Tens of thousands for solar doesn't include the cost of the factory producing the panels though, which has to come from similar, though not nearly as large, capital investments.
right, but the cost of the factory is pretty much amortized over all the units.
that's the problem with nuclear; unless something like this reactor shows up and doesn't change that the costs are always associated with one plant. private companies just cannot afford to put all their eggs in one big, unreliable basket. (state ownership also doesn't necessarily change things, Areva has not done so hot after its nationalization)