PV Gap

Wilma Said:

how much land is required for solar panels compared to land for a coal fired power station?

We Answered:

If it has to be a centralized power station, then I'm sure the solar plant takes more area, but that's not an entirely fair line of thinking.

The coal plant must have a rail line running into it to supply the coal. The total area taken up by the rail corridor could be significant.

Also, in my opinion, solar's best application is small, distributed generation. In other words, panels on every roof. This is area that is generally not otherwise used, so one might say there is zero additional area is requried. No land to buy, no environmental impact statements, etc.

Ernest Said:

How energy-productive are solar panels, compared to natural gas?

We Answered:

Solar panels really can't compete with fossil fuels of any kind.

They're great for low power consumption applications, but I doubt we'll ever see solar powered steel refineries or heavy manufacturing plants.

A solar panel that produces 175 watts is about 62" x 33" (5 feet by almost 3 feet). 175 watts is enough to power a couple light bulbs; you'd certainly never cook anything on it.

On the other hand consider how much heat and light is produced by a small natural gas fireplace or stove burner. It would take a lot of those 5 foot long solar panels to equal that.

Ronald Said:

How long do solar panels last, compared to the roof they are attached to?

We Answered:

I think estimates are something like 30 years.