Why can't everybody uses solar panel.

[Ayomav]

Hello,

Well, what got me research in this topic is because, we got an electricity bill few days ago of $600 and we didn't have it so they came and cut off our electricity, and so I couldn't use internet and now connecting via an aircard and only 15% battery left, before it shuts off, I want to ask a question, for the past 2-3 days I have done quite alot of research.

We know that the reason they tell us to switch off light to save the environment is because 60+ % of electricity are produce by burning coal which emits CO2 which destroys the ozone and hence making the world hotter and hotter causing global warming and hence not environmental friendly.When there was many other options available, but they choose coal just because for the interest of their financial gain.

Now, even though I have been promoting eartn4energy for long time without actually knowing what it is, today, I decided to look into it's salespage, I understood that the problem people are not using solar panel is because it's too expensive and it takes 30 years to get the investment back, I believe it cost appx. $20,000 for installing solar panel, now, I can't f**king understand, if they can build 100+ million Iphone 4s and Ipad 3, when they were not that really important, why the f**k can't they build 500 million solar panels, and as we know, the more the product, the lower the cost it get, I mean, can't we reduce the cost of solar panel from $20,000 down to $500 or something, so that we can get our investment back in 1-2 months, and not only that, the world will be truly green, I mean, we can switch on the AC 24 hours and our parents won't even come and repeat everyday, son, have u switch off the AC ?

I just don't understand, in earth4energy, it teaches u how to build ur own solar panel, and it simply not easy for non-engineers to build them, I don't understand why can't someone build a business and sells these solar panels for the interest of public usefulness and not financial gain, why it's not spread out, why non of my neigbours uses it.

The government is making big money from electricity bill, I mean, just our home, we are paying $300/month for electricity, there are millions of houses, so how much these governments are making money.

I just don't understand and I'm not stupid either, I know I need to go find the best economist and find the best engineers expert in solar panel, sit in 3 with them, and do some serious talk.

But since, I can't afford to do that, I'm asking all the smart people on bhw.

What do you think, what TRUELY is the problem, is it because it's technically not possible ? Is it financially not profitable ? What REALLY is the problem.

Thanks

 

[hillsb]

It is a monopoly here and I am sure it is the same in many places. With only one business to supply electricity they can charge very high rates.

 

[LakeForest]

The issue is to force you to be continually dependent on them while paying a premium to line their wallets. tec

There is absolutely no reason to continue using fossil fuels besides the size of the current industry as well as (if you are cynical) the obvious benefit of forcing the public to use an outdated technology.

If we all had microfusion reactors, there would be little that could be done to control us besides straight up death squads.

We may live in the 21st century, but that doesn't mean its any different than the dark ages yet

 

[Ayomav]

zzzzzz.

 

[jrpowell01]

I like your idea a lot. I've never heard of making your own solar panels but I know the reason everybody doesnt go and buy them is just that they're too expensive. companies like first solar have brought down prices, but its a slow process.

 

[LakeForest]

If they can do that, what faces they use to tell us in the media that "People, please switch off lights when not using", and even google is too stupid to celebrate the Earth Day on their homepage, why can't they celebrate it everyday.What we get by swithcing the light off for only 1 minute.

Control.

They tell you to turn off the light, and you do.

They could just, you know, use a fuel that is abundant and nigh-infinite. But they don't. Instead of proactively creating a solution, they make you take an action of reduction and limitation of yourself to solve the problem they refuse to solve.

All in all: Relax. Things will get better when they're meant to get better. There is too much invested in all of this to just let it fall in a "catastrophe."

Follow the money and you'll find the ones who are at the source of your questions.

 

[Ayomav]

zzzzz.

 

[Ayomav]

What if we invest $50 billion in solar panel (affordable by ONE single man who is the richest), solar panel for each house cost appx. $50,000 , so, with $50 billion, we can get solar panel for 1 million houses.Now, each house saves $300/month, that means $300 million/month, now, in 1 year, we get $3 billion back.I think this is a good investment.

Also, if we are building tons of solar panel, it would probably cost $5,000/installation.

So, we save $3 billion/month.

Some investors should look into innovating this idea.

Just a thought.

And, the next thing we need is all the farmers in the world instead of rising crops, should put solar panel on their field, and every car should use electricity, and we should produce tons and tons of electricity from solar energy, which is free.

Once this is done, then I will turn on my AC 24/7 without worrying about electricity bills !

Just my $0.02

 

[blackouts]

Once this is done, then I will turn on my AC 24/7 without worrying about electricity bills !

I don't think that mother earth would love that ...

 

[mhatter]

You forgot to mention SRECs. You earn money just by using your solar panels.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_renewable_energy_certificate

"For every 1000 killowatt-hours of electricity produced by an eligible solar facility, one SREC is awarded." You then sell those SRECs.

Also, there's a federal tax credit (30% I think) for solar installations that ends on December 31, 2016.

The average person doesn't save dick let alone $20k.

Not everyone believes in global warming.

Honestly your post sucks. Almost every year solar gets cheaper and more efficent. And who is "they"? Apple? You want Apple to make solar panels because they make Iphones? Your rinky dink solar panel you build yourself might charge an Iphone not run a refrigerator. To answer your question, yes it is technically not possible YET to build "cheap" ($500 whole house lulz) high wattage solar panels.

 

[jammie]

There are a few problems with this;

firstly, energy storage.

If the world was entirely powered off solar panels, during the night, we'd have no intensive care at a hospital etc. etc. --> not good.

The solution? batteries. Electric cars use tons of laptop batteries stuck together. These aren't that great and are very expensive. Find a solution to this and you're the next worlds richest man. Seriously; the entire new energy infrastructure hinges on energy storage capacity!

Of course, solar power plants using molten salt can operate 24/7, but there isnt enough space to build enough of them to power everyone (unfortunately).

The second problem is the materials used.

They require some very expensive rare earth minerals. Unless more are found or we send probes into space to harvest them, supply and demand will reign supreme. Don't forget 98% of the supply these minerals and metals are farmed in china, so they hold the cards when it comes to solar panels and battery technology.


Overall, we just need massive investment in renewable energy overall. More wind power, more tidal, more solar and more research into other alternatives and into increasing the efficiency of current technology.

I wish it was as simple as you made out!

 

[moose123]

its our goverment guys, everything is controled by them, if everyone could afford solar pannels, then the gov will loose a ton of money, taxes, its the same with gas, there all ready a alternative to gas, well a few i,e corn etc, the gov will not allow it as they loose more money on the gas taxes, you would not believe the shit that goes on. Our gov controls everything we are hamsters, rich get richer poor get poorer

 

[Getwhatchuwant]

I have a friend who has solar powered AC company and he is struggling. Which sucks because I would help him with SEO but AC in Florida is a pretty competitive term and I cannot work for free.

But the cost of a new unit is around $8000 vs around $3000 for a regular unit but like someone said you get a tax credit and the reduction in your AC bill means in just about 2 years you have covered the cost of your Solar AC unit.
But people cannot get beyond the initial outlay, that is the problem with people, we are ourselves temporary beings, so most of us lack a long term vision.

 

[-Jericho-]

The simple answer is it's just not cost effective.

And you need to educate yourself better on CO2. It does not destroy the ozone layer. CFCs are the chemicals that interact with the ozone layer. CO2 is being treated as some horrific thing when in fact it's a crucial gas for the earth's ecosystem. Without it there would be no plants to make Oxygen. Don't believe everything these scam artists tell you about global warming. They're just as much about making money off of you as the oil industry is.

I'm all for alternative energy but it's just too expensive at the moment.

 

[Kharis]

the way solar works here (in australia) is that if you have solar panels the electricity created isn't used in your house but taken back into the grid. you then still use the normal electricity supply and you get a crappy rebate on the amount of kw you produce, recently the rebate has been slashed which makes it not economically viable to pay thousands of dollars for panels and installation when the amout you get back is negligible (it'll take over 10 years to pay for itself currently)

governments keep telling us to go green and then punish people who try with no incentives and then hit everybody with a carbon tax on top of it, i hate this planet sometimes (not the planet, just the people who run it - and i'm sure ASIO will be knocking on my door any minute now)

 

[tony23]

Ok, I used to have a solar installation biz so here is my 2 cents;

1. people use way too much power.
2. solar panels are actually cheaper now than ever.
3. storage is a problem, batteries suck, try http://WWW.BEACONPOWER.COM/products/smart-energy-25.asp instead
4. there is no conspiracy, it's supply and demand, not enough people demand alt. energy.
5. grid tie can work as long as the numbers work in your favour
6. future nano tech solar http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/nanotech-spray-on-film-turns-windows-into-solar-panels-18-08-2010/

 

[dog-tag]

Well I know for a fact than in Ireland, if solar power ever got big, then they would tax the hell out it anyway.

I think zeitgest made a good documentary about world energy, and how we rely so much on oil (because it worth $$$) and how we don't use renewable energy like hydrogen, wind, solar, tidal, and even the heat generated from the earths core.

You can generate infinite power from the earths core, by poring water down and producing steam power which can make electric, but the truth is, it isn't worth it to the oil companies and government who tax the hell out of oil/petrol/gas etc

 

[SethTurin]

It's also problematic that at least in the US a majority of people who are interested in solar panels tend to live in major cities (demographically, major cities are more liberal) and right now, it's not feasible to use solar panels unless you live in the middle of the country. When it becomes more popular and there is a tipping point, it will grow more popular in the suburbs, and once it's popular in the suburbs, then it might become a regular thing. But right now those with the space to have solar panels are often the same ones without any interest in them (which is changing also as those people become more interested in self-sufficiency).

 

[siteking]

On a positive note, BMW has just released a sexy looking electric sports car. Featured in the new Mission Impossible movie.

 

[nirose]

Thanks alot for this thread,

I always liked the idea for solar power, but here the panels, batteries and installations cost a lot. but i'm going to look into the DIY part of it. will need to buy some solar cells though.

Added to my to do list.