Solar taking over the grid
 

Hi Guys,
Here's an article from the New York Times my friend emailed me, thought some of you might find it interesting:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/14/sc...=top-news&_r=1

Rob

good read and an interesting article thanks mate.

When the government (aka taxpayers) stop subsidizing energy companies the cost per KWH will increase. Once we get to Germany levels (about 25 cents per KWH), they green energy starts making sense.

When you weigh the cost of decommissioning nuclear, the cost of coal pollution and the cost to fight wars to protect oil interests green energy makes sense right now. Especially when you factor the dropping cost of PV modules and large scale wind.

Rob

The cost of the wars to protect oil interests is one of the government subsidies I was referring to. Let oil prices rise and green energy has shorter payback time.

Smart grid technology is good for solar, since solar has the highest production when grid demand is greatest. More utilities are going to Time of Use rates, electricity costs more when the solar works best.

Thanks for posting

"Reform" is necessary, especially for people! All I see are ways to keep the existing grid up and running..

All the grid has done is spoil everyone and provide power for a bunch of unnecessary items to survive. As long as people are fat and happy, progress will be slow..

I was never an advocate in supporting the grid. I don't see any sense in it. Why invest a bunch of money to support something that most everyone takes for granted and has no intention of conserving anything. When luxury starts biting people in the wallet, maybe then they will take notice..

Solar replaced the grid here back in 1989. I live comfortable on 512 watts of panel and I have everything I "Need"..

Conservation won't take place until government lets energy prices rise to their natural levels.

I used to think when gas was 50 cents a gallon that if it hit $2.00 a gallon people would start to conserve. I don't see a lot of that happening. Gas is now $4.00 a gallon and people are still buying large vehicles.

In countries like India where the population is seeing better incomes they are going from bikes and mopeds to Tata Nano's. They want cars and air conditioning like the rest of the world.

I'm hoping things like the Organic Transit ELF will take off but I wonder if it's just those of us who think the planet has to last a couple of billion years more care enough to employ these types of things.

Standard ELF 1.5 | Organic Transit

Rob

I was telling a friend about my solar project and clean driving. I was able to save $5,325.2 my first year.

His comment was I am not really that into saving money.

I guess until people think differently the EV cars will be slow to catch on.

It is win win if you ask me. I am not polluting the environment and my money is not going overseas to foreign oil companies and countries that hate us. I am saving money on top of all that.


OffGridKindaGuy you are doing even better than I am.

I hope power gets more decentralized and the grid becomes more like the phone lines.