PV Gap

Morris Said:

Solar Energy 1 trilion $$$$?

We Answered:

There's a question in there somewhere, I know it.

If you are asking if your IPO is going to be like (or bigger) than Google while starting in the penny stock category ("for 0.10 Euro cent per share")--not a chance. First, Google and highfliers like it were going concerns well before their IPO. Even Martha Stewart had a rich program and product line so that when her Omnimedia went public it made her a billion dollar babe, on paper.

There are lots of wonderful ideas out there, and long have been, who didn't fly to the moon when the public got a chance to buy into them. Mariculture Systems (MCUL) has had a solution to fish farming for years now and their stock is still about 10 cents even after news splashing all around about our fishing the oceans dry in a few decades, along with our losing topsoil and drought conditions everywhere.

The penny stocks are also littered with solar energy companies like yours, who have been offering sun-fueled energy for years. As we see "green" is a growing business, you have that going for you, but to bust out big to make your company bigger than Google or Gates' (Microsoft) is pure, unadulterated dreaming. Sorry.

Tracey Said:

Would you move to Europe in order to be better for the environment?

We Answered:

I would love to live in Europe, new experience.

Jeremy Said:

Are these IPCC references peer-reviewed?

We Answered:

Because don't you know that the IPCC can change the rules and that Greenpeace and WWF are both neutral experts now? I mean it is like asking a vegan journal if eating meat is acceptable.

Connie Said:

Is it possible that the "power of wind" could be the future of clean energy?

We Answered:

Wind can provide some of the energy we need. So can solar. And IF Democrats would desire to fund this I'd be all for it. But I want something in return. I want the profits to go to the government. Look at all the big dams. The government built them but does the government make any money off them?

The problem with wind and solar is the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine. Geothermal works 2-7-365. Just ask the people in Iceland and other places. If you have enough electricity you can replace almost all the fossil fuel burned to get from point A to point B.

I don't want the government to subsidise anything. I want them to pay for it. And when it's done I want the government to run it. And I don't want it to be like Amtrak. I want them to show a profit. I don't mind government investing money in the country. I just don't like them throwing money at problems and getting NOTHING in return.

So there you go. You don't like big oil companies controlling everything? Put the hurt on them. Have the government do run them out of business. You don't like oil prices? You cut the demand and the prices go down.

Mildred Said:

The Guardian asks: Are we really going to let ourselves be duped into this solar panel rip-off?

We Answered:

I completely agree with George Monbiot.

I'm doing research in solar power, and I think the government are _insane_, I don't know what idiot thought this was a good idea.


It's so predictable. There's going to be a backlash because using current generation silicon solar panels in the UK is a bad idea. People will assume all solar is worthless and there will be a backlash which will be a public relations disaster for legitimate power sources.



For example: the subsidy may be £430/ton CO2 saved in the UK, but that's because residential solar panels cost about £5-6k / kWp. Thin film power stations like Waldpolenz cost about £3k/kWp back in 2007, and prices have fallen since (iirc FirstSolar have cut costs by about 20% since then). Additionally, panels in California produce about 2.4 times the power of panels in the UK because it's sunnier. Using thin film tech in California is already 80% cheaper per kWh than the tech the UK government are pushing.

UK residents will be paid 44.3p/kWh with 41.3p subsidy. Ignoring interest etc, 80% cheaper means that you could get the same power in California for 8.86p/kWh - lower than the grid price (but assuming 3p/kWh wholesale, that's still just a 5.86p subsidy, ie 85% lower than the UK gov't are coughing up)





Ichbas: George Monbiot is one of the most scientifically astute journalists in the UK. I expect he understands how solar works (he's spent years researching green stuff and usually gets pretty close to correct), but he often simplifies for the newspaper audience.