the DIRECT costs of the DELIVERABLE parts of an innovative product that are established technology.Nhy67ygv (talk) 15:45, 9 March 2012 (UTC)Nhy67ygv (talk) 06:56, 11 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]