So they’re saying that with about the same amount of natural gas needed to ONLY produce solar panels you could run a nat gas power plant of the same capacity for 30 years!!
I’m having a hard time believing that. If that was true the cost of solar panels should be a hell of a lot higher.
It’s a long shot, but, maybe I’m missing something.
“So they’re saying that with about the same amount of natural gas needed to ONLY produce solar panels you could run a nat gas power plant of the same capacity for 30 years!!”
OK, nerd time:
China NG cost: 3.570 RMB ($0.50 US) per Cub m (cubic meter, 35.3 cubic feet) = $14.17 per 1,000 cubic feet.
NG electricity capacity: 0.14 kilowatt hours per cubic foot.
Solar Capacity: 300 watts, 250 days a year, 8 hours a day. Average output, but also a tad generous = 18,000 kilowatt hours in a 30 year lifetime.
The cost of NG to produce 18,000 kilowatt hours is $1,810.
So, you’re probably right. The cost to produce a solar panel should be much higher if the carbon costs were related to NG costs.
You’re correct. The Luddites like to leave that info out.