Posted on 04/27/2017 9:06:33 AM PDT by Hojczyk
While that’s quite remarkable, wind and solar together still supply less than 1.5% of America’s energy. Fast growth from a small number is like winning $100 in Vegas on a $10 bet. Nice, but not life-changing.
To find a “radical and pervasive” change in energy markets we have to look elsewhere. Over the same decade noted above, the amount of energy added to America from shale hydrocarbons was 2,000% greater than the additional supply from solar and wind combined. That actual revolution also happened because of the maturation of new technologies. But, notably, in this case it took place without the stimulus of special subsidies.
The scale and velocity of the shale revolution is underappreciated. It is the fastest and biggest addition to world energy supply -- not just hydrocarbons, but all forms of energy -- that has occurred in history. The only time something close to as dramatic has occurred was in the decade following the 1968 opening of Saudi Arabia’s giant Ghawar oil field.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearenergy.org ...
Pod cast at site 17 minutes
It won’t go anywhere unless the pipelines are built to move it to market.
The under-discussed angle in “vs solar” arguments is independence. I can collect solar power at home; I can’t dig & process shale. With an EV and solar roof, I can continue if the grid & gas go down.
Do solar roofs function in the winter when covered with snow?
The individual autonomy that solar offers is very often overlooked here on FR. I’m pleased and even excited at the possibilities, personally. The price keeps falling, the watts keep rising. I’ve been heavily researching the matter to put as large a solar array as possible onto an old RV to make it into an ideal wild camping machine. There are portable wind turbines, too, that produce a surprising amount of power if you’ve got a steady wind of 10 mph or more.
If you rake the snow off, yes, they do. Does your car function in the winter with the windshield covered in snow?
I don't have to climb a ladder in 20 degree temperatures and blowing snow to get on top of my car to brush the snow off the windshield........
There’s this wonderful invention called a roof rake, you see.
Solar was born in 1953 and since that time it has maybe gotten 5% more efficient. It seems that every decade some new group invest large sums hoping for a break thru, but nada.The life expectancy of the latest systems of about 20 years may break even assuming the price of energy “necessarily sky rockets” or be a loss if it doesn’t.
Solar power use will continue to increase as the technology improves and costs come down
Most effective use of solar is as a distributed residential system that generates daytime power to offset daytime peak power demands
Doesn’t meaningful snow in GA.
Had one, they're useless.....and on two story houses they're impossible.
I figured that......
Thanks for the post. I am looking forward to 2 and 3.
Well, I guess you’ll just have to put your panels on a rack on the ground, then.
Thanks for the info!
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