The Future of Free Energy is here now!

cecilia

cecilia

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this is not only a great idea it's also a great way to say "F YOU" to scum like the koch bros
 
I'm not up on nano materials, but one of the things that jumped out at me was the claim that you could beam the light around rather than send it through a power grid, I can't see that being anywhere near as efficient as light diffuses as it travels.

All very hopeful and something that I wish all the best to them, but I am sceptical based on what I just watched.
 
well, I'm thinking more like grabbing some sun shine in my garage door (?) and beaming it into the car.
it doesn't have to go far to be useful.
 
We can save billions of dollars from the DoE that is being spent on solar scam industry! Oh wait, this guy probably didn't donate anything to Obama campaign, never mind.
 
I've heard about similar technologies for a while and it isn't ready for primetime yet. Here's hoping for a breakthough sometime soon.

Sadly what Dammy says is true. Traditional solar may become the next big oil due to political backscratching. I fear the day when people are not allowed to have their own home installed solar panels free and clear.
 
redrumloa said:
I fear the day when people are not allowed to have their own home installed solar panels free and clear.
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At current pricing, the payback on solar panels vs electrical grid power is over 40 years, if the panels could deliver full power for 40 years. You should fear the day they require you to buy solar panels for your home and prevent you from connecting to grid power. Solar panels only have a useful life of 20 years (panel output declines about 3-5% per year) Do the math on what year you get "free power" from an investment in solar panels.
 
metalman said:
You should fear the day they require you to buy solar panels for your home and prevent you from connecting to grid power.
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Fearing an unknown and highly unlikely event is a waste of time. There are clearly more immediate issues. The oil and gas industry along with coal have such a grip on our economy and on the Congress that the day there is no power except what you generate is far, far from realistic.
 
metalman said:
At current pricing, the payback on solar panels vs electrical grid power is over 40 years, if the panels could deliver full power for 40 years. You should fear the day they require you to buy solar panels for your home and prevent you from connecting to grid power. Solar panels only have a useful life of 20 years (panel output declines about 3-5% per year) Do the math on what year you get "free power" from an investment in solar panels.
Click to expand...

40 years? I wonder how you came to this price. Are you taking about a full premium off-grid system? I did some cost estimates for my house to do a large grid-tie system and I figured a payback of about 15 years. That doesn't include state or federal rebates. I don't have the funds to pay this up front right now :( With an estimated panel life of 20 years, it would be worth it. If I am still alive in 20 years, I could just replace the panels themselves since I already have the system in place. With grid tie and smart meters, the meter would run backwards during the day.

The big problem I see is the current plans by the electrical utility monopolies. The day will come where laws will be passed by the communist^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h progressives in government either making it illegal to go at it alone with a hone install or have some draconian taxation for it.

I do long for the day when battery technology technology catches up for true off grid power. For now, grid-tie is the way to go for people with the funds up front.
 
@Red,

In Minnesota solar is about 25 years. Florida should be less. Panels also have more than a 20 year life. Manufactures warranties are 25-30 years. No manufacture warranties longer than their projected life nd no solar panels don't lose 5% per year. So yes Metalman is incorrect about those contentions.

Also, it doesn't appear he takes into account yearly increases to power. If I recall some of your posts weren't some Florida Electricty companies looking for 20% or higher increases?
 
faethor said:
Panels also have more than a 20 year life. Manufactures warranties are 25-30 years. No manufacture warranties longer than their projected life nd no solar panels don't lose 5% per year.
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Only single crystal silicon solar panels are warrented for 20 -25 years

Thin film polycrystalline panels are unlikely to have a warranty lasting more than ten years

Dirt and debris, such as blowing leaves, dust, and shading will also affect power output

and how long do you think the batteries will last? and how often will the battery bank have to be replaced in 20 years ??
 
redrumloa said:
40 years? I wonder how you came to this price.
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there are Sooooo many variables, and associated equipment that is required for an solar installation, besides the panels themselves.

For starters, without a tracker your only getting peak power from your panels for 6 hrs per day

add a tracker, you add to your system cost, maintenance, and up your peak power generation to 10+ hours per day

assuming your at a southern latitude ...
 
The Real Cost of Solar Panels

a friend recently installed solar on his home and I will be asking him about his savings.
Personally, I would prefer a system where the solar components are "printed" on roof tiles so that there is no added weight on the roof. And maybe printed on the sides of the house as well.

I'm not "waiting" for some rich douchbag to supply me with a solution because the future will not be for conglomerations. The future is Local Power.
 
metalman said:
Only single crystal silicon solar panels are warrented for 20 -25 years
Thin film polycrystalline panels are unlikely to have a warranty lasting more than ten years
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Perhaps the question is which warranty are you talking about. Yes you're correct the panels themselves are ~10 years. They are warrantied to not produce less than 80% in 25 years. So again your idea they'd lose 5%/year is a bit off or every company would be kicking out money after the first 7 years.

Dirt and debris, such as blowing leaves, dust, and shading will also affect power output
Click to expand...
This really isn't new. Dirt impacts the efficency of most everything. A panel is fairly easy to clean.

and how long do you think the batteries will last? and how often will the battery bank have to be replaced in 20 years ??
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Solar panels don't require batteries. Most states enforce power companies paying the home owner back for excess power generation.

But as for batteries how long they last does depend upon environmentals. A proper setup that monitors and keeps from over charging they should last about a decade. A proper environment, not too hot or cold, they could last as long as a decade.
 
cecilia said:
a friend recently installed solar on his home and I will be asking him about his savings. Personally, I would prefer a system where the solar components are "printed" on roof tiles so that there is no added weight on the roof. And maybe printed on the sides of the house as well.
Click to expand...
I believe Dow Chemical makes such an animal.
 
Solar is only economically practical for remote locations (10 mi off grid) used with wind and diesel generators
or where only small amounts of power is needed and trenching is required to bring in power

For an on-grid home, solar panels are just buying indulgences from the church of the Gaia.
It makes much more economic sense to upgrade the efficiency of your appliances, install a solar hot water heater or install a water loop heat pump, increase your attic insulation, install a radiant barrier, all of which have a payback of 7 years or less.
 
cecilia said:
just saw this interesting tidbit:
Jay Leno has gone 11,000 miles in his Chevrolet Volt on one tank of gas
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30-liter V12 - originally 900 hp 3mpg

So Jay upgraded to Banks dual turbochargers, removed the carburetors and installed installed a Bosch electronic fuel-injection control unit based on the company's MS 2.9 system for Formula One race cars. Now 1600 hp and 2000 ft-lb torque

All the hard work paid off: Fuel economy doubled -- from 3 mpg to nearly 6 mpg!
​
 
Dammy said:
We can save billions of dollars from the DoE that is being spent on solar scam industry! Oh wait, this guy probably didn't donate anything to Obama campaign, never mind.
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Meanwhile in China, as the government there isn't controlled by the oil industry, but by themselves, the energy consumption relies less and less on oil, and their economy is getting up and up.
As for 2007, 17% of China's energy consumption comes from renewable energy
They don't want to be so dependent on foreign (like Russian or Arab) supplies.
I really think you should be more patriotic. I mean it.
 
metalman said:
Solar is only economically practical for remote locations (10 mi off grid) used with wind and diesel generators
or where only small amounts of power is needed and trenching is required to bring in power
Click to expand...
"Economically practical" is very relative I think. If oil reserves weren't depletable, or, well, in politically nasty places, you'd be right indeed.
 
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