Fighting 'Solar Farm' Installation

[Grumpycat]

I believe that the rule of thumb is the solar panels are doubling in efficiency every 2 to 3 years so maybe that facility if using current panels would power 2000 homes?

No way.

Doubling every 2-3 years and only up to 19%?

https://documents.unboundsolar.com/media/imMuoXxG-Black20Frame20MSE20PERC2072-cell2C2040mm20Specifications.pdf

 

[turbo36]

No way.

Doubling every 2-3 years and only up to 19%?

https://documents.unboundsolar.com/media/imMuoXxG-Black20Frame20MSE20PERC2072-cell2C2040mm20Specifications.pdf

Yes, that's incorrect. I let my fingers get ahead of my thinking.

The first solar panels created in the late 50's had an efficiency of around 5%, current commercially available units are at best 23-25% , Lab prototypes are approaching 50%. From 5% to 50% is a 10x increase but certainly not doubling every 2-3 years. The maximum theoretic efficiency is around 83%.

 

[MossRoad]

I believe that the rule of thumb is the solar panels are doubling in efficiency every 2 to 3 years so maybe that facility if using current panels would power 2000 homes?

I don't think it's that fast. What I do think is that they are finding more efficient materials and manufacturing techniques fairly often...

(click to enlarge)

 

[MossRoad]

And when you think about it, if it's only 20% efficient, who cares?

Your only concern should be return on investment. Ask yourself this:

Would investing the cost of a solar system instead of building a solar system return enough money to pay for the electricity it generates and all associated costs over the life of the investment, or not?

 

[Grumpycat]

And when you think about it, if it's only 20% efficient, who cares?

Your only concern should be return on investment. Ask yourself this:

Would investing the cost of a solar system instead of building a solar system return enough money to pay for the electricity it generates and all associated costs over the life of the investment, or not?

Yes, I have said that here many times. The only honest metric of resource consumption is the Almighty Dollar. No man works for free. No man voluntarily surrenders resources for less than true value. Costs accumulate with stage of production until reaching the final destination.

Egghead intellectuals sit around and theorize the benefits of things such as ethanol guessing the amount of energy used here, and there, until they get the answer they want, ignoring components which spoil their predetermined conclusion (What? Pay for fertilizer? Diesel?) Is not honest accounting, there is nothing holding their feet to the fire comparable to that of a man demanding to be paid for his contribution. So I have long said all that matters is the cost of fuel grade ethanol vs gasoline. If more energy is used to make one or the other it might well be one used less valuable energy to make a more valuable energy.

As for solar panel efficiency the cost of racking is not insignificant. Last time I did the hard math a 30 panel 10kW system was less expensive than a 40 panel 10kW system. The panels I cited earlier are about $1/W (US made) while others are $0.67 (China). The racking and wiring can make up much (or all) of that difference.

 

[TN8Man]

Yes, that's incorrect. I let my fingers get ahead of my thinking.

The first solar panels created in the late 50's had an efficiency of around 5%, current commercially available units are at best 23-25% , Lab prototypes are approaching 50%. From 5% to 50% is a 10x increase but certainly not doubling every 2-3 years. The maximum theoretic efficiency is around 83%.

According to the article below: 26-27% efficiency for new development that hasn't even reached market yet.

New solar cell breaks records for efficiency and voltage​

 

[Grumpycat]

According to the article below: 26-27% efficiency for new development that hasn't even reached market yet.

New solar cell breaks records for efficiency and voltage​

Meh.

Solar Panels 101: A Guide to Solar Energy and Systems wisely says:
“Don’t sweat too much about panel efficiency. The only real benefit to more efficient panels is that they fit more solar in less space.”

 

[TN8Man]

Meh.

Solar Panels 101: A Guide to Solar Energy and Systems wisely says:
“Don’t sweat too much about panel efficiency. The only real benefit to more efficient panels is that they fit more solar in less space.”

Look at how many people replace their perfectly good and powerful iPhone every time a new version comes out.

The commercial solar and battery storage technology is still in its infancy. It's not practicable to invest in a expensive home system right now because the technology is not ready and it will continue to escalate at a significant rate for decades and people will keep upgrading just like cell phones.

Most likely solar won't even be the mainstream solution for our future. The inconvenient truth is that the "solar rush" is a man-made scandal to make the rich richer and poor poorer on the backs of tax payers. The current rise in energy costs that is helping to drive this renewable energy scam on everyone is a man-made crisis. This is exactly what happened back in the 70's when we had the man-made gas shortages that sparked renewable energy in the first place. At some point after the rich make all that money they can we will go back full steam to oil, coal and nuclear based energy.

At some point in the future we will transition to a new technology but it won't be solar or wind. It will probably be Fusion.

 

[Hay Dude]

Just saw electricity prices are up 10.2% average nationwide.
Solar and wind not bringing prices down.
Will people who can barely afford electricity now have to make sacrifices on heat or AC ?
Seems “backward”

 

[orezok]

Just saw electricity prices are up 10.2% average nationwide.
Solar and wind not bringing prices down.
Will people who can barely afford electricity now have to make sacrifices on heat or AC ?
Seems “backward”

I would be interested in knowing if your hay prices have increased too.