Comments on: Analysis: 50% Reduction In Cost Of Renewable Energy Since 2008

By: Diego Matter

Diego Matter — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 01:09:00 +0000

Unfortunately, as always, Energy Efficiency as the by far cheapest option of all ($0 to $50 in the first graphic), went unnoticed.

If you save 80% of demand (like in a passive house http://www.passivehouse.us), one does not have to produce it in the first place.

But the average US energy consumption is still ten times that. The Energy Efficiency potential is unbelievably high. And don’t forget the intangible benefits like living in a healthy and comfortable house.

The following links are a good start to become energy efficient at home (its easy):
http://www.aceee.org – American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
http://www.energystar.gov

By: Peak Solar

Peak Solar — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 13:09:00 +0000

I think Solar Energy has set its roots in US as many people are turning towards it, Solar kits are been installed all over the US and even the white house !!

By: Brendan

Brendan — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 23:39:00 +0000

Why fireman not risking there life when solar panels are on the rooftop. It’s the government fault to allowed high voltage DC solar panel power on rooftop endangering tradesman on roofs.

Tradesman is now refusing to carry out work on solar power rooftop as reports of tradesman death.

There are worldwide reports of solar panel modern day high voltage DC system going up in fire up 7000 degree’s in temp. Reports are coming from Germany, Australia, UK, Portugal, France, Canada, Spain, Japan, and India and so on.

All the reported fires had only less then minute to evacuate there premises as the fire took place so quickly.

http://grist.org/climate-energy/why-firefighters-are-scared-of-solar-power/

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:55:00 +0000

If not talking sewage, then WTE is still mostly “burn it”. Which has the same toxic/externals issues as coal. The difference being that the make up of the flume gas has a bigger mix of chemicals. IMHO, but other will I’m sure disagree.

By: Frank Gallagher

Frank Gallagher — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:23:00 +0000

It’s unfortunate that this report omitted Waste-To-Energy in its analysis of the Renewable Energy sector. WTE is a safe, reliable and cost-effective source of domestic energy with enormous potential.

By: Jouni Valkonen

Jouni Valkonen — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 07:26:00 +0000

Discount rate may be 5 % or higher, but also it is good to note that it is possible to pay back solar panels in 10 years and then you have 20–30 years free electricity that can be supplemented with adequate batteries.

By: JamesWimberley

JamesWimberley — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 02:08:00 +0000

¨Just think how much a financing project could change if you used 20 years instead of 25¨ Or you can actually work it out using the NPV function in a spreadsheet. With a discount rate of 5% – and most businesses use higher ones – the difference is not great. You can of course argue like Lord Stern that we should be using lower social rates of discount, of the order of 2%-3% (the trend growth rate in productivity). But privately we don´t.

By: Shiggity

Shiggity — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 23:13:00 +0000

+1, panels are guarenteed by most manufacturers for 25 years. String inverters typically last 7-10 years depending on weather conditions. Micro-inverters, on the other hand, are typically warrantied for 25 years.

Just think how much a financing project could change if you used 20 years instead of 25. A project could be unviable @ 20 but viable @ 25.

After 25 years you’re getting free electricity. Amoritized solar is going to look like you’re getting electricity for like 1/10 of a cent per kwh.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 22:01:00 +0000

We’ve got 40 year old panels in service. A study panels over 30 years found that they lost 0.5% of output per year, so a 40 year old panel should be outputting about 80% of what it did when new.

It’s likely that panel life is longer than with earlier models. Panel failure (~2% over 30 years) was largely due to connector corrosion/failure and delamination.

By: Jouni Valkonen

Jouni Valkonen — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 21:56:00 +0000

note that with small storage or electric vehicle, roof-top solar can substitute significant amounts of grid electricity. Retail price for grid electricity is more expensive than what is the generation cost.

Also the actual lifespan of solar panels is unknown. I would guess that this study assumed 20 year estimated lifespan for solar panels, but it may actually be 30–40 years or even 50 years. No one actually knows what is the real world performance of solar panel longevity.