A survey has to be done on the availability of the sunlight across the world and production of solar energy must be increased with a concerted effort where the availability is more in duration of the day and the year. These solar farms must be internationally assisted with technolgy transfer and aid from the offenders of the climate change or soft loans. The clean energy produced and thus lowering the need of the energy from fossil fuels any where in the world is beneficial to the total world.

You’re right when you say solar panels are mostly made of Silicon Oxide witch we have in abundance. But that does not mean rare earth metals are not needed in the manufacturing process to make the panels work.

http://tinyurl.com/qu254h

http://tinyurl.com/yek2p49

There is loads more information if you care to search for it.

Not to crush your dreams but we need to be realistic to survive the upcomming energy Cataclysm, and can’t take any big chances in research development. I am a global warming sceptic but that doesn’t matter because if climate change was true, it would still be a drop in the ocean compared to what we can expect when the oil era ends. And there is reason to be afraid because the end of our industrialized modern world is going to be hell on earth.

Thats why we don’t give our money to Al Gore and rather use it on research development. Sorry to say it greenies. But even if AGW was a real worry, all green solutions I have heard about sucks!

If your happy and you know it clap your hands, said Jesus.

You are wrong. The vast majority of solar cells are made from Silicon Oxide as the principal semiconducting material. Far from being a rare earth metal, it is in fact one of the most abundant materials on earth. The price per kilo continues to fall. Currently it is around $30 U.S. Solar/wind is absolutely a sustainable solution in the western world in the short run.

To Joe and Dave above,

You are right. Cost is an issue. A typical 4kW grid-tied PV system costs about $30K installed with a payback time of anywhere from 7-10 yrs. depending on the available solar radiation. However, people routinely spend more than that on home improvements such as decks, additions, etc. that generate no revenue at all. In fact, they cost more over time due to maintenance requirements. People also spend more money than that for things that DEPRECIATE such as cars, luxury items, etc. When was the last time you heard someone ask what the payback time was going to be for the SUV they were about to buy?

To make those you need rare earth metals. China exports 95 % of what the rest of the world uses of the scarce metals, but are planning to cut down exports gradualy before they end it completely in 2012, because they only have enough for national demand.

And that is bad news not only for solar but also windmills, cellphones, computers and other electronics.

So solar/wind is not a sustainable solutions in the western world in the short run.

Every month, the cost of electricity goes up and the cost of solar power goes down.

Today, it takes 8-12 years to break-even on a solar roof. However, next year it might fall to 7-10 years. The year after that, 6-8 years….

Once a system is released that can, with a low-interest loan from a bank, be installed and immediately pay for itself, every person in the country will be screaming for it.

That day is coming…soon…but it is not today.

…Joe Piervincenti…