Solar panels – more silly roof schemes
The roof insulation scheme was dangerous, ill planned and wasted community funds.
The roof solar panel scheme will also be dangerous and far more wasteful. It should be suspended immediately and an independent enquiry made into its engineering and financial feasibility.
There are two aspects of electricity demand.
First is base load demand, which is present 24 hours a day, every day. However the sun shines brightly for only a few hours around noon. Thus solar panels cannot replace even one iota of base load generating capacity. Coal, gas, hydro, nuclear or some expensive power storage system must sit there ready to supply 100% of base load power every night and any cloudy day.
The second consideration is peak load demand, which tends to occur around meal times, night and morning. Solar panels contribute nothing at these times either.
Therefore every dollar spent on roof solar panels duplicates capital already spent on conventional power generation – ie community capital is wasted.
Roof solar panels also induce householders into danger.
Even a small amount of dirt, dust, bird droppings, tree leaves or suicidal kites will dramatically reduce the electricity generated by a solar panel. Someone must climb onto the roof and clean the panel. Someone will fall off.
Solar power is not free. The provision of sunshine is free, but construction, collection, distribution, maintenance and replacement of solar panels are not free and solar power will always need taxes on competitors or support from taxpayers to survive.
Surely our parliament cannot be so negligent as to allow rock singers and lawyers to pretend that solar playthings have the reliability, capacity and safety to provide any useful contribution to the future energy needs of our cities, trains, factories, mines and farms?
If solar panels are so good, consumers will buy them without coercion and subsidies. If they are a dangerous waste, why should other consumers and taxpayers be forced into folly?
Viv Forbes is Chairman of the Carbon Sense Coalition, an Australian organisation which opposes pollution and waste of energy, and promotes rational carbon energy policies.
A friend of mine was employed to put in insulation. They were doing all
housing commission homes. They put in one and the chap who owned
the house, said ‘I own this house it’s never been a housing commission home. But it was on the list the government handed out to the suppliers, so they left them in.
Solar panels, Greens are not for them. Solar Thermal they are for. But in SMH this week, a hydroelectric, (where for G’s sake) cum wind come solar plant is being erected at Scone, in the Upper Hunter Valley and will eventually service 45,000 homes. West of Glen Innes, 26 wind generators are being installed I think to supply 15000 homes, which they won’t without main grid backups.
I would put in solar, but as Matt suggests I can’t afford it and I live in a temperate area and we get cold winters. (-15 degrees sometimes in low lying areas) Financially it would save me only 53 dollars per three month in hot water. But I would do it for environmental reasons, as I have installed a 5 litre rain water tank attached to my laundry and toilet. I got everything back from the State and Federal governments. Just under 2,000 dollars. Great for my pot plants and some precious plants.
I don’t like the thought of Geothermal, SA and Victoria have hot spots
and two are classed as only dormant. One due to erupt again. There is danger involved.
But my house, brick and on a concrete slab, in comparison to homes in the valley on piers and made from timber, is 5 C degrees warmer in winter as the cold goes from us down into the valley. I have ducted oil heating but never use it. Too dear. And I am not spending money on keeping my
dogs warm, they get a sheepskin coat.
We utilise the sun to keep rooms warm, and have a two bar electric
fire when an extra jumper doesn’t work or we have guests.
I have my own bedroom cum sitting room and watch TV with the electric
blanket on. And that’s where I’m going now. Nite folks.
About solar panels, they do break down and they cost more to repair than to replace. $3000 a panel I believe.
If something is so good why wont the consumer buy it? – Because solar panels are expensive fool. I want to buy a BMW but i cant find a place of employment that will allow me to purchase it!
The arguments raised against solar panels are very illusive and simply ignorant. Solar Panels can only absorb sunlight during the day – true. But we are not using power constantly in every house everyday of the year. In most homes excess energy can be stored on a power grid for the “peak” power usage time as so described. The reliability of solar panels ranges considerably, but the quality panels are not effected by silly things such as bird droppings or kites! They absorb heat, not sunlight!
A heard a scientist, and I will try and find her name, she was from a research group in NSW, say that the energy needs of the world could be completely provided by high end solar panels with the right research (which is achievable it is a question of money) with an area of solar panels covering the space of the northern territory.
Solar Panels are expensive but, if developed into an industry can be very economically beneficial. Money can be made rather lost through the development of solar panels as shown in Germany where a huge industry exists (and they are giving solar panels to as many people as possible!)
and Japan where similar research is extensively carried out and where the solar industry is also growing.
Now Im not saying lets get rid of all carbon emitting energies that’s ridiculous!
What I am saying however is that a short term solution, such as nuclear energy will not suffice and proper investment into solar energy is necessary to build a sustainable future. At least the Rudd government has attempted this. I would like to see the liberals advocating the same thing, although more economically and extensively.
hamsters in generating wheels is the answer… I will ask Garrett for $2.4B to subsidise my new free energy
Sack Garrett immediately. He is raping our economy.
ah, good old FUD from those who profit most from spreading it.