PV Gap

Kurt Said:

I am stuck on an island and i have to transfer energy using renewable sources. e.,g, biomas, solar energy,?

We Answered:

use steam from the springs .....thats all i could say...but where do you have to transfere the energy to?

Alan Said:

I want to write a research paper on renewable energy pertaining to solar and wind?

We Answered:

Hey Jacob, good project. I'm pasting an answer from an earlier question along with some explanation and sources for you. Sorry it's so wordy, but your question is pretty open ended.

If you invest properly in solar or wind power today and take advantage of any grants and tax incentives, even if your electric rates do not go up as they are forecast too, you will get your money back over time, well within the lifetime of the equipment, and sooner if there is a rate increase in the future. There are also enviromental benefits. At one time there was an argument that a solar panel will never produce as much power as was used to manufacture it. First of all, this is not correct. The, "Embodied Energy," in a solar panel is earned back in 2 - 6 years, depending on the type panel, where the raw materials were shipped from, and how it was installed and used in the end. Most panels are warrantied to last at least 25 years, and most last much longer than that. But the argument is not important anyway. We have been living with electricity for over a century now, so it isn't going away anytime soon. The question is, "What is the best way to produce it?" If you build a panel, and put it along side a similar sized natural gas fired turbine generator for example, which earns back its embodied energy sooner? The answer is the gas turbine never does, because once you build it, ship it and install it, you now have to feed it natural gas for the rest of its life, so it keeps on digging itself a deeper and deeper embodied energy hole that it can never crawl out of. At least the panel has a chance to get even environmentally. So manufacturing and using solar panels in the end releases less pollution into our environment. The results are basically the same for wind turbines too. There are other environmental benefits as well, most of these are pretty obvious.

There are also mechanical and political benefits. We all know after the oil embargo of 1973, and the gulf war what it means for our country to rely on foreign oil. Wouldn't it be nice if we only shipped in 20% of our energy instead of 60% the next time something like that happens? Our home has been powered by the wind and sun for years now, but we still remain connected to the electric grid. Last year alone there were two power failures in our county that lasted about a half day each. In both cases, we were not aware of them because our solar array kept on feeding the house. It's difficult to put a price tag on something like that. Did you know that there are over 100,000 homes and businesses in the United States alone that use some level of solar power to operate their electrical devices, that's good news.

Beyond the mechanical, political and environmental benefits however, lies a less obvious benefit, the social benefit. Right now we pump oil out of the ground, and mine for coal. The process of getting those materials to market involves shipping, military escorts and other activities that use up a good portion of that energy as well as putting lives at risk. Jobs in solar power are higher tech than jobs in coal mining, oil drilling and shipping, and there are more of them. Using more solar and wind power would require us to put more people to work, and increase our education base because the work involved requires certain skills. I would personally like to take all those people out of the coal mines, send them to school and put them to work building solar panels and wind turbines. Nobody would have to die again in one of those dark holes in the ground trying to find food for our hungry power plants. They could work on a factory floor where they would not be exposed to coal dust, radon and other toxins and dangers. Most of our solar and wind resources are spread pretty evenly over the middle half of our globe, so everyone has access. This puts people in Bogota on a more equal footing with people in Boca Raton by giving them access to electricity, heat and clean water, and the education to use the resources that provide those things. Oil, coal and natural gas is generally piled up in a few places, such as Russia and the Middle East. This gives those countries and the richer governments that rule them more horse power in bargaining for the other resources of our planet. These are the things that wars are made of.

There are other reasons, but I think you get the picture. For us, renewable energy has become something of a hobby It will probably never save us any real money, utility power in most places is really very inexpensive, but it's a little like growing your own tomatoes. It's usually cheaper to buy them at the grocery, but lots of people go to the work and expense to maintain a garden instead. We just grow electrons in ours. If you really want to learn more about the subject, there are some great sources to look into, I will list some below. Here are a couple of quotes you might be interested in: "The path we take today could ease anothers journey tomorro

Tracy Said:

why do we need renewable energy? epecially solar cell?

We Answered:

France is a leader in modern energy thinking and they are going NUCLEAR.The US has the same opportunity -a prime site would be the Bethlehem property out-side of Buffalo NY.

Isaac Said:

Stocks in Solar/Renewable Energy Industry?

We Answered:

Most likely, the options cost you nothing. What the company is saying is that at a later time, you are allowed to buy a certain number of shares of the company at 4/$1. If, at that time, the stock is $5, then you can turn right around and sell it on the open market, and make money. On the other hand, if the stock is 0.24, then your options are worthless.

How much the option is worth depends on the total number of shares issued. If there are 10,000 shares outstanding, and you are allowed to buy 100, then that's 1% of the company. Pretty good, if it turns out to be the next Microsoft or Google. If there are 50 million shares, then that's not much.

An initial public offering of a stock is typically at $5 or more. Are you VERY SURE that the company is going public this year? These are hard times, and a startup has to be doing well to go public. Personally, I would be very surprised to see a new solar company go public in the coming year.

If I actually had to pay money to buy the options, now, I would be doubly suspicious of whether the company is actually going public. Maybe they're just trying to raise money (although, I don't know how much they could get from you).

If you have a wealthy and successful relative, I would go to them with the particulars of the deal, and ask them what they would do. Don't trust Y!A for major financial decisions (not even me!)

Mario Said:

Studies for renewable energy/photovoltalic solar etc. and energy efficency?

We Answered:

The Singapore Enviroment Institute.