1 If the patent application was filed on or after June 8, 1995, the starting patent term is 20 years. 2  This accounts for the vast majority of patents in force today. 3  The 20 year term is calculated based upon the priority filing date, not counting provisional application or the original filing in a foreign country.
The report indicates that the median installed price of PV systems completed in 2012 was $5.30/W for residential and small commercial systems smaller than 10 kilowatts (kW) in size and was $4.60/W for commercial systems of 100 kW or more in size.
The downside is that the system remains pricey. For an average home, the battery storage system can run $10,000 to $25,000. But with long-term financing options and declining solar photovoltaic prices, the cost can end up penciling out at a price that's competitive with electricity from HECO, said Saturnia.or an average home, the battery storage system can run $10,000 to $25,000. But with long-term financing options and declining solar photovoltaic prices, the cost can end up penciling out at a price that's competitive with electricity from HECO, said Saturnia.