Cloudy Outlook For Solar Panels: Costs Substantially Eclipse Benefits, Study Shows

mkpdavies · 22-02-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Despite increasing popular support for solar photovoltaic panels in the United States, their costs far outweigh the benefits, according to a new analysis by Severin Borenstein, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business and director of the UC Energy Institute.

No ****. And that's in the sunny US of A. Nevermind here. Woking council has blown a fortune of these panels, with no chance of ever recouping the cash. Still, as it's stolen money from people like me, why should they care?

Quote:

"Solar photovoltaic (PV) is a very exciting technology, but the current technology is not economic," said Borenstein. "We are throwing money away by installing the current solar PV technology, which is a loser."

Sense at last. We are trying to run, before we can walk. Get the technology right and then you won't need subsidies, because people will want the product anyway!

I'm keeping an eye on that company that makes foil like solar panels for peanuts. That might be the first truly worthwhile attempt at "alternative" energy.

brian pearson · 22-02-2008, 12:47 PM

Sticking ugly solar panels on the tops of houses is like driving a Toyota Prius. It says 'look at our environmentaly friendly I am' but if looked into with any sort of depth the opposite is probably true.

Battery technology thanks to mobile phones is racing forward and solar panels may be worth the effort in the future. None of us can compete with a big nuclear power station when it comes to generating clean, cost efficient electricity.

Britannist · 22-02-2008, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian pearson

Sticking ugly solar panels on the tops of houses is like driving a Toyota Prius. It says 'look at our environmentaly friendly I am' but if looked into with any sort of depth the opposite is probably true.

I am pro-solar energy but strongly against wind turbine eyesores. The tiny ones some people put on the top of their house don't even produce enough electricity to power a kettle.

I agree (as you imply in your posting Brian) that nuclear power is necessary.

Besoeker · 22-02-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britannist

I am pro-solar energy but strongly against wind turbine eyesores. The tiny ones some people put on the top of their house don't even produce enough electricity to power a kettle.
.

Do PV cells?

g hall · 25-02-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Besoeker

Do PV cells?

Here you go Bessie a simple search of Al Gore's internet found this

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about PV.

I think that PV is better then turbines and is not so aesthetically displeasing

Britannist · 25-02-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about PV.

Thank you for the above link, G. Hall. Hopefully Besoeker will get the answer to the question he has asked on this.

Britannist · 25-02-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

I think that PV is better then turbines and is not so aesthetically displeasing

Thank you for your agreement, G. Hall. Yes, solar is better than wind turbine eyesores.

g hall · 25-02-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britannist

Thank you for your agreement, G. Hall. Yes, solar is better than wind turbine eyesores.

That's what our cats say and based on their behaviour I would agree
I believe Garfield made the original statement about cats being solar powered but I'm darned if I can find it

Britannist · 25-02-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

That's what our cats say and based on their behaviour I would agree....

Cats know an ugly building when they see one - and wind turbine eyesores are the best examples of an ugly building they are likely to find.

Besoeker · 25-02-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g hall

Here you go Bessie a simple search of Al Gore's internet found this

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about PV.

I think that PV is better then turbines and is not so aesthetically displeasing

Great.....

Quote:

To give a rough estimation, you could expect to pay between £8,000 and £15,000 on a typical domestic installation of 1.5 kW. Please check the examples in the UK projects database to get a clearer picture of actual system costs.

Eight grand or more and still not enough power for a domestic electric kettle.

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22-02-2008, 12:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
brian pearson Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: nottinghanshire Posts: 601	Sticking ugly solar panels on the tops of houses is like driving a Toyota Prius. It says 'look at our environmentaly friendly I am' but if looked into with any sort of depth the opposite is probably true. Battery technology thanks to mobile phones is racing forward and solar panels may be worth the effort in the future. None of us can compete with a big nuclear power station when it comes to generating clean, cost efficient electricity.