Sun Edison - Solar Energy is too expensive?

[SuburbanFarmer]

God forbid that we actually do the right thing for once, rather than the popular one.

Did you just point out the fatal flaw in democracy?

[PartyOf5]

God forbid that we actually do the right thing for once, rather than the popular one.

Did you just point out the fatal flaw in democracy?

The media has made sure that the popular opinion is that Nuclear power is the end of the world waiting to happen. The "politcally" popular thing is to stay away from Nuclear power.

That's not really a fatal flaw in democracy. It's the flaw of self-serving humans with power.

[SuburbanFarmer]

God forbid that we actually do the right thing for once, rather than the popular one.

Did you just point out the fatal flaw in democracy?

The media has made sure that the popular opinion is that Nuclear power is the end of the world waiting to happen. The "politcally" popular thing is to stay away from Nuclear power.

That's not really a fatal flaw in democracy. It's the flaw of self-serving humans with power.

So... corruption. That thing that Democracy was supposed to fix.

[C-Mag]

http://www.businessinsider.com/report-s ... tcy-2016-4

And it's just getting worse:

https://cases.primeclerk.com/sunedison/Home-DocketInfo

This is an old article, but the link directly above is new with information, but the real question comes is this. Is Solar Energy too expensive?

I still think that Solar Panels used in another format than how they are being used could be cost effective, but what I am seeing now, the cost of a solar panel system on a house, or anything else large/larger scale like what SunEdison attempted makes solar power cost-ineffective.

A 10KW system still costs about $36,000... companies like PG&E are paying so little to people that to recoup the costs of the initial investments would take decades... if at all. (in some cases a new roof would be installed before that happens)

I seriously am doubting that the way things are if we can actually solve our "energy consumption" by "clean energy" alone. We may just have to use Nuclear Power Plants to resolve this issue short term.

I refuse to accept that "wind" is the way to go as well, with it's effect on nature and animals, it is in some cases more deadly than super solar collector sites.

Let me start with this on Alternative Energy. It will not be a 1st World Nation that cracks this nut. We have a couple strikes against us.
1. We don't have the Demand at this time
2. We have Big Energy Conglomerates that control our Energy Production, and they won't give up that power.

As far as Solar, we aren't there yet with technology, but it is coming. Take for instance Printed Photovoltaic Cells. I think this is the answer to cheap Solar. Get the right weather proof paper and Copier Powder and print your own cells. That shit will never fly in the US, but it will happen in some backwater country with the demand.


Looking forward. In another 50 years Photovoltaic cells are going to be available for installation for just about anything. There will be clear applications that go over your windows, they will be in new roofing materials, covering your commuter car. Here is a good example of something I just bought last night.

I bought two exterior light sets. They each come with a 5" x 8" Solar panel, rechargeable batteries, 3- 4" X 4" LED light panels and a photo eye sensor. Cost $30. What made and exterior light like this possible is 2 things. Low Energy Demand Lighting and Lithium Batteries. Tech has to improve in 3 areas to make this increasingly viable.
1. Reduce Photovotaic Cell Cost
2. Increase Energy Conservation without giving up performance (like LED lights)
3. Better and Affordable Batteries for storage of energy.

[Okeefenokee]

God forbid that we actually do the right thing for once, rather than the popular one.

Did you just point out the fatal flaw in democracy?

The flaw is universal enfranchisement. Dan talked about this a couple years ago. The more enfranchisement has been opened up, the worse the outcomes of voting have been.

[Montegriffo]

I think I posted this before in the Earth Matters thread....
PV may be a thing of the past for large solar energy plants.
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2016112 ... wer-europe
No more rare Earth elements required with this low tech solution.....

But normally the reflectors can be heard as they move together to follow the Sun like a giant field of sunflowers. The mirrors focus the Sun’s energy onto a synthetic oil that flows through a network of pipes. Reaching temperatures up to 350C (662F), the hot oil is used to produce high-pressure water vapour that drives a turbine-powered generator. “It’s the same classic process used with fossil fuels, except that we are using the Sun’s heat as the source,” says Bayed.

The plant keeps generating energy after sunset, when electricity demands peak. Some of the day’s energy is stored in reservoirs of superhot molten salts made of sodium and potassium nitrates, which keeps production going for up to three hours. In the next phase of the plant, production will continue for up to eight hours after sunset.

[TheReal_ND]

That is cool. There's got to be a biochemical way to harness sun light as well.

[SuburbanFarmer]

That is cool. There's got to be a biochemical way to harness sun light as well.

There are many. Algae, coal, oil, all do that. They just trap it in carbon, which, it turns out, is bad to release all at once.

[TheReal_ND]

Huh

[Ex-California]

Build more nuke plants