Solar power.

[mindh4X0rz]

Why don't people us it?

[deus-redux]

Because PV cells are expensive.

-deus-

[Seriously]

Yep, but if more people used it and state or federal governments provided more incentives for the use,development, and manufacturing of the technology the prices would rapidly drop; like it has done in California. As it is, it's cheaper in the long run but most people only think about how they can save money now.

[Trousersnake]

Dollars and sense (a lack of).

Other influences like location...say you're living in an appartment complex...where are you going to put the panels?

[Slave of the Beast]

Well, at least in the northern hemisphere, when energy is most needed sunlight is at its weakest. Which given the relatively poor efficency and expense of solar cells makes their use unappealing.

[Seriously]

Yes, I agree location is a major factor. Research and development could help to limit the role that factor has to play though. Look at what container shipping has done for international trade.

As for the aparment complex, laws could be passed that require office or apartment buildings to get a percentage of their electricity from renewable energy systems. Wind turbines on top of the roofs so long as there is not a building code to prevent it or solar panels installed on some of the spaces between windows, all owned by the company that owns the building. They could then market their building as a free electricity building. I bet that would keep the occupancy rate at 99 - 100%.

[mindh4X0rz]

Well we better start figuring out how to use it. There's only about 30 years worth of fossil fuel left.

[Soda_Can_Sniper]

People are idiots, that's why.

Take a look at this - it's a building in Dubai, UAE. Now tell me why all that blue reflective glass/paneling couldn't be solar cells.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/140957019_e1fce5505e.jpg?v=0

2L to tinyurl

[Ressotami]

quote:Originally posted by mindh4X0rz:

There's only about 30 years worth of fossil fuel left.

That's a really ballpark figure. Oil is the only fossil fuel that even comes close to that number. Gas reserves are estimated to last another 200+ years. Coal reserves an estimated 600 years. What are you basing that on?

[Real.PUA]

^at current rates of consumption. But back to the topic, yeah solar is just plain expensive. Even with subsidies and shit it wont pay itself off for a few decades. Long term that's not a great investment.

[EtherFreak]

solar power is still relativly inefficient, and we still do not know long term how these solar panels will last. I.E. they may have a 40 year life, or they may have a 100 year life, or longer, but seeing how the technology came out around 25 years ago at an afordable price, who knows...

here is some math for you, one watt of power is 5 dolars, a 100 watt pannel costs 500$, plus if you want power at night, then you need baterys. 1 ah =75 cents (12 v baterys).

now a normal house uses around, lets say at tops, 4000 watts (thats 40 amps at 100 v).

4000*5=20 thousand for panels alone, during a nice sunny day. you need more panels if you expect to use that during the day, and charge baterys.

I am going to say you need around $60,000 for a regular household, in around 8 hours of sun a day. I think I could buy a house for that.

as for the people who live off the grid, they are being VERY energy efficent, and usualy have around a 100-800 watt system.

[ArgonPlasma2000]

quote:Originally posted by Seriously:

Yep, but if more people used it and state or federal governments provided more incentives for the use,development, and manufacturing of the technology the prices would rapidly drop; like it has done in California. As it is, it's cheaper in the long run but most people only think about how they can save money now.

There is also a HUGE energy and petrochemical sink into making them. In the far long term (years to decades) they start making net power, but until nanotechnology makes them cheap (due within a few years), they will never be widespread.

[manfromitaly]

I would invest in some solar panels if there were a good battery.

[emag]

solar panels are so expensive b/c all of the oil & electricity companies have bought out most of the manufacturers and keep the prices high so people will keep buying energy from them...

[EtherFreak]

um, no emag... they are expensive because of the process it takes to make them, and also there is a nasty chemical waste produced with the manufacuring of solar panels. as for baterys, there are ok baterys out, its the cost of the panel and knowledge required that scares most people away.

[mindh4X0rz]

Why doesn't some rich son of a bitch just start mass producing them and then sell them at low prices. He'll lose a lot of money at first but in the long run he'll probably become the richest person in history.

[-metalhead-]

quote:Originally posted by Ressotami:

That's a really ballpark figure. Oil is the only fossil fuel that even comes close to that number. Gas reserves are estimated to last another 200+ years. Coal reserves an estimated 600 years. What are you basing that on?



Liberal bullshit is what he's basing it on.

[avivsworld]

quote:Originally posted by Soda_Can_Sniper:

People are idiots, that's why.

Take a look at this - it's a building in Dubai, UAE. Now tell me why all that blue reflective glass/paneling couldn't be solar cells.

ht tp://farm1 .static.flickr.com/56/140957019_e1fce5505e.jpg?v=0 (http: //farm1.st atic.flick r.com/56/1 40957019_e 1fce5505e. jpg?v=0)

2L to tinyurl



I'll assume that's because they want to look through it.

Etherfreak: My electricity is about 17c/kWhr (i'm Australian)

[WorBlux]

it's expensive enificient, and even utilizign it, backup energy sources are still needed for the night and cloudy days. Nuclear power is by far more feasible, and usig a breeder reactor,there's plenty of fissiobable nuclear material to last until someone figures our how to build a hyrdogen fussion nuclear reactor. aT THAT POINT all the water in the ocean will become potential fuel.