PVInsights gives spot prices of crystalline modules as $1.73 and thin film as $1.31 on 16 June 2010.
As you have said,80c of that $1.73 is silicon price so a reduction in silicon use and kerfage has significant potential to affect module price.
As long as the cost of slivering is less than the cost of the saved silicon Transform Solar is ahead. High speed automated processes reduce the cost of stringing multiple small cells to vanishingly small unit cost. I don't know what that cost is. You ask them.
The BOS of labour/inverter/mount/admin of $2W has to come down. It is untenable for the fruit hanging off a panel to be more than the cost of the panel. You ask CBD why they charge so much for the ancillaries.
Whoever gets a ruler free, click and lock system for frameless modules with integrated microinverters is onto a winner.
CBD Price at posting:
12.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held