RBM wrote:


A 6KW system for a home costs about $48K. This means that it is
totally unviable compared to other electricity generation options.
The only way it becomes viable is for the govt to hand out more money
to get you to install one. After the gov pays for around half of the
cost, then it can make economic sense for the homeowner. For the
taxpayers, it's a loser.

In general, people aren't stupid. If solar energy was cost effective,
we'd all be tripping over each other to get it.

It's not just "cost effective," it's generally impossible.

The amount of radiant energy falling on the earth is 120 watts/sq meter. At
the equator. At noon. With no clouds. Adjusting for latitude, 12 hours of
darkness, clouds, and time of day, one would average about 1/3 the maximum,
or 40 watts/sq meter. An 1800 sq ft house would capture, then, (assuming 70%
efficiency of the solar collector) 560 watts, or about 1/2 kw.

That's enough for one light bulb (non-CFL), and one TV or one computer.
Forget about the fridge.

You can nibble at the margins, but you can't run this country - or an
average house - off of sunbeams, irrespective of the cost.