I know a lot of this technology was suppressed in the United States, while the interests of such entities as the Koch brothers coal and building supplies were working overtime to sell everyone bigger McMansions that aren't necessarily able to be easily retrofitted with solar that would justify the expense.
And it can be an expense.
Those who can afford it have money to burn, so why would they bother?
Those Joe the Plumber types who would benefit the most from the efficiency and savings can't afford to buy in.
No wonder solar isn't more prominent. There's so much bullshit surrounding this market, it's hard to see the light of day.
If you're considering solar, take some time to educate yourself about what's available, what's involved in their installation, how much power they can be expected to generate, how that power would be stored and utilized, and how they must be installed. Do not rely on the "sales guy".
They will typically tell you installation costs at $5 to $6. a watt. This is about used in construction.
The Department of Energy of the United States Government published a white paper and held a meeting to address the potential of drastically lowering the cost of solar (to say $1. a watt!) with an initiative they've "coined" SunShot.
From the White Paper:
A key plank of the Obama Administration’s Energy Policy is to put the country on a path to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions by 80% by 2050. Solar energy technology has the potential to play a major role in achieving this goal but to date has been limited by high costs.So pay attention to this, and look for ways to do it yourself, or have the "local roofer", or a really handy husband do it if possible. Installed PV array prices for utility‐scale systems were $8/watt in 2004 and bids below $3.50/watt are
expected by the end of 2010 if not sooner. Residential and commercial prices are over $6/watt since
they are much smaller in scale and incur much larger installation prices and retail markups. With
current market trends and cost reduction opportunities, utility scale system costs are expected to reach
$2.20/watt by 2016 if no new program is launched. The $1/watt goal will require a major change in the
rate of innovation.
So why are we not training a workforce to do these installations, and developing methods that offer a DIY option? The manufacturers covet their installation and create a caveat for supporting these installations through their warrantees. (DIY and void your warantee!) I suspect that they also hire illegals to do these installations in some instances... Just a sneaking suspicion of mine...
So, to consider Solar, where to begin in the simplest of terms? First off: Got Sun? You need to have a clear enough southern exposure, with either east or west (or all three directions as well. Here's what I'm talking about:
So, with the directional issue the versatility of such a product becomes very advantageous. This photo is from "New Age Solar"...
Note the first quote on their website:
One of the mottos of New Age Solar is "Expertise Where Expertise Is Needed" It is a motto that we live by.So I think there is a sense of "entitlement" the industry is holding over the means of installation. These companies do not want to hand over the goods unless they can double dip for the installation. They see a way to further profit. First they manufacture them in China. Then they have the installation done at a premium, while charging quite a lot. Solar is relatively easy to install, particularly the types that are not only systems that snap together which any roofer can do, but they're aesthetic solutions as well...
Many references to solar products that I have seen commercially that offer installation also mention the fact that these are prodcuts for "upscale" or "high end" customers. Read: The industry is gouging the wealthy. They're approaching this from an angle of "quality, not quantity"... Not that I blame anyone from trying to get a position in that market where fools and money are soon parted, but face it, wealthier homeowners' guilt feelings over the environment really only goes so far, and the industry doesn't seem to be getting much of a foothold.
It's not much different than their defense of eating steak, claiming it's local, so it's sustainable. Even as they pay $15. a pound, they believe this. There's a willful Cluelessness.
In broad, general terms, to power most of the needs of a small home, you need 1000 watt hours worth of panels (1000 watts can be stored per hour of sunlight). That's about 10 100 watt panels that measure around 2 feet by 5 feet, facing the sun for a total of 6 hours a day. That still assumes that efficient appliances are in use, CF lighting, LED, and LCD television, passive solar water heat, and other supplemental heat in colder climbs for the short gray days and long dark nights of winter.
Heating a home with solar is difficult, and may be limited to your water. There are some DIY methods for solar heating for your water, and a suitable option shouldn't break the bank either.
Nonetheless, if you live in a particularly cold region, then a backup source of heat is in order, and you may consider a wood stove, propane, or natural gas furnace.
And about that price for the panels themselves... A 100 watt solar panel generally runs around $450 to $550.
SunSlates, made by Atlantis Energy Systems, seem to have been kept pretty darn hush hush, because it can be retrofitted onto nearly any surface, and would be relatively easy to install, and very light weight to save on delivery costs... but you don't hear much about them, and "local dealers" and "certified" installers is kept at a scarcity in the United States.
Back in January, a solar panel manufacturer, Evergreen Solar shuttered its manufacturing facility, to the tune of 800 lost jobs, leaving about 100 in place in its Marlborough, Mass.-based headquarters.
Citing Chinese competition as the primary reason for the decision.
It will continue to make silicon cells in Michigan and in China.
For better or worse, Evergreen is now a Chinese wafer manufacturer with a headquarters in MA," said analyst Brett Prior in an article.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20028245-54.html#ixzz1M6AHwAEH
Now we're supposed to feel good about GE creating 400 new jobs manufacturing solar in the USA, (quite likely on subsidies generated from the taxpayers dime)... when they've not paid any taxes...
400 jobs. Wow, the recession is surely over.
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