Solar Energy: Coming Into Its Own
The New York Times recently ran an article about the current rise of solar energy and solar power installations in the US. For anyone interested in solar or PV, it's worth a read. My own thoughts follow.
Compelled by the dovetail between dramatically rising energy prices and favorable financial incentives, Americans are turning to residentail solar systems in record numbers. It doesn't hurt that, as the article states, "solar power is also emerging as a kind of status symbol, a glamorous mark of personal responsibility."
For the most part, I think Americans are a reasonable, conservative lot who also want to do the right thing when it makes common (financial) sense. Solar makes a lot of sense in many ways. It's clean energy. It is renewable energy. A solar system adds value to the home. A grid-tied system provides distributed energy production for utilities.
Unfortunately, most state legislatures are behind the curve and have not supported the move to more solar energy by underwriting residential installations. The up-front cost of solar is the primary barrier to mass adoption. (Other barriers relate to geographic location, quality and age of roof and problematic aspects for panels.) California has gotten out in front of other states and now provides substantial rebates and other tax breaks for the public. And the results are obvious:
As the rebate program has made it less expensive to install a home solar system — and as banks, which consider a solar system to be an improvement that increases a house’s value, have made financing readily available — the solar industry has grown. There are now 434 companies registered to install solar systems by the state energy commission, which together installed just under 50 megawatts of solar electric generating capacity in 2006, the most in a single year.
One of the consumers profiled in the article - who apparently is very wealthy - responded to the California incentives. Here's how most Americans - even the rich - think when it comes to big financial decisions:
Mr. Felton, 67, said that a solar system did not make sense when he built his house in 2000, but that the rebate, as well as rising electricity prices, persuaded him to install the system last year.
All states should be implementing major solar installation incentives and they should also be implementing Net Metering initiatives, which allow the consumer to acquire credits for spare electricity passed back to the grid when production exceeds consumption.
In only one respect did I think this article mis-stepped. Attempting to tie solar energy to a reduction in foreign oil dependence does not make a lot of sense, in my opinion. Electric utilities use natural gas and coal to generate electricity - not oil (though there are a few oil-burning utilities). Our oil dependence is tied to our utter reliance on the automobile and truck for transportation and shipping.
Solar energy is a beautiful thing that makes a ton of sense, but it won't help us get off the oil.
Comments
Good point. What would be excellent is if solar energy were tapped to power public transportation. Is this viable?
Posted by: Dave G | January 11, 2007 4:21 PM
Definitely viable in terms of "can it work?" ... but in terms of practicality ... given today's political landscape (broken govt) and profit-driven capitalist system (what makes me the most money in the least amount of time?), not yet viable.
For more on the potential of solar & electrified transportation, check this out at TOD
I love the quote in that piece at TOD, referring to the amount of money squandered in Iraq: "Do you know what could have been done with $2 trillion? You could have put solar panels on 40% of the homes in the U.S. Imagine the greenhouse gas reduction from that. Imagine the energy security."
Posted by: tom c. | January 11, 2007 4:58 PM
MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R6
In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy." We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy." The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption.
The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy.
In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.
A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task.
This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.
Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
1-12-2007
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.
Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 24 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?
Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence.
Installing renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.
Posted by: Jay Draiman | January 12, 2007 8:20 AM