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Solar happenings
- Thread starter vfx
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- Energy Environment Policy
Found this really useful tool on the European Union website:
Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) home
Great Google Maps based system for sizing your PV array.
What it shows is that even here in sunny ol' England with a system that was non-tracking and laying down flat on a roof, average solar irradiance is 1020 kWh/m sq - or put another away, an array of under 4m sq would generate enough power to charge a Roadster for 10,000 miles per year (which is typical average mileage).
A bit of an eye opener.
Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) home
Great Google Maps based system for sizing your PV array.
What it shows is that even here in sunny ol' England with a system that was non-tracking and laying down flat on a roof, average solar irradiance is 1020 kWh/m sq - or put another away, an array of under 4m sq would generate enough power to charge a Roadster for 10,000 miles per year (which is typical average mileage).
A bit of an eye opener.
Japan kicks off solar-to-electric test fleet featuring converted Mazda2 EVs
Wouldn't mind a Mazda 2 EV as a runaround.
Wouldn't mind a Mazda 2 EV as a runaround.
AntronX
Member
A place called Anglers Avenue Marine Center located in Dania Beach, Florida is building large grid-tied solar system. Friend of mine happened to be flying by in a helicopter and spotted a roof full of solar panels. Then I went up with him later to take some pictures. Today I stopped by to talk with people there, but general manager was not there. He would be able to tell me specifics of this system. The inverter installed is PVPowered 75 KW unit. It looks like there are 192 panels installed, but they look smaller than usual 3'x6' 190W - 210W panels. So I guess there are about 20 KW of PV installed so far. Inverter had nothing lit up on the display, so I assume it is not operating yet. Here is a set on flickr with pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31659572@N04/sets/72157624203903487/
BTW, this place is only 2 miles or so North from Tesla Motors South Florida store.
More updates and tech discussion on this install will take place here: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/showthread.php?t=8431
Click on pictures below to open larger:
BTW, this place is only 2 miles or so North from Tesla Motors South Florida store.
More updates and tech discussion on this install will take place here: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/showthread.php?t=8431
Click on pictures below to open larger:
PeterW
Member
Inside baseball
You might do a search on patents if you're truly interested, but since the true purpose of patents is to make information available to the world (with a "slight" delay) they may be working without any, counting on secrecy. It may be they have no new art or technology to patent, just counting on jumping on a big first-to-market advantage to monopolize marketing and commercial use of the idea for a while.
You obviously weren't on the in for venture capital investment. They're not going to make such tech data public to mere customers etc. unless they go for an IPO.
You might do a search on patents if you're truly interested, but since the true purpose of patents is to make information available to the world (with a "slight" delay) they may be working without any, counting on secrecy. It may be they have no new art or technology to patent, just counting on jumping on a big first-to-market advantage to monopolize marketing and commercial use of the idea for a while.
Considering that their internal studies showed that each subsidized green job cost 2.2 elsewhere in the economy, basically through mis-direction of capital resources through the gubmint, DOOMED is what the propped-up industry should be. ASAP.
The solar (and all other tax-supported) technologies better pray to all the gods that, despite accelerating positive results, focusfusion.org comes a cropper. Because if it succeeds, it will be licensing a 5MW generator design for w-w manufacture that will cost ~<$250,000 FOB factory door. Within <5 years. Even if you double that for installation and hookup, that's $0.10/W. And the marginal cost of the output would be almost entirely remote monitoring labor and salary for a few engineering/technologist types per 5-10 installations, amounting to maybe ¼¢/kwh.
Anyone saving up paycheck to paycheck to install 1 kw of solar at a time on their rooftops at >$3.50 a watt will be a candidate for the rubber room.
:tongue: Only installed sunk-cost solar installations will be worth keeping. They'll be theft-proof, though, because they'll have only scrap resale value.
Solydra's not doing so hot, actually. They recently canceled their IPO and changed CEOs. The PV material they're using is CIGS based, but their product isn't that efficient given it's geometry. Their main benefit is cost of installation.
Folks in the industry tell me none of the companies using CIGS are doing particularly well. Seems silicon is still king.
Folks in the industry tell me none of the companies using CIGS are doing particularly well. Seems silicon is still king.
Over on 880 you can see the huge expansion project Solyndra is doing lately.
Under construction: Exclusive photos reveal Solyndra’s Fab 2 rapidly taking shape
Held IPO & departing CEO or not, there are still signs that they are growing.
Under construction: Exclusive photos reveal Solyndra’s Fab 2 rapidly taking shape
Held IPO & departing CEO or not, there are still signs that they are growing.
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