Shell Introduces New Solar Power Modules

Solar Access News ^ | July 3, 2003 | Staff

[AdamSelene235]

Energy density sucks.

Conversion efficiency sucks.

Transmission sucks.

Storage sucks.

It sucks.

Go nuclear !!!

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[Number_Cruncher]

They will provide peak power of 84 kW, enough to supply 60 typical homes.

They must be excluding electrically heated houses in this calculation. That represents one third of the houses.

[justlurking]

The old thin film and mono-crystalline products:

http://www.nwpwr.com/shell.htm

Are any solar panels made with Lexan covers? Otherwise, they wouldn't last through a single spring hailstorm in Texas.

[AdamSelene235]

They will provide peak power of 84 kW, enough to supply 60 typical homes.

Careful, now is the peak power enough to supply 60 homes or the average power enough?

Gee, what's the diffence between the peak and the *average* power? Usually, its huge.

Furthermore, since the sun doesn't always shine and storage is very messy and expensive, you will ALWAYS HAVE TO BUILD THE SAME NUMBER OF *REAL* POWER PLANTS to get reliable power.

That's right the exact same number of natural gas, coal, and nuke plants will have to constructed with or without this feel good nonsense.

This stuff adds power NOT capacity.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Atlas Sneezed]

"Furthermore, since the sun doesn't always shine and storage is very messy and expensive, you will ALWAYS HAVE TO BUILD THE SAME NUMBER OF *REAL* POWER PLANTS to get reliable power."

Which is why effeciant Hydrogen generation would be nifty (and thus usable for transportation or peak electricity generation.

[Southack]

The SP75's are 16 for $5k. If they keep the SQ80's priced the same, then your best possible under ideal circumstances power cost would be: 16*80*12 hours = 15.4 kwh per day

Times 365 (must be good weather somewhere) days = 553kwh per year or 110.6 kwh per Dollar (about $.01 per kwh).

Which would be cheap enough if you got that much peak Sunlight. With no rain. No clouds.

Somebody out in Arizona is going to love these things. Somebody in London is never even going to get to use them.

[kezekiel]

Most homes with families require at least a 3 kW system, and that's in the LA area. That doesn't stop most press releases from assuming a 1-2 kW load for "homes."

[AdamSelene235]

I doubt the average power is even 30% of the peak number.

If you're off the grid, wind and solar aren't unreasonable options.

They are not solutions for an advancing civilization. Both transmission and storage are nightmares.

[AdamSelene235]

Which is why effeciant Hydrogen generation would be nifty (and thus usable for transportation or peak electricity generation.

Let's see 7X the volume of gasoline for the same energy, oh, and what are you going to store it in?

You purify hydrogen by filtering it through a metal plate.

[null and void]

I have an 800 W unit on my roof. My combined gas & electric bills are in the near $10 range.

If I could sell power to PG&E I'd have a bigger array, but California law says any "excess" power I generate is a GIFT to PG&E.

Of course, Gov. Grayout's new scheme to tax solar power will be an added incentive for new instalations, won't it?...

[kezekiel]

In the LA area, 1 kW of DC solar capacity (closer to 830 watts AC) will generate an average of about 130 kWh each month--a good deal less than the average home would use in a month.

I love solar, but I'm about telling the truth to customers so that they expect what they will get.

[kezekiel]

Furthermore, since the sun doesn't always shine and storage is very messy and expensive, you will ALWAYS HAVE TO BUILD THE SAME NUMBER OF *REAL* POWER PLANTS to get reliable power.

That's an overstatement. Peak periods, where we need all the capacity we can get, are when it is the hottest--in other words, when the sun is out and air conditioners are working overtime. Which is also when solar systems are at or near peak.

[Southack]

"If I could sell power to PG&E I'd have a bigger array, but California law says any "excess" power I generate is a GIFT to PG&E."

But does PG&E declare this "gift" on their tax returns.

If not, then they are setting themselves up for an IRS finANciAL exam.

[AdamSelene235]

That's an overstatement. Peak periods, where we need all the capacity we can get,

How do you synchronize to the grid?

[SWake]

Are any solar panels made with Lexan covers?

The BP panels I have at the farm have been in place for five years and have suffered no damage. I don't know what they are made of, but they must be tough.

[null and void]

Interesting question! PG&E probably couldn't stand too close an ANALisys of their books...

[null and void]

How do you synchronize to the grid?

The DC to AC converter handles that. A 3 kW converter is about half the size of a suitcase.