This isn’t an intro on solar power technology. I’m sure you can find that over on Wikipedia. This is a quick intro on some of the top topics of concern to those who want to see us cruise into a bright future, not stumble and crash into some truly dark days.
This is just a start. What I’ve got below will become part of a resource page on on solar that will be continually updated and easily accessible on the side of our site (much like the wind power page we are still adding to). If you have something you want to add, shoot me a message on Google+!
Solar power myths and anti-solar-power talking points are all over the place. I think these are the main ones:
“Solar power is just a tiny portion of our electricity supply and will never be more. Solar power is just too expensive and too impractical.”
Completely ridiculous that anyone would believe or say these things, and here are some key reasons why:
"Comparing finite and renewable planetary energy reserves (Terawatt‐years). Total recoverable reserves are shown for the finite resources. Yearly potential is shown for the renewables." (source: Perez & Perez, 2009a)
1. Solar energy is the most abundant source of energy on the planet, by far. Just take a look at the graph above… clear enough?
2. Solar costs are dropping like leaves in the fall, unless my eyes deceive me…. With almost all technologies, it takes awhile for direct costs to hit a point where the masses will buy them, but once that point is reached, Bam! While the true cost of solar is already competitive with other options, we don’t really take the true cost into account with our decisions. Additionally, while investing in solar power is already a super intelligent thing to do, meaning your return on investment is excellent since you can save so much money on electricity every month and, with the tremendous government incentives available today around the world, can end up making money on your solar power system before you know it.
It’s true, though, we don’t have a ton of solar installed yet, but we’re getting there (see below). Also, even with the fossil fuel industry stacked against us, progress is being made. Costs, in general, continue to fall fast. Here’s more on costs:
1. True Value of Solar Power
2. Cost of Solar Power Competitive with Coal Some Places, & Dropping Fast
3. GE: Solar Power Cheaper than Fossil Fuels in 5 years
4. Solar Power Graphs to Make You Smile
5. Historic Report: Solar Energy Costs Now Lower than Nuclear Energy
3. The solar industry in the U.S. and globally is growing at a breakneck pace, largely for the reasons mentioned above (and the widespread acceptance that we need to combat global warming). For details, if the graphs above aren’t enough for you, check out any of these posts:
1. U.S. Solar Energy Growth Continues to Crush Records (10 Key Findings)
2. International Solar PV Nearly Doubled, PV Growth Doubled in 2010
3. Cleantech’s Revolutionary Growth & Expectations for Coming 10 Years
4. Solar Power Blowing Up in the United States
5. Solar Power Graphs to Make You Smile
6. Solar Energy Markets and Growth
We’ll follow up with some more important points soon. Again, if you want to chime in, you can comment below or connect with me on Google+.
Now, if you’re interested in reading some of the latest solar power news, here’s some news from around (other than what we’ve already covered in the past week):
1. Report: Chinese solar power could reach grid parity by 2015
2. Solar Project Focus: Cupertino Electric’s PV Schools
3. The women bringing solar power to Sierra Leone
4. Canadian Solar profit doubles but lags Street view
5. New solar projects in California will result in billions of dollars in savings
6. Solar Power Goes Mobile with Solarpod
7. Analysis: German rail to run on sun, wind to keep clients happy
8. Mitsui, Toshiba plan Japan’s largest solar plant: Nikkei
http://cleantechnica.com/2011/08/23/solar-power-intro-3-key-solar-power-points-top-solar-power-n e ws/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IM-cleantechnica+% 28CleanTechnica%29
This is just a start. What I’ve got below will become part of a resource page on on solar that will be continually updated and easily accessible on the side of our site (much like the wind power page we are still adding to). If you have something you want to add, shoot me a message on Google+!
Solar power myths and anti-solar-power talking points are all over the place. I think these are the main ones:
“Solar power is just a tiny portion of our electricity supply and will never be more. Solar power is just too expensive and too impractical.”
Completely ridiculous that anyone would believe or say these things, and here are some key reasons why:
"Comparing finite and renewable planetary energy reserves (Terawatt‐years). Total recoverable reserves are shown for the finite resources. Yearly potential is shown for the renewables." (source: Perez & Perez, 2009a)
1. Solar energy is the most abundant source of energy on the planet, by far. Just take a look at the graph above… clear enough?
2. Solar costs are dropping like leaves in the fall, unless my eyes deceive me…. With almost all technologies, it takes awhile for direct costs to hit a point where the masses will buy them, but once that point is reached, Bam! While the true cost of solar is already competitive with other options, we don’t really take the true cost into account with our decisions. Additionally, while investing in solar power is already a super intelligent thing to do, meaning your return on investment is excellent since you can save so much money on electricity every month and, with the tremendous government incentives available today around the world, can end up making money on your solar power system before you know it.
It’s true, though, we don’t have a ton of solar installed yet, but we’re getting there (see below). Also, even with the fossil fuel industry stacked against us, progress is being made. Costs, in general, continue to fall fast. Here’s more on costs:
1. True Value of Solar Power
2. Cost of Solar Power Competitive with Coal Some Places, & Dropping Fast
3. GE: Solar Power Cheaper than Fossil Fuels in 5 years
4. Solar Power Graphs to Make You Smile
5. Historic Report: Solar Energy Costs Now Lower than Nuclear Energy
3. The solar industry in the U.S. and globally is growing at a breakneck pace, largely for the reasons mentioned above (and the widespread acceptance that we need to combat global warming). For details, if the graphs above aren’t enough for you, check out any of these posts:
1. U.S. Solar Energy Growth Continues to Crush Records (10 Key Findings)
2. International Solar PV Nearly Doubled, PV Growth Doubled in 2010
3. Cleantech’s Revolutionary Growth & Expectations for Coming 10 Years
4. Solar Power Blowing Up in the United States
5. Solar Power Graphs to Make You Smile
6. Solar Energy Markets and Growth
We’ll follow up with some more important points soon. Again, if you want to chime in, you can comment below or connect with me on Google+.
Now, if you’re interested in reading some of the latest solar power news, here’s some news from around (other than what we’ve already covered in the past week):
1. Report: Chinese solar power could reach grid parity by 2015
2. Solar Project Focus: Cupertino Electric’s PV Schools
3. The women bringing solar power to Sierra Leone
4. Canadian Solar profit doubles but lags Street view
5. New solar projects in California will result in billions of dollars in savings
6. Solar Power Goes Mobile with Solarpod
7. Analysis: German rail to run on sun, wind to keep clients happy
8. Mitsui, Toshiba plan Japan’s largest solar plant: Nikkei
http://cleantechnica.com/2011/08/23/solar-power-intro-3-key-solar-power-points-top-solar-power-n e ws/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IM-cleantechnica+% 28CleanTechnica%29
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