Grid-tied solar

   / Grid-tied solar #251  
The counterpoint to the "sunshine is more intense in the equatorial regions", though, is the fact that significantly increased amounts of heat in a PV panel will cut efficiency / output by 10-15%. So, while the sun may seemingly "have more energy to give" near the equator, it is offset by the panel's loss in efficiency because it's so much hotter.

That's a catch-22 isn't it? Hmm.... what to do with all that wasted 80% energy... hmmm..
 
   / Grid-tied solar
  • Thread Starter
#252  
Solar Energy and Energy Independence
Every hour, the sun radiates more energy onto the earth than the entire human population uses in one whole year.

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/51946.pdf
Rooftop PV
Total annual technical potential for rooftop PV is estimated at 818 Terra-watt hours. States with the
largest technical potential typically have the largest populations. California has the
highest technical potential of 106 TWh due to its mix of high population and relatively
good solar resource. Figure 4 and Table 4 present the total estimated technical potential
for rural utility-scale PV.


http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/energy/18ener7.pdf
Total US electric consumption in 2010: 3,754,493 giga-watt hours, or 3,754.5 terra-watt hours

Using solar PV, the existing residential and commercial building rooftops in the US are technically capable of producing 21.8% of all US annual power consumption. Since these buildings already exist, the additional environmental footprint required to achieve this is minuscule.

Of course it is important to achieve the best possible affordable efficiency in solar panels, but the meaningful measure is the cost per solar watt versus the cost of carbon-based fuels.
 
   / Grid-tied solar #253  
You cannot keep most freezers cold on one hour a day. Mine needs abou 12 hours.

We keep our freezer in an unconditioned area. It rode out the 10 day ice storm outage without any power. But then again, even the house was only 55 degrees during that time.
 
   / Grid-tied solar #254  
Using solar PV, the existing residential and commercial building rooftops in the US are technically capable of producing 21.8% of all US annual power consumption.

At some point, I'd like to see that mandated by the building code. It would help take the peak demand out of air conditioning season.
 
   / Grid-tied solar
  • Thread Starter
#255  
At some point, I'd like to see that mandated by the building code. It would help take the peak demand out of air conditioning season.

I could see that too. Two down and 400 million to go :laughing:
 
   / Grid-tied solar #256  
dave1949 said:
I could see that too. Two down and 400 million to go :laughing:

Wait... Is that code for subsidies???

PS... Storyland was GREAT!!!! Parents tired after long day.
PSS.... They do NOT take monopoly money :(
 
   / Grid-tied solar
  • Thread Starter
#257  
Wait... Is that code for subsidies???

PS... Storyland was GREAT!!!! Parents tired after long day.
PSS.... They do NOT take monopoly money :(

Today was the nicest weather day we have had in some time. Must have been nice to get out. I actually fired up the chainsaw for a while.
No monopoly money accepted? Dang.

Our national energy strategy gets yanked around a lot by politics. The renewable energy credits date back to 1992. They have been fairly constant with a few short breaks.
 
   / Grid-tied solar #258  
Today was the nicest weather day we have had in some time. Must have been nice to get out. I actually fired up the chainsaw for a while.
No monopoly money accepted? Dang.

Our national energy strategy gets yanked around a lot by politics. The renewable energy credits date back to 1992. They have been fairly constant with a few short breaks.

I have strong views, that I think have validity (of course I would think my views are valid ;)). BUT subsidies are a frienemy to all sides. I mean no politically directional slander in mocking subsidies. I am seriously concerned about the math skills of "officials," but that again is not aimed in a political direction. And I am interested in wind and solar, and energy independence...for real.

Now, back to what matters :) ... the weather was PERFECT! The park was busy, but not packed. You could ride any ride, as much as you wanted, and there were just enough people for no real lines, but no empty rides. How often does something like that happen???

Was the chainsaw time as therapeutic as tractoring?

Thanks for being a great sport with me.

:drink:
 
   / Grid-tied solar
  • Thread Starter
#259  
I have strong views, that I think have validity (of course I would think my views are valid ;)). BUT subsidies are a frienemy to all sides. I mean no politically directional slander in mocking subsidies. I am seriously concerned about the math skills of "officials," but that again is not aimed in a political direction. And I am interested in wind and solar, and energy independence...for real.

Now, back to what matters :) ... the weather was PERFECT! The park was busy, but not packed. You could ride any ride, as much as you wanted, and there were just enough people for no real lines, but no empty rides. How often does something like that happen???

Was the chainsaw time as therapeutic as tractoring?

Thanks for being a great sport with me.

:drink:

That does sound like a storybook day in Storyland!

The chainsaw work is a long story. I have a small 8x12 shed that is one of those mistakes I should have avoided by waiting for a better thought. It was intended to be a shelter for my wife's dogs, so I made it tall enough to stand up in under the peak, but the sides are only about 5' tall. The dogs never used it except to lay beside it in the shade it makes. :laughing: And now it is outside the new fence we put in this spring anyways.

I want to move it out to where it would be handy to store some garden and yard stuff in it, but it is back in some apple trees I want to keep. I cut some 16' logs to put under it and use like travois poles I could lift and pull with the tractor. I know I am going to put a lot of work into this, only to end up with a storage shed I will never really like. I have considered tearing it apart and using what I can salvage in new shed. I may do that yet if my moving attempt fails.
 
   / Grid-tied solar #260  
dave1949 said:
That does sound like a storybook day in Storyland!

The chainsaw work is a long story. I have a small 8x12 shed that is one of those mistakes I should have avoided by waiting for a better thought. It was intended to be a shelter for my wife's dogs, so I made it tall enough to stand up in under the peak, but the sides are only about 5' tall. The dogs never used it except to lay beside it in the shade it makes. :laughing: And now it is outside the new fence we put in this spring anyways.

I want to move it out to where it would be handy to store some garden and yard stuff in it, but it is back in some apple trees I want to keep. I cut some 16' logs to put under it and use like travois poles I could lift and pull with the tractor. I know I am going to put a lot of work into this, only to end up with a storage shed I will never really like. I have considered tearing it apart and using what I can salvage in new shed. I may do that yet if my moving attempt fails.

Relaying to me a story like that (shed), know this: sadly, I understand completely. :( :)

At least u get to "fix" your plan with cool tools, like chainsaws and tractors! :thumbsup: :D

I see, too, that u totally understand why I'm waiting til I'm certain I can envision the driveway project correctly... I know I could do it, when I know what to do. Not really "seeing" it yet, makes the project more scary, right now. Like u said, about it, give it time and it will come to me.

I hope your shed move/renovation goes as safely and smoothly as possible.
 

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