Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Should You Wait for the Next Solar Breakthrough? Use my code MATT at eightsleep.com/mattferrell for up to $350 off the Pod 5 Ultra. Perovskite solar cells could hit 35% efficiency and cost half as much as silicon, but they're still years away from your roof. Meanwhile, silicon panels just lost their 30% federal tax credit in the US, making them suddenly more expensive. So here's the $20,000 question: what’s the better path and value? Should you wait for the next solar breakthrough technology to finally arrive, or install silicon solar panels now? Which one gives you a better bang for your buck?
Correction: In the perovskite savings calculation, I compared two 6kW systems but incorrectly applied an efficiency-based annual savings boost. If both systems are rated at 6kW, they produce the same energy — the efficiency difference means fewer/larger panels, not more output. The $335/year extra savings figure is therefore not valid for same-sized systems. The efficiency advantage matters most when roof space is the limiting factor, where higher-efficiency panels can fit more kW in the same area. The upfront cost comparison still holds.
Watch Inside America's Most Advanced Vertical Farm youtu.be/8sOEB2m0m9Y?list=PLnTSM-ORSgi7uzySCXq8VXhodHB5B5OiQ
Mentioned Solar Videos:
How Quantum Dots Solar Panels Could Change Everything youtu.be/81JgczyzXy8
How Record Breaking Perovskites Are Here NOW youtu.be/vEgkTnkNhRs
Video script and citations:
https://undecided.tech/why-waiting-for-perovskite-solar-isnt-worth-it-solar-3-0/
Get my achieve energy security with solar guide:
undecided.link/solar-guide
Follow-up podcast:
Video version - youtube.com/channel/UC4-aWB84Bupf5hxGqrwYqLA
Audio version - undecided.link/stilltbd-podcast
Join the Undecided Discord server:
undecided.link/discord
👋 Support Undecided on Patreon!
undecided.link/patreon
Visit my Energysage Portal (US):
Research solar panels, heat pumps, and more to get quotes for free!
undecided.link/energysage
For a curated solar buying experience (Canada)
EnergyPal's free personalized quotes:
undecided.link/energypal
👉 Follow Me
Mastodon
https://mastodon.social/@mattferrell
Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/mattferrell.bsky.social
X
https://x.com/undecidedtech
Instagram
instagram.com/undecidedtech
Website
https://undecided.tech
Some music provided by Epidemic Sound
undecided.link/epidemic
I may earn a small commission for my endorsement or recommendation to products or services linked above, but I wouldn't put them here if I didn't like them. Your purchase helps support the channel and the videos I produce. Thank you.
Chapters
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - How Do They Work?
04:52 - The Math - Silicon
06:47 - The Math - Perovskite Tandem
10:18 - Caveats and Additional Considerations
12:01 - Wrap-Up
Should You Wait for the Next Solar Breakthrough? Use my code MATT at eightsleep.com/mattferrell for up to $350 off the Pod 5 Ultra. Perovskite solar cells could hit 35% efficiency and cost half as much as silicon, but they're still years away from your roof. Meanwhile, silicon panels just lost their 30% federal tax credit in the US, making them suddenly more expensive. So here's the $20,000 question: what’s the better path and value? Should you wait for the next solar breakthrough technology to finally arrive, or install silicon solar panels now? Which one gives you a better bang for your buck?
Correction: In the perovskite savings calculation, I compared two 6kW systems but incorrectly applied an efficiency-based annual savings boost. If both systems are rated at 6kW, they produce the same energy — the efficiency difference means fewer/larger panels, not more output. The $335/year extra savings figure is therefore not valid for same-sized systems. The efficiency advantage matters most when roof space is the limiting factor, where higher-efficiency panels can fit more kW in the same area. The upfront cost comparison still holds.
Watch Inside America's Most Advanced Vertical Farm youtu.be/8sOEB2m0m9Y?list=PLnTSM-ORSgi7uzySCXq8VXhodHB5B5OiQ
Mentioned Solar Videos:
How Quantum Dots Solar Panels Could Change Everything youtu.be/81JgczyzXy8
How Record Breaking Perovskites Are Here NOW youtu.be/vEgkTnkNhRs
Video script and citations:
https://undecided.tech/why-waiting-for-perovskite-solar-isnt-worth-it-solar-3-0/
Get my achieve energy security with solar guide:
undecided.link/solar-guide
Follow-up podcast:
Video version - youtube.com/channel/UC4-aWB84Bupf5hxGqrwYqLA
Audio version - undecided.link/stilltbd-podcast
Join the Undecided Discord server:
undecided.link/discord
👋 Support Undecided on Patreon!
undecided.link/patreon
Visit my Energysage Portal (US):
Research solar panels, heat pumps, and more to get quotes for free!
undecided.link/energysage
For a curated solar buying experience (Canada)
EnergyPal's free personalized quotes:
undecided.link/energypal
👉 Follow Me
Mastodon
https://mastodon.social/@mattferrell
Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/mattferrell.bsky.social
X
https://x.com/undecidedtech
instagram.com/undecidedtech
Website
https://undecided.tech
Some music provided by Epidemic Sound
undecided.link/epidemic
I may earn a small commission for my endorsement or recommendation to products or services linked above, but I wouldn't put them here if I didn't like them. Your purchase helps support the channel and the videos I produce. Thank you.
Chapters
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - How Do They Work?
04:52 - The Math - Silicon
06:47 - The Math - Perovskite Tandem
10:18 - Caveats and Additional Considerations
12:01 - Wrap-Up
