On Apr 7, 10:33*am, wrote:
On Wed, 7 Apr 2010 10:11:01 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:



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

1000W/sq meter

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.

You'd do good at 20% conversion efficiency and 1/3 is optimistic.

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.

Yet, people somehow are able to do it, even though you say it can't be
done.

Some have no choice (built off grid) and fools live everywhere.

Also take into account that people who do this, are likely very
interested in the subject of alternative energy, and may have taken
other measures to both conserve and produce power. Solar works quite
well for heating water in many places. Another really impressive
technology that DOES have a reasonably good ROI despite high initial
cost, is geo-thermal.

Photo-voltaic's don't have to be a complete solution in order to be a
worthwhile proposition. What's the ROI on your car? Is it at least the
most cost efficient car you could possibly own? Is it as cheap as
taking mass transit? If not, then I guess using a car for
transportation isn't economically feasible.

The ROI on my car is quite good, actually (something like 2,500%). It
allows me to go to work every day.