Comments on: Solar Power Costs Falling http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/solar-power-costs-50-lower-than-last.html Thoughts on the Middle East, History and Religion Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:17:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anonymous http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/solar-power-costs-50-lower-than-last.html#comment-1022 Anonymous Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:24:47 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4810#comment-1022 I am a Research Scientist. I have a degree in Chemistry and a degree in Chemical Engineering. I was involved in a NASA sponsored research project at JPL/CalTech developing Cadmium Sulfide solar cells from 1979-1987. We had the technical capability to produce solar cell arrays that could have been economically competitive with petroleum produced electricity.<br /><br />I am now retired but I still have my research notes, project reports, task reviews, published papers (American Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology; april-june 1984) etc., etc.<br /><br />I have been telling people for years about the work we did and our results...no one gives a damn. <br /><br />The large oil companies and other big money and political (Republican) interests shut our Research project down in 1987...that is a fact. <br /><br />Nothing is new. Same old BS. People are unbelievably stupid. <br /><br />That is a fact, too.<br /><br />davr I am a Research Scientist. I have a degree in Chemistry and a degree in Chemical Engineering. I was involved in a NASA sponsored research project at JPL/CalTech developing Cadmium Sulfide solar cells from 1979-1987. We had the technical capability to produce solar cell arrays that could have been economically competitive with petroleum produced electricity.

I am now retired but I still have my research notes, project reports, task reviews, published papers (American Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology; april-june 1984) etc., etc.

I have been telling people for years about the work we did and our results…no one gives a damn.

The large oil companies and other big money and political (Republican) interests shut our Research project down in 1987…that is a fact.

Nothing is new. Same old BS. People are unbelievably stupid.

That is a fact, too.

davr

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/solar-power-costs-50-lower-than-last.html#comment-1016 Anonymous Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:09:01 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4810#comment-1016 The price of oil will continue to increase. The price for solar power will get cheaper and cheaper. I figure that in the end the oil companies will get Congress to either subsidizes oil and gas or tax solar power. The price of oil will continue to increase. The price for solar power will get cheaper and cheaper. I figure that in the end the oil companies will get Congress to either subsidizes oil and gas or tax solar power.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/solar-power-costs-50-lower-than-last.html#comment-999 Anonymous Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:03:33 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4810#comment-999 Actually, solar hot water is possible in New England, where I once had it. It won't get you 120 degree water, but it will get you to use less gas in heating it by a wide margin. Actually, solar hot water is possible in New England, where I once had it. It won't get you 120 degree water, but it will get you to use less gas in heating it by a wide margin.

]]> By: Deborah Mefferd http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/solar-power-costs-50-lower-than-last.html#comment-996 Deborah Mefferd Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:55:50 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4810#comment-996 I also live in California and paid $50,000 for a solar power system for new construction (residential) in Nov. 2007. No subsidies available. Why? The house is off the grid. The power system works beautifully, provides 100 percent of our power in all but the worst winter weather when we boost for a few hours with a generator, but it would have been cheaper to have PG and E (local utility) bring in a line. We went for the more expensive solar since fortunately we could afford it and also based on principle and our desire to be energy independent in the future. The solar technology is here now, it works well, is not difficult to install, and it is crazy that it is so difficult for homeowners, let alone businesses, to take advantage of it. I also live in California and paid $50,000 for a solar power system for new construction (residential) in Nov. 2007. No subsidies available. Why? The house is off the grid. The power system works beautifully, provides 100 percent of our power in all but the worst winter weather when we boost for a few hours with a generator, but it would have been cheaper to have PG and E (local utility) bring in a line. We went for the more expensive solar since fortunately we could afford it and also based on principle and our desire to be energy independent in the future. The solar technology is here now, it works well, is not difficult to install, and it is crazy that it is so difficult for homeowners, let alone businesses, to take advantage of it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/solar-power-costs-50-lower-than-last.html#comment-992 Anonymous Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:31:20 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4810#comment-992 As a fellow Michigander I too have been looking to see when the solar industry would evolve here in Michigan. Unfortunately for all, most of the solar equipment made in the world today comes from China. I wish it was made here in Michigan. Wind energy is also being utilized more. Windmills are another thing I wish were made here in Michigan. There are several islands in the Great Lakes that windmills and solar panels could be placed on to generate electricity. With a combination of wind and solar with a power storage unit it would be possible to never be on the grid again and to sell the excess capacity back. With all our rivers I am surprised that there is not more hydro-electrical facilities around too. We have some of the best colleges in the Country with the brains to develop some of the best equipment and manufacturing practices for the conversion to a non-carbon based power grid. We have a manufacturing work force ready to go back to work too. <br /><br />Marc Custer<br />Battle Creek, MI As a fellow Michigander I too have been looking to see when the solar industry would evolve here in Michigan. Unfortunately for all, most of the solar equipment made in the world today comes from China. I wish it was made here in Michigan. Wind energy is also being utilized more. Windmills are another thing I wish were made here in Michigan. There are several islands in the Great Lakes that windmills and solar panels could be placed on to generate electricity. With a combination of wind and solar with a power storage unit it would be possible to never be on the grid again and to sell the excess capacity back. With all our rivers I am surprised that there is not more hydro-electrical facilities around too. We have some of the best colleges in the Country with the brains to develop some of the best equipment and manufacturing practices for the conversion to a non-carbon based power grid. We have a manufacturing work force ready to go back to work too.

Marc Custer
Battle Creek, MI

]]> By: spyguy68 http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/solar-power-costs-50-lower-than-last.html#comment-987 spyguy68 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:44:01 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4810#comment-987 From a human time perspective there are ONLY four "permanent" sources of energy:<br /><br />- The thermonuclear fusion of the Sun. Wind, hydroelectric, etc. are all just derivatives of solar energy. Even the trees that are cut and burned are just stored solar energy.<br /><br />- The internal heart of the earth.<br /><br />- Gravitational reactions between the Earth, Sun and the Moon (there are many others but they are minuscule)<br /><br />- Fusion reactor - Still only theoretical. Humans have been able to achieve fusion but not on a continuous basis. Unlike fission reactor which use fuel (uranium), fusion basically creates its own fuel. <br /><br />All other forms of energy are "short term." that is petroleum, uranium, etc. are all finite and will be used up by humans in a relatively short time frame. Note that hydrogen is not a primary energy source per say, but a means to store energy for a period of time in a transportable form. From a human time perspective there are ONLY four "permanent" sources of energy:

- The thermonuclear fusion of the Sun. Wind, hydroelectric, etc. are all just derivatives of solar energy. Even the trees that are cut and burned are just stored solar energy.

- The internal heart of the earth.

- Gravitational reactions between the Earth, Sun and the Moon (there are many others but they are minuscule)

- Fusion reactor – Still only theoretical. Humans have been able to achieve fusion but not on a continuous basis. Unlike fission reactor which use fuel (uranium), fusion basically creates its own fuel.

All other forms of energy are "short term." that is petroleum, uranium, etc. are all finite and will be used up by humans in a relatively short time frame. Note that hydrogen is not a primary energy source per say, but a means to store energy for a period of time in a transportable form.

]]> By: G. http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/solar-power-costs-50-lower-than-last.html#comment-986 G. Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:39:58 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4810#comment-986 Here in Australia the government is providing (a) free home assessments for green living, (b) rebates on installation of solar panels, roof installation and rainwater tanks (sometimes making these things virtually free by the time you gt your money back) and (c) interest-free loans up to $10,000 for green additions to your home. <br /><br />The take-up is strong: people want to make these changes, it's only govt and business standing in the way. Here in Australia the government is providing (a) free home assessments for green living, (b) rebates on installation of solar panels, roof installation and rainwater tanks (sometimes making these things virtually free by the time you gt your money back) and (c) interest-free loans up to $10,000 for green additions to your home.

The take-up is strong: people want to make these changes, it's only govt and business standing in the way.

]]> By: vaandering http://www.juancole.com/2009/11/solar-power-costs-50-lower-than-last.html#comment-985 vaandering Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:35:06 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4810#comment-985 With all due respect Juan, aren’t you undermining the impact of your courageous efforts, by catering technical misconception to those who are trying to reap benefit from sowing environmental confusion?<br /><br />If the miraculous wonder were to be true, how many free square feet would an average person have above his head, without standing in the shadow of more predatory others? With all due respect Juan, aren’t you undermining the impact of your courageous efforts, by catering technical misconception to those who are trying to reap benefit from sowing environmental confusion?

If the miraculous wonder were to be true, how many free square feet would an average person have above his head, without standing in the shadow of more predatory others?

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