why hasn't solar energy taken off in places like Az, Neveda, etc?

[TranceNation]

seems like a no brainer to have solar powered houses, etc with all the sun that they get. so why hasn't it taken off yet? Are the energy companines conspiring to keep it down or what?

 

[StageLeft]

Expensive as hell for only limited benefits.

 

[TheGameIs21]

Solar cells are expensive to purchase and maintain. Until they can produce a better cell, it will never be a viable option.

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: TheGameIs21
Solar cells are expensive to purchase and maintain. Until they can produce a better cell, it will never be a viable option.

 

[Heisenberg]

Aside from the expense, with current solar cell efficiency you'd need to cover the entire state with them in order to get any meaningful amount of power.

 

[Eli]

Because our current solar cells are not really very efficient. As in, they could be much better.

IOW, it's not cost effective.

Believe me, if they could make money off it, they would be doing it.

But I agree. There's vast ammounts of virtually worthless land in that area, solar energy generation seems like a prime use candidate...

Contact your congressman. Demand more funding for R&D in alternative energy sources.

 

[MithShrike]

Yep. If I remember correctly the current solar cell technology is ~30% efficient. On my way from AZ to Nor-Cal though there was plenty of useless land that could be cover by those things. There's other factors as well. With all those cells covering that land I wonder how the local climate(s) would be affected. Anyway, we just need a better cell.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Originally posted by: Eli
Because our current solar cells are not really very efficient. As in, they could be much better.

IOW, it's not cost effective.

Believe me, if they could make money off it, they would be doing it.

But I agree. There's vast ammounts of virtually worthless land in that area, solar energy generation seems like a prime use candidate...

Contact your congressman. Demand more funding for R&D in alternative energy sources.

Exactly. Even then, oil companies are so huge and rich, they can afford to buy up patents on new solar technologies. Then they just sit on the shelf to die.

 

[VTboy]

The United States spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on research on nuclear fusion technology. So they are looking for an alternative energy.

 

[Vette73]

There is a NEW solar cell out there now that is twice as efficent and only cost half as much, give or take. It should be out in 1-3 years the last I heard.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: VTboy
The United States spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on research on nuclear fusion technology. So they are looking for an alternative energy.

As I recall, the main U.S. effort for fusion is at the National Ignition Facility. This is still under construction and will be for some time. I think a board member on here actually works there, can't remember who though.

Fusion could solve the problem of electricity generation eventually, but that is far in the future.

Our most immediate problem is coming up with a economical replacement for refined natural crude oil as a fuel.

 

[VTboy]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: VTboy
The United States spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on research on nuclear fusion technology. So they are looking for an alternative energy.

As I recall, the main U.S. effort for fusion is at the National Ignition Facility. This is still under construction and will be for some time. I think a board member on here actually works there, can't remember who though.

Fusion could solve the problem of electricity generation eventually, but that is far in the future.

Our most immediate problem is coming up with a economical replacement for refined natural crude oil as a fuel.

The main work is with ITER or the Iternational Fusion project. They were suposed to pick a site to start construction of a small test reactor. But due to politcal issues they can't decide. Right now its EU/Russia/China want it in Fance, the US/Japan/SK want it in South Korea. It is all politcal.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: VTboy

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: VTboy
The United States spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on research on nuclear fusion technology. So they are looking for an alternative energy.

As I recall, the main U.S. effort for fusion is at the National Ignition Facility. This is still under construction and will be for some time. I think a board member on here actually works there, can't remember who though.

Fusion could solve the problem of electricity generation eventually, but that is far in the future.

Our most immediate problem is coming up with a economical replacement for refined natural crude oil as a fuel.

The main work is with ITER or the Iternational Fusion project. They were suposed to pick a site to start construction of a small test reactor. But due to politcal issues they can't decide. Right now its EU/Russia/China want it in Fance, the US/Japan/SK want it in South Korea. It is all politcal.

I would have counted that if it gets off the ground. I said NIF because they are actually working on it.

 

[Hammer]

i've seen plenty of solar cells being used in AZ. There's a large array I forget where. Also, some complexes and neighborhoods have small ones on walls. to power gates maybe?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Hammer
i've seen plenty of solar cells being used in AZ. There's a large array I forget where. Also, some complexes and neighborhoods have small ones on walls. to power gates maybe?

Yeah.

But we're talking about power generation in the hundreds of MegaWatts, though. You know, to power cities...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Doesn't it currently take more energy to produce a solar cell than the cell will produce in its lifetime?

ZV

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Doesn't it currently take more energy to produce a solar cell than the cell will produce in its lifetime?

ZV

That's what I've been told.

 

[kami333]

Yes,. I think a much better alternative right now are the solar powered water heaters. Depending on location they can provide close to half of your hot water if I recall. Materials are just stuff like copper plates and tubing so it's relatively low tech too.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Doesn't it currently take more energy to produce a solar cell than the cell will produce in its lifetime?

ZV

Probably.

That's what I mean. We need $$$ to fund research in those areas. If we could mass produce an efficient solar cell.. it could really change things.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Eli
Because our current solar cells are not really very efficient. As in, they could be much better.

IOW, it's not cost effective.

Believe me, if they could make money off it, they would be doing it.

But I agree. There's vast ammounts of virtually worthless land in that area, solar energy generation seems like a prime use candidate...

Contact your congressman. Demand more funding for R&D in alternative energy sources.

Just because a forest was cut down where your house is built doesn't mean deserts are worthless land.

 

[bleeb]

Leonardo DiCRAPio says to reduce our dependance on fossil fuels and find alternative means for energy. Solar energy is great but we definitely need more R&D into it. Also hydrogen fuel looks promising as well.

 

[ViRGE]

Realize also that the weather would do a number on the panels; hail from monsoon season would make short work of them.