A while back I predicted that in just a few years, Solar Energy would dominate. I predicted that once it hits critical mass, manufacturers won't be able to manufacture solar panels fast enough, and energy companies will wonder what hit them. This sounded crazy, but I did not think it was crazy. In fact, I'm even more sure of it now.
--Efficiency has also climbed for thin film solar cells and is now upwards of 20%. This is especially good news since thin film solar cells are expected to be much less expensive to manufacture and install, and suitable for rooftop installations. Research on graphene based solar cells might theoretically result in future solar cells with an efficiency up to 60%.
Some traditional utilities will be left flat-footed and will suddenly have to start worrying about load leveling. Fortunately, there are dozens of companies all vying to help utilities in this respect using various storage technologies, although perhaps a third of them have already gone belly up while waiting for the boom. Naturally, the utilities are losing money as people switch to solar and sell their excess power back to the grid, but overall, this is a good problem for us to have....no, it's a wonderful problem to have.
There is a similar story going on in wind power. Wind beat out natural gas power plant installations as well as coal plant installations last year--not only in the U.S., but even in China. Here's an interesting article about the largest wind turbine yet. Here's an article describing what I believe is the most convincing and fascinating kite-like wind turbine yet conceived, in that it requires relatively less energy and materials to construct.
Okay, gotta go now. If you're interested in other fascinating articles like these, check out this site.
Here are some facts:
--The cost of solar panels has tumbled 80% in the past five years.
--It was already cheaper to install solar panels than a nuclear plant. Now, it's even cheaper than installing a coal plant in many places.
--All the U.S. energy capacity added (44 MW) in the month of March 2013 was solar--and that doesn't even include rooftop installations. It is estimated that 4.2 GW of solar will be installed in 2013 in the U.S. It will soon overtake wind energy installations (another more indirect form of solar energy) which amounted to over 13 GW last year.
--Warren Buffett owns a lot of solar investments, including 100% of the two largest solar installations in the U.S. Assuming he's a shrewd investor and hasn't suddenly gone bonkers...well, you get the picture.
--This article dispels completely any myths about solar "taking too much space" or "never being able to compete with coal" or "never being able to provide all our energy needs." Based on this article's predictions, a quiet revolution in energy is occurring and will greatly accelerate as solar becomes even cheaper than coal.
--The average cost (nationally) of installed solar power is $3.45/watt. Compare this to about $7/watt for a new nuclear plant. (Financing costs and installation time drive much of this cost.) Not to mention, the energy produced by the nuclear plant will cost $0.06/kW-hr whereas the solar energy is free.
--Hawaii has led the way in Solar, due to its expensive grid energy costs, its generous solar installation tax breaks and its abundance of sun. A typical home solar system in Hawaii pays for itself in 4 years and generates $64,000 in energy savings over 20 years. From 2001 through 2007 a total of only 386 NEM systems were installed across the state of Hawaii. By 2011, that number had risen to 9,625. 2012 will have proven to be an even more explosive year for installations.
--Here's a handy chart showing estimated cost and savings associated with a home solar installation based on location.
--There's no longer any excuse for homeowners in many areas to say "they cannot afford solar". The solar companies are financing the installations themselves, and then selling the energy to the homeowner at a reduced cost for the privilege of installing the solar panels on his roof. It's a "can't lose" strategy for both parties.
--Solar cell efficiency has steadily climbed. The new world record for solar cell efficiency (not yet in production) is 44%. In another month or two, this record will have been broken again.
--It was already cheaper to install solar panels than a nuclear plant. Now, it's even cheaper than installing a coal plant in many places.
--All the U.S. energy capacity added (44 MW) in the month of March 2013 was solar--and that doesn't even include rooftop installations. It is estimated that 4.2 GW of solar will be installed in 2013 in the U.S. It will soon overtake wind energy installations (another more indirect form of solar energy) which amounted to over 13 GW last year.
--Warren Buffett owns a lot of solar investments, including 100% of the two largest solar installations in the U.S. Assuming he's a shrewd investor and hasn't suddenly gone bonkers...well, you get the picture.
--This article dispels completely any myths about solar "taking too much space" or "never being able to compete with coal" or "never being able to provide all our energy needs." Based on this article's predictions, a quiet revolution in energy is occurring and will greatly accelerate as solar becomes even cheaper than coal.
--The average cost (nationally) of installed solar power is $3.45/watt. Compare this to about $7/watt for a new nuclear plant. (Financing costs and installation time drive much of this cost.) Not to mention, the energy produced by the nuclear plant will cost $0.06/kW-hr whereas the solar energy is free.
--Hawaii has led the way in Solar, due to its expensive grid energy costs, its generous solar installation tax breaks and its abundance of sun. A typical home solar system in Hawaii pays for itself in 4 years and generates $64,000 in energy savings over 20 years. From 2001 through 2007 a total of only 386 NEM systems were installed across the state of Hawaii. By 2011, that number had risen to 9,625. 2012 will have proven to be an even more explosive year for installations.
--Here's a handy chart showing estimated cost and savings associated with a home solar installation based on location.
--There's no longer any excuse for homeowners in many areas to say "they cannot afford solar". The solar companies are financing the installations themselves, and then selling the energy to the homeowner at a reduced cost for the privilege of installing the solar panels on his roof. It's a "can't lose" strategy for both parties.
--Solar cell efficiency has steadily climbed. The new world record for solar cell efficiency (not yet in production) is 44%. In another month or two, this record will have been broken again.
--Efficiency has also climbed for thin film solar cells and is now upwards of 20%. This is especially good news since thin film solar cells are expected to be much less expensive to manufacture and install, and suitable for rooftop installations. Research on graphene based solar cells might theoretically result in future solar cells with an efficiency up to 60%.
Some traditional utilities will be left flat-footed and will suddenly have to start worrying about load leveling. Fortunately, there are dozens of companies all vying to help utilities in this respect using various storage technologies, although perhaps a third of them have already gone belly up while waiting for the boom. Naturally, the utilities are losing money as people switch to solar and sell their excess power back to the grid, but overall, this is a good problem for us to have....no, it's a wonderful problem to have.
There is a similar story going on in wind power. Wind beat out natural gas power plant installations as well as coal plant installations last year--not only in the U.S., but even in China. Here's an interesting article about the largest wind turbine yet. Here's an article describing what I believe is the most convincing and fascinating kite-like wind turbine yet conceived, in that it requires relatively less energy and materials to construct.
Okay, gotta go now. If you're interested in other fascinating articles like these, check out this site.
What a cool concept! Wonder how they keep the electrical cord swiveling?
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