Welcome to the Solar Century

[trebuchet03]

Welcome to the Solar Century http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com...solar-century/

Until a few years ago the suggestion that solar power might provide the answer to the intertwined problems of long term energy security and climate change would have been dismissed as a pipedream. The high cost of solar cells, their inefficiency in converting the sun’s rays into electricity and the lack of state investment or assistance for renewable energy start-ups meant there was little hope.


Does anyone have any information on the "new research" that PV for home use is generates more greenhouse gases than the energy it offsets?


And I totally didn't realize the solar program in Germany - that's really cool

[roflwaffle]

A German co was nanosolar's first order. As for the Carbon statement, I think the author must be in error. The only thing I could think of is that with a sufficiently inefficient/Carbon intensive power source they may not pay themselves off in terms of Carbon emissions. Everything I've read points to a decade for energy payback.

[cfg83]

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

Welcome to the Solar Century http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com...solar-century/

Until a few years ago the suggestion that solar power might provide the answer to the intertwined problems of long term energy security and climate change would have been dismissed as a pipedream. The high cost of solar cells, their inefficiency in converting the sun’s rays into electricity and the lack of state investment or assistance for renewable energy start-ups meant there was little hope.


Does anyone have any information on the "new research" that PV for home use is generates more greenhouse gases than the energy it offsets?


And I totally didn't realize the solar program in Germany - that's really cool

Where is this new research? Is it because of the "redundant systems" that are installed to support a decentralized solar system? I keep thinking that once solar gets rolling, the energy inputs could come from a solar power plant.

I'm just happy that billions of solar cats are finally being listened to!!!!!



CarloSW2

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by cfg83

I keep thinking that once solar gets rolling, the energy inputs could come from a solar power plant.

I've always had the same thing in mind... In theory, foe each PV that comes online to the grid - future PVs have less mfr. emissions... in theory

[cfg83]

trebuchet03 -

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

I've always had the same thing in mind... In theory, foe each PV that comes online to the grid - future PVs have less mfr. emissions... in theory

Again, in my perfect world, the PV factory would have sufficient real estate to setup it's own solar generation plant.

But, I don't know the solar panel manufacturing process in detail, so I don't know if there is a mandatory greenhouse gas penalty in its current form.

CarloSW2