How come solar energy technology is still not ready ?

[rdx]

Gas price keeps going up everyday, and we, consumers have no choice at all. I am just wondering why solar energy technology is still not fully developed and ready to replace crude oil. I remember people started researching and testing on solar energy when I was a kid 20 plus years ago. Actually, at that time, scientists warned us the crude oil underground will not last another 25 years. But now we are relying on crude oil and no big progress on solar energy.

Just wondering if the US government is hiding the technology as the secret weapon (as crude oil controls many countries' economy and growth)

[cipher]

Because solar cells cannot generate enough energy at a fast enough rate to power a 2000lb+ vehicle. You are also at the mercy of the weather.

[BobW]

Don't be such a North American. Solar power is used extensively in many parts of the world. Go anywhere in Central America and take a look. Seems that somehow the "third world" can make solar houses work while we all need to be hooked up to the grid.

Keep in mind that the average Latin American house is probably quite a bit smaller than yours and starts out using MUCH less electricity. No computers, nintendos, 14 bulb lighting fixtures over the bathroom sink, etc. Of course, if they had to survive winters, they would need to bump up the juice a bit....

[thelefteyeguy]

My cousin's house in Australia is fully powered by Solar panels on her roof. She says the equipment is fair inexpensive but really pays for itself.

However she tells me they get tons of sun...I can tell cause she quite dark.

In Toronto, I don't expect a lot of ppl using Solar energy since we barely get enough sun for even ourselves.

(btw her energy is tapped in the network and she even get's paid lol, and her house is huge...7 bedrooms lol...and no 2nd floor!)

[deep]

Don't be such a North American. Solar power is used extensively in many parts of the world. Go anywhere in Central America and take a look. Seems that somehow the "third world" can make solar houses work while we all need to be hooked up to the grid.

Keep in mind that the average Latin American house is probably quite a bit smaller than yours and starts out using MUCH less electricity. No computers, nintendos, 14 bulb lighting fixtures over the bathroom sink, etc. Of course, if they had to survive winters, they would need to bump up the juice a bit....

Your post addresses two valid points. You've nicely illustrated the point that solar power ISN'T exactly viable as a gas replacement yet, despite all of our research into it, and also that geography will continue to dictate our power needs. Small, temperate countries have greatly reduced power needs for a variety of reasons. Our biggest energy drains are transportation and heating/cooling.

Apart from that, you haven't answered the OP's question. Solar energy will probably never be viable for transportation in a direct manner, but perhaps it will be the energy source for fuel cells or batteries. I'm not sure why we haven't had more success with heating and cooling, but considering plants took millions of years to achieve a fairly low efficiency, I guess we can give it a little more time.

[CodecX81]

There's a family up in Orangeville area sorta..

http://www.naturallifenetwork.com/sunfest2003/index.asp
http://www.naturallifenetwork.com/wilson/journalpg1.asp

Built the house completely off-grid. There are days where the hydro meter actually runs backwards, feeding the ontario Grid. So don't tell me that this idea isn't doable.

sure, its one ugly-ass house, but its doable.

I remember going here when I was a little kid on a field trip.. Apparently they're trying to start up an entire off-grid community. I'd prolly do it if they ever ran GoTrain up that far

[cipher]

Your post addresses two valid points. You've nicely illustrated the point that solar power ISN'T exactly viable as a gas replacement yet, despite all of our research into it, and also that geography will continue to dictate our power needs. Small, temperate countries have greatly reduced power needs for a variety of reasons. Our biggest energy drains are transportation and heating/cooling.

Apart from that, you haven't answered the OP's question. Solar energy will probably never be viable for transportation in a direct manner, but perhaps it will be the energy source for fuel cells or batteries. I'm not sure why we haven't had more success with heating and cooling, but considering plants took millions of years to achieve a fairly low efficiency, I guess we can give it a little more time.

People should consider ground-source heat pumps in new homes. We have a new 22 floor building in Winnipeg (Manitoba Hydro) that will use the technology to heat and cool the building. This will make it one of the world's most energy efficient buildings.

[Ziggy007]

A better question is why hasn't the hybrid technology taken off even though it has been researched and developed for over 10 years now?

Answer: Gas companies generally buy the patents to these technologies and then bury them in the desert...

[cipher]

A better question is why hasn't the hybrid technology taken off even though it has been researched and developed for over 10 years now?

Answer: Gas companies generally buy the patents to these technologies and then bury them in the desert...

What are you talking about? There are hybrids on the road today. The reason it hasn't taken off was because of the low cost of gasoline and the higher initial cost of purchasing a hybrid vehicle. However, that may be changing as the Toyota Prius is selling very well and used models are selling for more than new prices.

[wiggy]

All the conspiracy stuff aside, oil and gas have been dirt cheap forever and there isn't really anything else out there that offers near as much bang for your buck horsepowerwise.

People generally do what's easiest and costs them the least. Why put all kinds of effort into solar and wind technologies when there's no need for it? Now that the final oil shortage is approaching the impetus changes.

[sleepyguy]

on 'sorta' the same topic... TD Centre i work in uses lake water to cool the building... pretty neat setup.

[CodecX81]

on 'sorta' the same topic... TD Centre i work in uses lake water to cool the building... pretty neat setup.

God Bless Enwave

Hey which building?

I'm just in BMO myself

[d_jedi]

Last time I heard (this was in a class I took during first year university), only oil and nuclear were net producers of energy if you look at something called the gross energy requirement (GER), which includes all of the energy needed to create the product.

IE. with oil, when you consider all of the effort to drill the oil well (amortized over all of the oil produced), refine it, and get it into our cars.. you get more energy out of the process than you put into it.

With solar, it costs more (in terms of energy) to manufacture the solar cells than they will produce during their lifetime.

Not sure how true that is today, though


**5000th POST!!!**

[Bortman]

My aunt and uncle live at a "resort" I guess you could say. They live right on a lake year round where everyone else just has cabins there. Needless to say they pay a lot for power. He'll be transfering for his job to either Australia or Brazil for 1 year, and when he comes back he's going 100% solar power. Its doable, very doable, but its not mainstream because of the monopolistic energy companies.

[T-Bone]

You can buy homes in Okotoks, Alberta that are heated 90% by solar and 60% of the hot water made by solar power.

http://www.town.okotoks.ab.ca/media.html

http://www.atcogas.com/About_Us/News...20BKDGR_FO.pdf