Re: Profitable Solar Power - A suggestion

On 26 Aug 2005 18:06:14 GMT, Dave Hinz <DaveHinz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>On 26 Aug 2005 10:59:04 -0700, Andy <andysharpe@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Andy writes:
>>
>> As long as more energy is required to MAKE a solar cell than the
>> solar cell can generate in it's lifetime, solar cells will never be
>> more
>> than a plaything for environmentalists.
>
>If that was true, then the dollars wouldn't work out. Are you saying
>that, in the lifetime of a solar cell, you'll never save as much money
>as you paid for it? Dollars have a marvellous way of cutting through
>all the variables. Are you saying there's _no_ payback period for a
>solar panel, ever?

Nope. Just that they haven't been able to produce a solar panel yet that has
produced more energy than it took to make it. The person buying it may get more
energy from it than HE had before, but it's still a net loss for the society.
Until we find a way to break that barrier(and maybe the laws of physics are
what's stopping us ;) ) it might be hard claiming the future will benefit from
photovoltaics.
>
>> The most useful idea is to reduce our demand. Otherwise, it is
>> all smoke and mirrors.
>
>Of course. But discounting a workable solution by saying it has no
>potential to pay back, is in this case not something I've seen evidence
>of.

It's kind of hard to claim PV is doing any "paying back" when it's actually
draining energy resources from the planet. It's also hard to call that a
"workable solution".
.

Relevant Pages

  • Solar Cell attains 40.7% efficiency
    ... New World Record Achieved In Solar Cell Technology ... U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable ...
    (sci.energy.hydrogen)
  • Re: Solar Cell Efficiency
    ... Because of the nature of solar energy, with the photons adding ... junction solar cells are designed such at higher energy photons ... light into the solar cell while making a low resistance connection. ...
    (sci.energy)
  • Re: Solar Cell Efficiency
    ... >>Is there any real feisible way to increase the efficiency of a solar ... Because of the nature of solar energy, with the photons adding ... > light into the solar cell while making a low resistance connection. ...
    (sci.energy)
  • Re: Profitable Solar Power - A suggestion
    ... As long as more energy is required to MAKE a solar cell than the ... that, in the lifetime of a solar cell, you'll never save as much money ... Just that they haven't been able to produce a solar panel yet ...
    (misc.rural)
  • Re: Profitable Solar Power - A suggestion
    ... As long as more energy is required to MAKE a solar cell than the ... that, in the lifetime of a solar cell, you'll never save as much money ... Just that they haven't been able to produce a solar panel yet that has ...
    (misc.rural)