Comments on: Is solar power running into a grid problem? http://jubakpicks.com/2009/12/23/is-solar-power-running-into-a-grid-problem/ Tue, 22 May 2012 22:19:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: HomemadeSolarPanels http://jubakpicks.com/2009/12/23/is-solar-power-running-into-a-grid-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-14389 HomemadeSolarPanels Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:16:56 +0000 http://jubakpicks.com/?p=2594#comment-14389 homemadesolarheating... You are writing important, the topics are nice. I like this web page. For how long have you been blogging? What amount of time do you devote to it? Hopefully that I can make use of some of your texts on my web site.... homemadesolarheating…

You are writing important, the topics are nice. I like this web page. For how long have you been blogging? What amount of time do you devote to it? Hopefully that I can make use of some of your texts on my web site….

]]> By: rjdickey http://jubakpicks.com/2009/12/23/is-solar-power-running-into-a-grid-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-2742 rjdickey Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:49:40 +0000 http://jubakpicks.com/?p=2594#comment-2742 Jim lays out the facts. The conclusions follow. But alternatives also include hydro-electric (yes, Dams). As energy costs rise and the health costs of carbon fuels are not abated, green energy will once again look to taime wild rivers. Jim lays out the facts. The conclusions follow. But alternatives also include hydro-electric (yes, Dams). As energy costs rise and the health costs of carbon fuels are not abated, green energy will once again look to taime wild rivers.

]]> By: ripper http://jubakpicks.com/2009/12/23/is-solar-power-running-into-a-grid-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-2741 ripper Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:56:11 +0000 http://jubakpicks.com/?p=2594#comment-2741 I can see solar in the year 2020 or 2030, thinking it's shaping up like another golden 20's again. The Government is slowing the demand on Gas and electrical always has. In the late 80's I'd never thought I would be using a pc like I do today. There will be solar but I still think it needs time. I just changed out my hvac system 1970's technology to 2009 I sure hope the power bill is half I can see solar in the year 2020 or 2030, thinking it’s shaping up like another golden 20′s again. The Government is slowing the demand on Gas and electrical always has. In the late 80′s I’d never thought I would be using a pc like I do today. There will be solar but I still think it needs time. I just changed out my hvac system 1970′s technology to 2009 I sure hope the power bill is half

]]> By: Gerarddm http://jubakpicks.com/2009/12/23/is-solar-power-running-into-a-grid-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-2740 Gerarddm Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:54:32 +0000 http://jubakpicks.com/?p=2594#comment-2740 A few decades ago Amory Lovins wrote the seminal SOFT ENERGY PATHS, pointing the way to a sustainable energy future. It is still valid today. Decentralized solar is less impactful on the environment and capital costs than centralized power stations. Additionally, an aggressive move to energy saving technologies such as geothermal heat pumps can radically reduce electrical needs when they replace older power-hungry HVAC systems such as electric baseboards and furnaces and lower-quality air source heat pumps. A few decades ago Amory Lovins wrote the seminal SOFT ENERGY PATHS, pointing the way to a sustainable energy future. It is still valid today.

Decentralized solar is less impactful on the environment and capital costs than centralized power stations. Additionally, an aggressive move to energy saving technologies such as geothermal heat pumps can radically reduce electrical needs when they replace older power-hungry HVAC systems such as electric baseboards and furnaces and lower-quality air source heat pumps.

]]> By: ktcat http://jubakpicks.com/2009/12/23/is-solar-power-running-into-a-grid-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-2737 ktcat Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:24:58 +0000 http://jubakpicks.com/?p=2594#comment-2737 Jim, while it would be great if there were ready-made transmission systems to take the power from the solar grids to the cities, I think you're missing the bigger picture. Solar will never be a decent source of electricity for just the reasons you've mentioned here, plus one more - scaling. It's nowhere near big enough to make a difference. I recommend you stop by and read Steven den Beste's posts on the subject. They're written for the layman, but have engineering calculations behind them. There's a good one here and another good one here. I wrote a post here discussing the use of solar power to run an aluminum smelter here. Solar power seems like a good idea to the public because it's seen as a way to run part of your house part of the time. It makes you feel green and the massive subsidies mask the real costs of the systems. Once the government deficits really start to bite and budget cuts are being made in earnest, I don't think solar will be a viable alternative any more. Jim, while it would be great if there were ready-made transmission systems to take the power from the solar grids to the cities, I think you’re missing the bigger picture. Solar will never be a decent source of electricity for just the reasons you’ve mentioned here, plus one more – scaling. It’s nowhere near big enough to make a difference.

I recommend you stop by and read Steven den Beste’s posts on the subject. They’re written for the layman, but have engineering calculations behind them. There’s a good one here and another good one here.

I wrote a post here discussing the use of solar power to run an aluminum smelter here.

Solar power seems like a good idea to the public because it’s seen as a way to run part of your house part of the time. It makes you feel green and the massive subsidies mask the real costs of the systems. Once the government deficits really start to bite and budget cuts are being made in earnest, I don’t think solar will be a viable alternative any more.

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