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Regular PV breaks even with ease, assuming sensible use of the panels (e.g. don't mount them in the shade, mount them the right way around, don't smash them up etc).

Look up "embodied energy".

Thanks very much for the term "embodied energy" - now I know how what to google for!

4-6 years, that's why we need to make them cheaper and not fancier.

PV energy payback is typically on the order of 1 or 2 years.