Comments on: Welcome to the Solar Century http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664 for environmentalists who don't take themselves too seriously Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:34:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Richard http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-273145 Richard Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:49:00 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-273145 There is always a shroud of self-interest when it comes to these people passing off green energy legislation. It's sad to hear that there are still those who are too concerned with money other than the environment. There is always a shroud of self-interest when it comes to these people passing off green energy legislation. It’s sad to hear that there are still those who are too concerned with money other than the environment.

]]> By: Krystal http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-138176 Krystal Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:58:10 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-138176 I have heard a lot about the solar field expanding, especially in other countries like Germany. I hope this helps our economy with more jobs. California alone has been increasing its renewable energy sources. There are more federal and local incentives to increase solar sources. I know that there are various solar companies in California, but what about other states? In other states is everyone able to find <a href="www.bootsontheroof.com" rel="nofollow"> Solar Training </a>? I have heard a lot about the solar field expanding, especially in other countries like Germany. I hope this helps our economy with more jobs. California alone has been increasing its renewable energy sources. There are more federal and local incentives to increase solar sources. I know that there are various solar companies in California, but what about other states? In other states is everyone able to find Solar Training ?

]]> By: Mark http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-15483 Mark Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:37:59 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-15483 Any idea where this NEW RESEARCH came from? "Firstly, NEW RESEARCH has shown that the small windmills and solar panels that are fitted to our rooftops often create more greenhouse emissions during manufacture than their use curtails." Any idea where this NEW RESEARCH came from?

“Firstly, NEW RESEARCH has shown that the small windmills and solar panels that are fitted to our rooftops often create more greenhouse emissions during manufacture than their use curtails.”

]]> By: Devon http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-12317 Devon Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:20:43 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-12317 These solar power farms seem to be about as good of an idea as anyone has had to this energy crisis. It seems to me with photo voltaic cells approaching 40% efficiency and averaging 20% the main obstacle is storing or transferring the power. I believe that without a more efficient way of storing energy such as a highly efficient method for converting water into hydrogen and re-harnessing that energy the only other option is to transport the energy. In the sim city video games one of the power plants you could build for your city was a microwave transmission plant that could receive electricity via microwaves transmitted from space. I often wondered where the energy would come from. A possible approach to this problem could be to launch a network of satellites capable of efficiently relaying the power to energy hubs across the world. After all, as one reader commented, the sun is always shining somewhere. These solar power farms seem to be about as good of an idea as anyone has had to this energy crisis. It seems to me with photo voltaic cells approaching 40% efficiency and averaging 20% the main obstacle is storing or transferring the power. I believe that without a more efficient way of storing energy such as a highly efficient method for converting water into hydrogen and re-harnessing that energy the only other option is to transport the energy. In the sim city video games one of the power plants you could build for your city was a microwave transmission plant that could receive electricity via microwaves transmitted from space. I often wondered where the energy would come from. A possible approach to this problem could be to launch a network of satellites capable of efficiently relaying the power to energy hubs across the world. After all, as one reader commented, the sun is always shining somewhere.

]]> By: Allan http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-12064 Allan Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:36:22 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-12064 The fact that central Asia's deserts will be covered in solar panels(xD) makes me laugh for it sounds environmentally wrong.. Also, it's going to be a problem in the pacific area.. If only there's some way to store those large amounts of energy.. Oh.. Lightning has a very large voltage.. but i doubt it has enough current to run a house.. portable windmills are very inefficient for it is largely mechanical and occupy large places.. If there's only some way that the invisible, unknown energy can be harnessed.. okay.. i'm just living in my own dream now.. lol seriously.. the only way to boost the efficiency of those panels is to convert the sunlight directly to power (which, i think, is already done), to shrink it up, and to not use dark color.. yea.. i know.. sounds too far-fetched.. The fact that central Asia’s deserts will be covered in solar panels(xD) makes me laugh for it sounds environmentally wrong.. Also, it’s going to be a problem in the pacific area..
If only there’s some way to store those large amounts of energy..

Oh.. Lightning has a very large voltage.. but i doubt it has enough current to run a house..

portable windmills are very inefficient for it is largely mechanical and occupy large places..

If there’s only some way that the invisible, unknown energy can be harnessed.. okay.. i’m just living in my own dream now.. lol

seriously.. the only way to boost the efficiency of those panels is to convert the sunlight directly to power (which, i think, is already done), to shrink it up, and to not use dark color.. yea.. i know.. sounds too far-fetched..

]]> By: Jeannette Leduc http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-12022 Jeannette Leduc Sun, 06 Jan 2008 03:51:26 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-12022 I totally agree, power utilities must by law be required to buy power from anyone that produces it on a small scale . Then lots of tinkers and inventors would be spurred on to develop ideas they have on how to produce it for themselves and to sell. Many would produce it at low cost and using things they already have around. Many of my family are tinkers and have converted air conditioners to heat pumps, etc. I totally agree, power utilities must by law be required to buy power from anyone that produces it on a small scale . Then lots of tinkers and inventors would be spurred on to develop ideas they have on how to produce it for themselves and to sell. Many would produce it at low cost and using things they already have around. Many of my family are tinkers and have converted air conditioners to heat pumps, etc.

]]> By: Chad http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-11988 Chad Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:31:30 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-11988 reading this article made me think about the old lightning in a bottle trick that Benjamin Franklin had invented. Yes, totally unrelated to solar power, But I was wondering if any body has ever considered trying to capture lightning on a large scale? There's got to be regions that get higher than average thunderstorm activity, and if you could setup lightning rods to capture the electicity...(in high capacity capacitors?)... also another idea would be to build portable windfarms that can harness power from hurricanes. They would need to be portable, and able to be deployed with short notice, considering how many hurricanes the US gets every year. Its far fetched, but plausable.. Chad reading this article made me think about the old lightning in a bottle trick that Benjamin Franklin had invented. Yes, totally unrelated to solar power, But I was wondering if any body has ever considered trying to capture lightning on a large scale?

There’s got to be regions that get higher than average thunderstorm activity, and if you could setup lightning rods to capture the electicity…(in high capacity capacitors?)…

also another idea would be to build portable windfarms that can harness power from hurricanes. They would need to be portable, and able to be deployed with short notice, considering how many hurricanes the US gets every year. Its far fetched, but plausable..

Chad

]]> By: Robert http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-11971 Robert Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:27:20 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-11971 I think you're being a bit hard on michael, mike. He's suggesting that solar is the wave of the future, not that we should crap all over it because it's not 100% efficient. Oh, and I was the one who inserted the links everyone. My bad on the carbon capture one, it was supposed to be something relevant to the manufacture of windmills but I've since lost the link. I believe there is an article on the subject in the Environmental Graffiti archives, however, if anyone is interested. I think you’re being a bit hard on michael, mike. He’s suggesting that solar is the wave of the future, not that we should crap all over it because it’s not 100% efficient. Oh, and I was the one who inserted the links everyone. My bad on the carbon capture one, it was supposed to be something relevant to the manufacture of windmills but I’ve since lost the link. I believe there is an article on the subject in the Environmental Graffiti archives, however, if anyone is interested.

]]> By: Mike http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-11954 Mike Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:21:11 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-11954 A solar system will offset its production greenhouse gas emissions within three years. If you want to talk about inefficiencies of power production you should do some research on all large power plants that lose 80% of their power just in production and who knows how much after it has been transmitted a few hundred miles on the grid to the end user. This article does a good job at highlighting the misconception of solar. Thanks for nothing. Mike A solar system will offset its production greenhouse gas emissions within three years. If you want to talk about inefficiencies of power production you should do some research on all large power plants that lose 80% of their power just in production and who knows how much after it has been transmitted a few hundred miles on the grid to the end user. This article does a good job at highlighting the misconception of solar. Thanks for nothing.

Mike

]]> By: Leighton Tebay http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/664/comment-page-1#comment-11953 Leighton Tebay Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:59:24 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/welcome-to-the-solar-century/#comment-11953 "There are also still a plethora of technical issues to overcome. Firstly, new research has shown that the small windmills and solar panels that are fitted to our rooftops often create more greenhouse emissions during manufacture than their use curtails." Your link here is to something about Carbon Capture and Storage. I highly doubt the manufacture of a wind turbine or a solar panel would create more CO2 than their use would offset. Do you have the correct link for this. I'm surprised this article doesn't mention Nanosolar, which is now selling thin-film solar panels for around $1 per watt (e.g. $200 for a 200 watt panel). At that price solar is competitive with burning fossil fuels. “There are also still a plethora of technical issues to overcome. Firstly, new research has shown that the small windmills and solar panels that are fitted to our rooftops often create more greenhouse emissions during manufacture than their use curtails.”

Your link here is to something about Carbon Capture and Storage. I highly doubt the manufacture of a wind turbine or a solar panel would create more CO2 than their use would offset. Do you have the correct link for this.

I’m surprised this article doesn’t mention Nanosolar, which is now selling thin-film solar panels for around $1 per watt (e.g. $200 for a 200 watt panel). At that price solar is competitive with burning fossil fuels.

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