Solar Panel Megathread

Their electricity currently costs 32 US cents/kWh, where as ours costs costs 20.

We must be doing something right then.

We must be doing something right then.

In China and the US it's about 10 US cents, so we could do better.

We must be doing something right then.

Not really as we are using up our cheap supply and are having to supplement it with imported gas, and that cost and available supply is subject to change. We are increasingly relying on imported gas and in 2012 we actually imported 43% of the gas we used, one of the reasons we need greater diversity.

If you scroll down that wiki link you will also find this..

Fuel prices.

"The fuel used to generate electricity at a power plant is the primary cost incurred by electrical generation companies. Particularly, coal, as a fuel for baseload plants and more important, to a degree, natural gas for peaking plants affect power prices. This will change as more renewable energy is used, when the capital cost will be the primary cost, as renewable energy (other than biomass and biofuel) has no fuel cost."

In China and the US it's about 10 US cents, so we could do better.

In China the cost is 8c US cents.

As of 2014, China leads the world in the production and use of wind power, solar photovoltaic power and smart grid technologies, generating almost as much water, wind and solar energy as all of France and Germany's power plants combined.

As Chinese renewable manufacturing has grown, the costs of renewable energy technologies have dropped dramatically.

China generates 29%(2013) of its electricity by renewables, but yet still has cheap electricity !!

I guess its the wrong sort of renewables, again?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31689722

In China the cost is 8c US cents.

 

As of 2014, China leads the world in the production and use of wind power, solar photovoltaic power and smart grid technologies, generating almost as much water, wind and solar energy as all of France and Germany's power plants combined.

As Chinese renewable manufacturing has grown, the costs of renewable energy technologies have dropped dramatically.

China generates 29%(2013) of its electricity by renewables, but yet still has cheap electricity !!

 

I guess its the wrong sort of renewables, again?

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31689722

They get the vast majority of their electricity from coal.

Renewables are used in less developed areas where a constant supply is not yet needed.

We have no such areas.

---------- Post added 05-09-2015 at 06:50 ----------

Not really as we are using up our cheap supply and are having to supplement it with imported gas, and that cost and available supply is subject to change. We are increasingly relying on imported gas and in 2012 we actually imported 43% of the gas we used, one of the reasons we need greater diversity.

 

If you scroll down that wiki link you will also find this..

 

Fuel prices.

 

"The fuel used to generate electricity at a power plant is the primary cost incurred by electrical generation companies. Particularly, coal, as a fuel for baseload plants and more important, to a degree, natural gas for peaking plants affect power prices. This will change as more renewable energy is used, when the capital cost will be the primary cost, as renewable energy (other than biomass and biofuel) has no fuel cost."

Fracking would fix this.

They get the vast majority of their electricity from coal.

Yes, 65% in China, 43% in the UK.

12% from renewables in the UK, 29% from renewables in China

China often get attacked in the press, but according to the BBC they are doing very well. Cheap energy with a good percentage from renewables.

Yes, 65% in China, 43% in the UK.

 

12% from renewables in the UK, 29% from renewables in China

 

China often get attacked in the press, but according to the BBC they are doing very well. Cheap energy with a good percentage from renewables.

Coal produces far more CO2 than gas and produces a lot of actual pollution as well. China are also not cooperating with the IPCC's targets where as officially the UK is.

Coal produces far more CO2 than gas and produces a lot of actual pollution as well. China are also not cooperating with the IPCC's targets where as officially the UK is.

They have not agreed to any set targets, but they are taking massive steps to make their country more energy efficient, where as the UK has set targets, but is going backwards under the leadership of David Cameron.

They have not agreed to any set targets, but they are taking massive steps to make their country more energy efficient, where as the UK has set targets, but is going backwards under the leadership of David Cameron.

Any evidence for this "going backwards".

Any evidence for this "going backwards".

The Conservative Government axed plans to make all new homes carbon neutral from 2016, drawing widespread criticism from house builders and environmentalists.

The zero carbon homes policy was meant to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions from housing, which currently make up nearly a third of all the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The Conservative Government axed plans to make all new homes carbon neutral from 2016, drawing widespread criticism from house builders and environmentalists.

 

The zero carbon homes policy was meant to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions from housing, which currently make up nearly a third of all the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

They're trying to keep house prices under reasonable control and this plan was not very practical.

If, as the environmentalists keep insisting, renewable energy is either about to become or already is, cheaper than nuclear or fossil, what's the problem? It shouldn't need special laws or subsidies to take over as that should happen naturally. If wind and solar are good value, they'll pay for themselves and the private sector will build them because of the profit they'll make from selling the power.

They're trying to keep house prices under reasonable control and this plan was not very practical.

 

You asked for evidence of this "going backwards", and I provided it.