Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 02/15/2009 8:24:17 AM PST by Clint Williams
Only those trying to cash in on the latest junk science. LOL
Liberalism loves junk science.
The efficiency of solar cells is measured as a percentage of light energy they convert to electricity. Silicon solar cells finally reached 25% in late December. But multi-junction solar cells can achieve efficiencies greater than 40%.Ouch.Although touted as the future of solar power, those and most other multiple-junction cells owe their performance to the rare metal indium, which is far from abundant. There are fewer than 10 indium-containing minerals, and none present in significant deposits – in total the metal accounts for a paltry 0.25 parts per million of the Earth's crust.
Most of the rare and expensive element is used to manufacture LCD screens, an industry that has driven indium prices to $1000 per kilogram in recent years. Estimates that did not factor in an explosion in indium-containing solar panels reckon we have only a 10 year supply of it left.
If power from the Sun is to become a major source of electricity, solar panels would have to cover huge areas, making an alternative to indium essential.
Now *there’s* a source I’ve rarely seen posted on FR. :)
And, that's because liberalism embraces "feel-goodism." Tell a bunch of know-nothings that salvation is already available and they'll believe you every time.
In all of the discussions I've heard of "solar panels" and solar energy, I don't recall hearing of the equipment required to support this effort. For example, and to be brief, you don't simply plug-in to solar panels and you're good to go. That DC energy coming off the panels must be converted to 117 and 220 volt alternating current and, in addition, a means of storing that energy must be provided. This makes the solar energy thing viable for 24 hour per day use. Simply put, there is no sunlight during dark hours and, in addition, solar panels produce little or no DC voltage/current on cloudy days.
Under the circumstances I'm not sure it's wise to rely on it for making our power supply function.
I agree, and I have a 50KW solar installation on line...
Solar ane wind power are jokes!
Until they go NUCLEAR, they are NOT SERIOUS about “CLEAN ENERGY”.
100% correct. Nuclear is the only realistic, sustainable, reliable and safe option for baselaod generation. SOlar and wind are fine as mid-merit and supplemental resources but cannot deliver economically or geogpraphically.
Liberal reading the above and thinking to himself, "I don't get it. What that got to do with anything?
That DC energy coming off the panels must be converted to 117 and 220 volt alternating current
Not necessarily. That is done through an inverter and is not efficient. It is far more efficient to store DC for Use in DC appliances than it is to store DC for running an inverter which then powers AC appliances. How does one store AC current? Generally one stores DC current for use when the sun is not shining.
Do you have a link??
Math is Hard!
Whetther it is the answer or not, I think it is a better option than wind but only as a supplemental resource. Now that I read about this issue of the lack of supply of this critical element, I wonder whether it is no better than wind.
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