Comments on: Solar Thermal vs. Photovoltaic (PV) – Which Should You Choose?

By: FRE

FRE — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:00:51 +0000

The problem here is that PV depends on subsidies. Without the subsidies, it would not pay for home owners to have PV power. Thus, when a neighbor installs a PV system, I am paying for part of his subsidy, which I consider unfair.

Power companies lose out with home PV systems. Most of the cost of generating electricity is not in the fuel, but rather, in investment and labor costs. Thus, even if home PV systems slightly reduced the cost of fuel for power companies, the amount saved could not justify the power company’s paying PV owners for the power. Moreover, because the power from PV systems is somewhat unpredictable, it makes it difficult for power companies to adjust their generating output as the power from PV systems change.

The PV systems described here do not provide power at night, yet homeowners use power 24 hours a day.

If PV systems were not connected to the grid, were not subsidized in any way, and included storage so that adequate power would be provided 24 hours a day without fail, then the cost would be well beyond what most homeowners would be willing or able to pay. However, that may not be a permanent problem. It may be that at some future date, the costs will decline so that even with adequate storage, PV systems could be justified on an economic basis. However, that time may never come.

By: Andy Greene

Andy Greene — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:08:01 +0000

Wow, that’s a good question – and one that is beyond my expertise. A lot of people make decisions based on estimating stuff like that, but I’m not aware of a formula.

By: Robert Mikulewicz

Robert Mikulewicz — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:40:50 +0000

Hi there, Andy. I’ve been trying to find an equivalence between solar water and solar
electric, which is to say: How many squares of photovoltaic panel would equal one
square of solar water panel in energy capture given the same solar exposure?

I know this is apples and oranges here (Btu’s and watts) but I would be pleased if you could shed some light, so to speak, on this.

Bob

By: RICHARD PALMERI

RICHARD PALMERI — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:34:43 +0000

HI
AM AN ARCHITECT IN FL.
LIKE YOUR OPINION OF SOLAR THERMAL VS PV .
CRITERIA:
200MW
DESERT APP.
WE HAVE TO MANAGE FOR 20 YRS
LIKE DOLLAR COMPARISONS COST AND MAINTENANCE
LAND IS NOT AN ISSUE
THANKS

By: Andy Greene

Andy Greene — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:47:56 +0000

Thanks for the kind words, Lynn. I added you to the blogroll.

By: Lynn from Organicmania.com

Lynn from Organicmania.com — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:03:41 +0000

Andy, I got such a kick out of the description on your “about” page. I totally agree with you! My father was a dairy farmer, and I definitely know country ways, even though I’m a certified city slicker now!

Keep up the good work with renewable energy!