Topic: sucking energy from the sun

[chewbacca5000]

At least those panels do not run on brain power as that town would have constant electrical outages. ha,ha,ha.... 

[eigenvector]

I'm all for solar panels, solar power to me represents the most efficient way to generate electricity there is - free energy provided by the sun converted directly to power.  Oil, gas, and coal had to go from vegetation a few million years ago before they could be used for power generation.  Nuclear has to be dug out of the ground and refined before it can be used - plus you have to get rid of it afterwards.

But until they start producing the Terawatt levels we need to run industry, I'm not quite ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  But it is getting better.  I'm even considering putting them on my roof - once I get a spare 20,000 bucks

[Retro Rocket]

I'm all for solar panels, solar power to me represents the most efficient way to generate electricity there is - free energy provided by the sun converted directly to power.  Oil, gas, and coal had to go from vegetation a few million years ago before they could be used for power generation.  Nuclear has to be dug out of the ground and refined before it can be used - plus you have to get rid of it afterwards.

But until they start producing the Terawatt levels we need to run industry, I'm not quite ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  But it is getting better.  I'm even considering putting them on my roof - once I get a spare 20,000 bucks

Sounds expensive for home solar packages in the US, $3995 Aus dollars {$2876 USD} for 20 panels and a 5 kilowatt inverter, I know a few people here with this system and they have zero power bills and sell the excess to the grid, these are NOT stand alone systems..  Most of the houses where I live have either roof top solar or roof top solar hot water, solar hot water has been popular for 30+ years here.  I should add that we get a government rebate on these systems so that will raise the price, but no to 20 Grand..
Cal, we {well Aldani} have the largest coal mine in the world waiting to go ahead here in Queensland, they can't get anyone to finance it. Coal is here for a while yet but renewables are making their mark world wide and will continue to grow...Buffett has also heavily invested in Renewables..

[strynboen]

in denmark ve have so many vindmills..that they must pay to delevere power to the grid.. at vindy days.
.ve got just start to use it to hot vater produktion for heating houses..and drive varming pumps to boost the temperature.in ekstisting systems(ve dont use steam for heating)..but use kollektive heat systems in all cityes

[eigenvector]

I'm all for solar panels, solar power to me represents the most efficient way to generate electricity there is - free energy provided by the sun converted directly to power.  Oil, gas, and coal had to go from vegetation a few million years ago before they could be used for power generation.  Nuclear has to be dug out of the ground and refined before it can be used - plus you have to get rid of it afterwards.

But until they start producing the Terawatt levels we need to run industry, I'm not quite ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  But it is getting better.  I'm even considering putting them on my roof - once I get a spare 20,000 bucks

Sounds expensive for home solar packages in the US, $3995 Aus dollars {$2876 USD} for 20 panels and a 5 kilowatt inverter, I know a few people here with this system and they have zero power bills and sell the excess to the grid, these are NOT stand alone systems..  Most of the houses where I live have either roof top solar or roof top solar hot water, solar hot water has been popular for 30+ years here.  I should add that we get a government rebate on these systems so that will raise the price, but no to 20 Grand..
Cal, we {well Aldani} have the largest coal mine in the world waiting to go ahead here in Queensland, they can't get anyone to finance it. Coal is here for a while yet but renewables are making their mark world wide and will continue to grow...Buffett has also heavily invested in Renewables..

It's been a while since I priced it out, I'm sure the prices have dropped substantially in the past few years.
I am not a fan of government subsidies and I certainly don't factor rebates in with prices - but if the price for an installed system has dropped into the 5k range, then I might just jump on it this summer.  At $5,000 the payoff period is within my lifetime.

One thing to consider, here in Seattle only about 1/3 of the energy is from coal, the rest- it's either hydroelectric or natural gas.  Installing a solar array might not really make any sense in that situation.  Not to mention my house is heated by natural gas.  I barely use any electricity during the day.  In the summer my power bill is 50% taxes/infrastructure/surcharges.

[Retro Rocket]

One thing to consider when installing something like this is the initial outlay makes room for more money in your pocket monthly, when the bills come in, I know that sounds weird but you soon forget the initial outlay when you have more money in your pocket each month. Its not uncommon here  to have $300 dollar a month power bills, {I know several people with higher bills, its not uncommon}, you can now see why its a viable proposition in Australia...

[Bankerdanny]

It's  not a joke, what it is is a hit piece but yet another a-hole journalist who feel superior to those hicks in the country.

One guy apparently did make a comment about the panels taking energy away from the sun.

But everyone else in town was worried about property values and taking up agricultural land. The decision not to build the solar farm had nothing to do with "stealing energy"

[Retro Rocket]

It's  not a joke, what it is is a hit piece but yet another a-hole journalist who feel superior to those hicks in the country.

One guy apparently did make a comment about the panels taking energy away from the sun.

But everyone else in town was worried about property values and taking up agricultural land. The decision not to build the solar farm had nothing to do with "stealing energy"

How is it going to damage property values..? 

[Justin]

It's  not a joke, what it is is a hit piece but yet another a-hole journalist who feel superior to those hicks in the country.

One guy apparently did make a comment about the panels taking energy away from the sun.

But everyone else in town was worried about property values and taking up agricultural land. The decision not to build the solar farm had nothing to do with "stealing energy"

How is it going to damage property values..?

I think people think solar farms are unsightly.

Back home in Aus we used solar everything. My parents have been "off the grid" for almost 10 years, get paid for their surplus electricity and they live in a metropolitan city, not out in woop woop BFE.


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[Retro Rocket]

It's  not a joke, what it is is a hit piece but yet another a-hole journalist who feel superior to those hicks in the country.

One guy apparently did make a comment about the panels taking energy away from the sun.

But everyone else in town was worried about property values and taking up agricultural land. The decision not to build the solar farm had nothing to do with "stealing energy"

How is it going to damage property values..?

I think people think solar farms are unsightly.

Wonder what they think of coal fired power stations then...?  or coal mines for that matter...

[faux fiddy]

Duct tape won't fix stupid, but it will muffle the sound!

Sure does have a pretty mouth.

[eigenvector]

Thought I'd toss this out there since the costs were discussed.
A quote from Seattle's utility provider
"Residential solar electric systems in Seattle typically cost $4,000 - $7,000 per kilowatt (kW) installed, depending on equipment choices and design complexity. A typical residential system is 3 - 6 kW"

That puts the cost estimate between $12,000 and $42,000  for the installation.

I have most definitely changed my mind about installing it - not until I hit the lottery big time.

[Don R]

 A post on facebook says free energy is right around the corner. Making power from sand. Better get in on the ground floor soon, call for more information.

[strynboen]

then sand cast"s gets more expensive.....

[Don R]

 I'm betting all the new windmills will create friction and slow the earths rotation and then they will add time to the clock and make the work day longer. Or not.

[faux fiddy]

This sucks.

[grcamna2]

I NEED more energy from the sun,we haven't any sunshine here and it's so dark I have to run the indoor lights for many days.

[Retro Rocket]

Thought I'd toss this out there since the costs were discussed.
A quote from Seattle's utility provider
"Residential solar electric systems in Seattle typically cost $4,000 - $7,000 per kilowatt (kW) installed, depending on equipment choices and design complexity. A typical residential system is 3 - 6 kW"

That puts the cost estimate between $12,000 and $42,000  for the installation.

I have most definitely changed my mind about installing it - not until I hit the lottery big time.

Thats ridiculously expensive....

http://superiorsolarsolutions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/INVT-5kw.png

[flybox1]

Thought I'd toss this out there since the costs were discussed.
A quote from Seattle's utility provider
"Residential solar electric systems in Seattle typically cost $4,000 - $7,000 per kilowatt (kW) installed, depending on equipment choices and design complexity. A typical residential system is 3 - 6 kW"

That puts the cost estimate between $12,000 and $42,000  for the installation.

I have most definitely changed my mind about installing it - not until I hit the lottery big time.

Federal loans for PV systems have a crazy low interest rates, and with local PUD incentives of up to $2000 per residence, and federal govt incentives, the energy you generate back to the grid might be more than the loan payments.
gotta dig into the math more to be sure, and factor in our few short months where sunlight is optimal.

[Retro Rocket]

Thought I'd toss this out there since the costs were discussed.
A quote from Seattle's utility provider
"Residential solar electric systems in Seattle typically cost $4,000 - $7,000 per kilowatt (kW) installed, depending on equipment choices and design complexity. A typical residential system is 3 - 6 kW"

That puts the cost estimate between $12,000 and $42,000  for the installation.

I have most definitely changed my mind about installing it - not until I hit the lottery big time.

Federal loans for PV systems have a crazy low interest rates, and with local PUD incentives of up to $2000 per residence, and federal govt incentives, the energy you generate back to the grid might be more than the loan payments.
gotta dig into the math more to be sure, and factor in our few short months where sunlight is optimal.

As long as there's daylight they generate power, cloudy days and all....

Solar Myth 2: Solar doesn't work in cool, cloudy, or foggy climates. Fact: Solar panels work just fine in ambient light and will produce significant energy in the fog or on overcast days. In fact, solar panels are actually more efficient at cooler temperatures than hot ones.

[flybox1]

Yes, cloudy days and all.    By optimal I was referring to position in the sky.
the last few days the sun has been behind the trees about 2pm 

[Retro Rocket]

Yes, cloudy days and all.    By optimal I was referring to position in the sky.
the last few days the sun has been behind the trees about 2pm 

 They'll still generate some power in this instance, but no where near as much, there are actually panels that are more efficient than others in shady conditions, one company I read about is even generating power from moonlight, which is just  reflected sunlight, cool eh.....

[madmtnmotors]

Yes, cloudy days and all.    By optimal I was referring to position in the sky.
the last few days the sun has been behind the trees about 2pm 

 They'll still generate some power in this instance, but no where near as much, there are actually panels that are more efficient than others in shady conditions, one company I read about is even generating power from moonlight, which is just  reflected sunlight, cool eh.....

Watch out you don't get a "moonburn" while installing it!     

[Retro Rocket]

They'll still generate some power in this instance, but no where near as much...

In order for there to be a reimbursement, there needs to be a surplus to the energy used. In most states, its net metering by law. But that assumes you can install a system to cover the entire usage plus produce overage. Not particularly easy to do here on older homes, or in some climates in the US. Southern California is promising due to more temperate climates and the fact that many homes don't have A/C systems, which is a significant system draw.

Solar is a very good energy source and once that has a good ROI despite heavy upfront costs.

 My neighbor has a 5 KW system and it pays him a dividend, he was using over $4000 a year in power before installing the solar system, now he makes money... He has a Large swimming pool, huge fish tank, a 1 bedroom flat at the rear of the house and both house and flat are air conditioned. He's had the system 2 years and its already paid for itself...
I can't for the life of me work out why solar is so expensive in some parts of the States, world demand for panels has gone through the roof and the price has dropped dramatically...