Posted on 07/06/2018 7:44:12 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Solar power as a direct means of energy production seems to be a bad deal, among other reasons because it isn’t reliable. But why not convert solar energy into fuels that are reliable, such as synthetic hydrocarbons?
Unless you live in much of California (where there’s enough sunny days to make rooftop solar panels really viable), such installations aren’t worth the money.
Paging Al Gore.
Here's the thing - the power company is NOT changing me six cents... and when solar panels are put up - the 'cost' of creating electricity - is born by the individual citizen. Apples for one individual homeowner ARE cheaper if the tree is in his yard. This piece does a lot of apples and oranges comparisons...
Rooftop solar charges batteries. Batteries are still very short lived. 2-4 years if you are lucky. Why do I want dc lights and such to live my life by?
I don’t see solar powering my 12 ton ac unit during the summer. So twist off greenies. I want nuclear powered electricity. Works during the day, works at night, storms or wind or freezing cold. Batteries and wind powered bird choppers can’t claim that!!
Rooftop solar is expensive. But utility scale solar is rapidly falling in desert regions.
In the US south west— Utility scale solar has fallen to under <$.03@kw/hr. Battery back up ads another $01.@kw/hr and you get <$.04@kw/hr.
Those numbers are on pace to be cut in half in three years
I put 600 watts of panels on a rooftop and a 400 dollar electric bill became 100 watts less. I did that 18 years ago. I have had to buy 4 sets of batteries for about 250 bucks a pop on that system. Total cost 6000 bucks. Net profit 14,000 bucks and still chugging.
No net metering in involved. This article is total BS.
The client has lowered their power usage dramatically through the years, they are down to 150 bucks a month.
And LOVE their small scale solar.
2400 watts line interactive solar can run a house that does not have electric water heating or ac. 600 watts worth of panels works fine, a max of 1000 watts.
The most honest source available is the price. If something in total costs more it is probably using more total energy. To find out where just follow the money. Price is a non-politicized proxy for total energy consumption and indirectly total pollution.
Dudshemish will not work so well where the night temp hits 30 Fahrenheit or 0 celcius. But there are ways.
And yes, solar water heating is FAR more cost effective than solar electric. At least 50 bucks a month savings, and dollar heat is more than 5 times more efficient at capturing energy.
Two 150w size panels on my dudshemish gave me scalding hot water every evening. In the morning or winter storm days you flip the switch inside and turn on the electric coils.
Simple and effective.
If something in total costs more it is probably using more total energy.
...
Retail cost?
The article is not total BS. The utility should not have to buy the excess power at the same price it sells to the consumer. The utility is left with the work of balancing the loads and maintaining distribution.
In warm places electricity use spikes on hot days due to AC usage. That’s an excellent place that solar can add power to the grid when it’s most needed.
The panels themselves are not really the issue. Its the storage that is the gotcha. The storage is the most expensive part and batteries do have to be replaced; they don’t last forever.
In time I believe the tech will become better just like coal fired plants. Way back when they were very dirty to operate and lost a lot of that coal to “nothing” and created pollution. Today it is amazing how efficient they are to the point of capturing “waste” and converting it for use as fertilizers (read a story here in PA about such a plant).
In California pg&e pays only 3 cents per kwh for excess solar power generation.
The utilities dont. They pay 10% in California now.
However if you use your own power instead of theirs you save 100%, without having to put in two power meters. Build your solar small and you will not have excess. Size your battery down to supply enough to support small random peaks during the day and you are good go go.
An example was my 600watt panel, 2400 watt line interactive capable of using the line to boost up to 4800 watt on peak usage.
Runs living room and kitchen lights, washer freezer and fridge and small office power and computer.
Inverter is set to recharge the batteries off the power line if they ever reach half capacity.
Doing 3 loads of laundry a day for 5 days the battery never triggered a recharge cycle. But this was in sunny California. YMMV.
The key to making solar work is energy efficiency not energy generation.
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