PV Gap

Jennie Said:

would you convert to SOLAR energy if it were more affordable?

We Answered:

I HAD solar energy, unfortionately I had to move :(
it was a wonderful thing to think your power caused NO pollution. with that and wind I would have all the power I needed. but alas, thats what having more people in the house does. outgrew the place

Leslie Said:

what can i use aside solar energy to make a rechargeable iron?

We Answered:

there are radios that use crank handles....but thats the best i can come up with.

Erik Said:

Is Solar Energy Affordable?

We Answered:

A very good question. Here's an overview of th esituation.

First of all--the operating cost of solar energy is VERY affordable--in fact, even allowing for the maintainance of the equipment, it produces electricity at much lower cost. From taht perspective--its worthwhile even in a climate like the NorthWest, where theres a lot of cloud cover.

The big thing is the start-up cost. It can cost a LOT of money. Systems large enough to provide all or most of the power for a good-sized home can run over $20,000. That can pay for itself--eventually. But its a lot to invest ina home.

Now, the cost is coming down. Solar panels used to cost around $7.50/watt genrating capacity (in 2000). By 2006 that had dropped to about $4. That's about $4000 for panels that can genrate up to 1kilowatt--down from $7500 in about 5 years. And the cost is going to drop further--a LOT further--in the next decade. There is a whole range of new technologies being developed--and the main push is to get that cost down. The other thing that will make solar energy more affordable is jsut having a bigger market for it. As the market grows, economies of scale help to bring down costs.

Here's a couple examples of things scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs are working on:

>new manufacturing processes. It turns out that solar cellls require technology very similar to computer circuits--so methods are being developed to use the same sort of "printed circuit" methods of manfacturing the solar panels. That would cut the cost of panels--drastically.

>My favorite is this (and its still experimental--so it may not prove feasible, though technically it does work): "Painting" a house roof with aspecial matieral that will generate solar energy. The idea is that the roof is first covered with a layer of conducting material (basically, heavy gauge aluminum foil). then the special compound (actuallly its a highly sophisticated nanotech matieral) that will act like a conventional solar cell when dry. Then you just attach conducting leads to a current regulating system tha tsends the electricity on into yur howme.

Like I said--that one's experimantal. BKut it DOES work (whether it can be made commercially feasible is still up in the air). But you gotta love the idea of just "painting" your electriccity gnerating system on the roof of your house!