Posted on 07/06/2019 8:58:18 AM PDT by Kaslin
A transition to renewable energy sources is a likely scenario if the anti-fossil establishment manages to persuade lawmakers to implement their green energy policies.
Given the high probability, and the transitions already happening in some countries, it is high-time for us to inspect the functional and operational efficiency of renewable sources, especially the highly acclaimed solar installations.
The Renewable Craze
The so called “craze” about renewable energy is a myth. The top users of fossil fuels are still actively generating power from fossil fuel and are also helping other countries to develop fossil fuel technology.
The major reasons for this are the high cost associated with installation and generating power, and the unreliable nature of the power generated.
The sun sends out abundant energy, yet solar energy can be generated only during the daytime, and any high-power consuming system must rely on other sources for energy during the night. The current industry-standard storage technologies are not sufficient to provide backup during the non-generational hours.
Even during the daytime, solar energy cannot meet the demands of densely populated cities. Even worse, they consume a lot of space while generating proportionately less energy than fossil fuels or nuclear.
When it comes to real estate, solar energy is the worst. Nuclear and fossil fuel plants generate the same energy by consuming only a fraction of space that solar consumes.
Despite these practically undesirable aspects, many countries have gone forward and implemented solar at a large scale. Here’s a look at some of these instances where a transition to renewables had resulted in a net irreversible loss.
Solar Failure in Australia and India
Australia saw a spike in domestic solar installations during the past five years. Around 20 percent of Australian homes have installed rooftop solar. But, it came with baggage.
There have been increasing reports of solar installation failures and even proven cases of fire hazard to the homes. Nearly 17 percent of rooftop solar systems were declared “substandard,” and around 3 percent of all installations were deemed unsafe.
Melbourne Fire Brigade has acknowledged that there have been at least 25 fires in the Melbourne metropolitan area in the past five years started by problems with rooftop solar.
A laboratory in Canberra that conducts commercial testing for solar panels said that even some of the trusted brands produced panels that were defective and that it is practically impossible to spot the faulty panels when purchasing.
Observers of the renewable energy market in Australia attribute the failures to the import of poor-quality solar products and the lack of laws requiring strict quality standards.
In Asia, India seems to suffer from similar problems with substandard solar panels. At international climate conferences, India—one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide—has been vocal and proud about its ambitious 100-gigawatt solar capacity target for 2022.
Yet, on the ground, solar’s future is not so encouraging. Raj Prabhu from Mercom Capital Group—an observer of the Indian energy market—said, “Poor quality installations if not brought under control will affect all installers in the country as word spreads among consumers about unviable projects and poor-quality installs that may not last long. … the current scenario in the residential rooftop segment is untenable.”
Clearly, solar transitions are not panning out as planned. The drawbacks and problems mentioned here are just about the issues related to installation and safety. The inefficiency of solar panels to produce reliable electricity is one of the biggest drawbacks.
The other rarely addressed drawback is the environmental hazard associated with the disposal of used solar panels, which is proving to be more and more difficult and harmful to the environment because of the large amounts of toxic, rare-earth metals in them.
A transition to solar is a recipe for disaster. Wise individual house owners will stay away from solar installations, given the overwhelming evidence of their inefficiency, excessive cost, hazardous nature, and spurious sales of substandard materials.
now ad in the HUGH carbon footprint for production of cells and storage batteries, the short lifespan and waste problems when no longer useful and what do you have? SJW patting themselves on the back over how green they are
Bookmark
I have had solar for two years now and its great in SC. I will say that had I not had the Feds paying 30 pct and SC paying 25 pct of the total cost back to me in tax credits I likely would not have done it. In June I would have had a $300 electric bill but it was $28 due to solar.
Meanwhile, the utilities are raising rates EVERY year from 5 to 9 pct. Factor that in and if you live in the south or southwest solar is a win.
Wow such a hit piece here on FR against solar.
I have about 120 panels. I have 3 rentals. With the benefit of being on the grid, I have essentially no power bill for myself or the rentals. Many of the panels block the sun from heating up my attic space. Benefit there too.
Now at night I am dead in the water. Cannot store any substantial amount. I rely 100% on the grid from 6 pm until 9 am.
In that case, a transition to shivering/sweating in the dark is a pretty likely scenario, IMO.
On the brighter side, our electric bills may shrink if the utilities don't raise their price because of the scarcity.
Unless I missed something, solar power is DC. If somebody knows how they convert that to AC I would love to know that and what the current handling capabilities are. It just doesn’t add up to me.
A company I used to work for had a solar manufacturer as one of their biggest customers.
That the manufacturing plant was not solar operated told me all I needed to know about the scam.
Grid tie inverters do that conversion to tie the DC panels to the AC grid.
Since they are lunar panels does that mean they are charged by black light?
Not a hit at all. We need global warming to help prevent the next glacial. So keep absorbing that sunlight ! Nuke plants also cause global warming due to water vapor creation. Keep up the good work !
Rule of thumb: Solar averages 10 watts per square meter.
That’s not much.
I like solar a lot. Just spent a week off grid using it. Run my office on it in summer. Rent utility panels for home use. I think everyone should (by choice) supplement with solar, for grid independence/backup.
I also have FF electricity, have no qualms about using it, and think compulsory use is stupid.
Biggest under discussed issue is backup capacity: you run down your batteries, you’re done - and recharging requires capacity double base demand. Preparing for prolonged backup has high hard cost vs diminishing odds of need - and that need is real when it happens.
Beware progressives forcing renewables on us, then blaming us when the full cost is found.
Solar panels have a half life of 10 to 20 years.
That means, at best, in 20 years you will have half the output.
Maybe if they’re on a flat roof, but with my very tall sloping roof I just use a garden hose with a power wash wand to make a high enough water arc to rinse the dust off the embedded solar panels two or three times per year outside of the rainy season, with both feet on the ground.
Same experience here in Sacramento. Counting the federal & state tax credits, we’re breaking even on our 2011 solar system installation after 8 years, with mid-summer electric bills dropping from $300 to about $50 per month. With typical summer peak temps in the high 90s, panels keep adequate efficiency to make it practical and we’re selling a lot of power back.
Thank you friend, I know a lot about inverters but current is my main concern, they don’t have it.
I do some real estate investing and have bought and sold several houses over the years. I won’t touch a house with solar. If you go to sell the house, you need to put the solar system in good, working order. Furthermore, these systems are bought on long- term purchase plans. When you go to buy the house, you are obligated to purchase the solar system with the house in most cases whether you want it or not. When you go to sell, the buyer has to agree to purchase the solar system. When you go to close, there’s a section about installed solar systems and who is obligated to pay for it.
“Unless I missed something, solar power is DC. If somebody knows how they convert that to AC I would love to know that and what the current handling capabilities are. It just doesn’t add up to me.”
One uses the DC current from the panel array to run an oscillator circuit, of which it oscillates at 60 Hertz. These inverters then phase the oscillator output so as to lead the current while locked to the phase of the ac line feeding from the grid. Efficiencies run between 90 and 98% depending on design. In the daytime I deliver current into the grid, at night I do as everyone else, drain the grid.
Peace of mind?
Buy a generator.
Mine’s in the barn and backfeeds the house thru the welder socket.
Yes; I DO make sure to disconnect from the grid before connecting it all up. A plug was a LOT less costly than a change over switch. And with 50 amp breakers on that welder curcuit; I can run EVERYTHING in the house except the electric dryer, stove or oven. (If I need those; I make sure enough other things are disconnected.)
“The actual return in the market, as well as capitalized return on investment, maybe 50% of costs.”
It assumes also that a stable economy continues to exist to measure such a return of investment. In a shtf scenario, a relatively good functioning solar system becomes as valuable as food and gold since there would be no mass power systems available in such situations. If one is looking for returns of investment in a stable economy yes your statement is true. But don’t underestimate intrinsic value as a backup system when nothing else would be available.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.