PV Gap

Arnold Said:

Why is solar power so difficult to obtain?

We Answered:

Hey cool it. This is a world wide scientific problem. The greens keep going on about alternative energy as if it is widely available and cost effective.

Of all the alternative energy sources solar power is the pits. It is in fact the most expensive and environmentally unfriendly way to produce power yet found!

Solar panels are very expensive to produce and have a very short life before they deteriorate and break down. They also require batteries or similar storage devices which also have a short life. Environmentally harmful heavy metals and chemicals are involved as well producing a disposal problem and next to nothing in it is recyclable. Just producing the panels and the associated equipment needed will produce far more polution than the panels could ever prevent. In short solar panels are very definitely not environmentally sound.

As for comparison with normal roofing materials there is no chance. Completely re-roofing your house with normal materials will be far cheaper than the cost of the minimum panels required and then you have the wiring and storage devices to be paid for as well. Your conventional roof should last for years. Solar panels will start deterioratind within a few years and the produce less and less power as time goes on. They would need servicing regularly and in the lifetime of your roof you would need to replace them and the storage devices a number of times.

Solar water heating - now that is worth going for.