Solar Power Opinons?

[Berserker]

I work in the power industry. IMO its use is places you can't easily run power, which is the case for wind too. Solar takes up to much room to be used in large scale applications.

With wind people don't realize, it blows to fast or to slow, you can make power. Also it makes little power compared to a plant

 

[COL Jagdog]

Solar power -- it works for the sun.

I bought a couple of solar charging panels to keep sentinel lights charged -- works pretty well so far.

Actually, works a lot better than the two nutria I had running a treadwheel...................................

 

[unbrkn]

Something cool for you camping types, www.biolitestove.com. My friend is currently using this for his few state Road Bike ride, and he LOVES it.

 

[tinkerunique]

Solar panels come in three basic TYPES : Amphoras, Multi-crystalline, and Mono-crystalline. The types are different in efficiency, and price. The Amphorus are NOT as efficient but are less expensive and work better than the others in low-light conditions. The Mono's are more expensive and more efficient than the multi's. I'd "mix" the 'Amps with the 'crystals' AND get a wind generator for full-power. The 'Surplus can be sold at WHOLESALE, when you buy at retail. A "hybrid" wind generator is more efficient than a 'windmill type but more $$.

 

[Fishslayer]

We get cold in the winter & stinkin' hot in the summer. Our panels generate about 3.3KW during daylight on a good day.

During the summer we've seen $300+ electric bills from the AC and $200-ish for a couple or three months in the winter. We get into the top tier of $$ per KWh. We pay around $6-ish a month now plus, of course the loan for the panels.

In Kalifornistan they make some sense. Our electric rates are going nowhere but up. The enviros have shut down San Onofre and want any new plants to run on unicorn farts.

Hopefully our drought conditions will FORCE them to recognize that desal plants + electric plants are a good pairing.

 

[Jessie]

Lets see. That same $30,000 at a very modest return of 5% average for 25 years would be worth $101,590.63. Now if we average a more likely 8%, it would be worth $205,452.41. Go`s up from there.

Lets look at the other side of the equation:
Electric bill @$250/month for 25 years=$75,000
Taxes on capital gains@ 15% on $101,000= $15,000+
So you're spending $90,000 during that same time period, or probably much more as utility rates and taxes rise.
It looks like a wash to me, plus always having power regardless of blackouts, etc.
One last thing, invest that $250/month and you get the best of both worlds.