Solar power question.

[nerp]

Basic installation (small) would be $25,000. $50,000 would cover a decent enough system but you'd still be dead before the system paid for itself. And this assumes you get great sun from your house and have a means to direct the panels in that direction.

 

[El Guaraguao]

Well that sucks. I remember as a kid hearing about how solar power could power your home. That was over 15 years ago. Its a shame the technology hasn't advanced much, in terms of efficiency. Oh well, I guess solar power is good enough to power my calculator.

 

[FoBoT]

Well that sucks. I remember as a kid hearing about how solar power could power your home. That was over 15 years ago. Its a shame the technology hasn't advanced much, in terms of efficiency. Oh well, I guess solar power is good enough to power my calculator.

i just want my flying car

 

[darkxshade]

Why are the solar panels that expensive? R&D development costs aside, how much does it cost to make them? If every home could be somewhat self-sufficient, it would be a step forward.

 

[FoBoT]

high-quality silicon ( indium and gallium) wafers are expensive

 

[darkxshade]

high-quality silicon wafers are expensive

well then unexpensify them! 😡

 

[PottedMeat]

well then unexpensify them! 😡

semiconductor processing equipment is really expensive. and why churn out 'cheap' stuff that takes up a lot of space like solar cells when you can make lots of integrated circuits?

 

[darkxshade]

semiconductor processing equipment is really expensive. and why churn out 'cheap' stuff that takes up a lot of space like solar cells when you can make lots of integrated circuits?

As a person coming from a managerial background, all I can say is I don't want to hear excuses, just get it done! 😛

 

[roguerower]

There are a lot of other options that you could pursue and save money with.

1. Geothermal grid (probably vertical). Once you go down past 50' or so the ground temperature stabilizes. You install vertical tubes that range in depth from 75-500' and coolant flows through them. The coolant preconditions the air so that the heat pump has to do less work. Already got my parents to agree to this when they build their retirement home.

2. Individual water tanks. Rather than have a massive water heater that uses a lot of power/gas to keep the tank temp at its setting, the instant water heater is located at the terminal unit (bathroom, kitchen, etc). When there is demand, water flows through coils and is heated by either electricity or gas. When the demand finishes, the heating element cuts off and there's no prolonged use.

Both of these would help to lower your electricity bill and therefore lower the cost of a solar install (solar now has to produce less electricity).