Interesting Thought

[xpiratesxcorex]

So tonight during fast money Pete suggested a major sell off in the popular solar names at the beginning of the new year. Think it would be an interesting trade to short going into the new year? Names like FSLR have made a major run... but then again it is the technology of the future... right?...

[netwrangler]

So tonight during fast money Pete suggested a major sell off in the popular solar names at the beginning of the new year. Think it would be an interesting trade to short going into the new year? Names like FSLR have made a major run... but then again it is the technology of the future... right?...I knew I was a week early with LDK! :cry:

[Albert0373]

You did hear about the recent news days ago that they have managed to make solar cheaper than coal now (per watt produced?)

[netwrangler]

You did hear about the recent news days ago that they have managed to make solar cheaper than coal now (per watt produced?)Conceptually, it should be. Distribution costs are much lower for solar, thanks to the sun.

In the 19th century, factories ran from a single power source, a mill wheel, distributed by belts and pulleys to the different machines. The fractional HP motor changed all that.

I see a similar change with solar. This isn't just "outside the box" thinking, it is building a whole new box.

[Pinguin]

Quick question on all you solar supporters...

How do you make solar a reactive power source, ie handle surge requirements from large industrial motors? I can see most renewables as a periphery source of electricity, but not quickly replacing fossil fuels (nuclear, coal, or gas).

Albert - Could you send me the link to the source stating solar is cheaper than coal? Thanks!

[netwrangler]

Quick question on all you solar supporters...

How do you make solar a reactive power source, ie handle surge requirements from large industrial motors? I can see most renewables as a periphery source of electricity, but not quickly replacing fossil fuels (nuclear, coal, or gas).

Albert - Could you send me the link to the source stating solar is cheaper than coal? Thanks!Good question. Really gets to the issue of whether solar is ready for prime time, or will remain a boutique energy source.

Every solar system I've seen includes battery storage for night time and foggy days. It would seem logical that the battery source would handle surge requirements as well.

I'm not an electrical engineer, so I'm working with layman's physics here.
Hope that someone with IEEE smarts will chime in here.

I actually see three questions:

How will pure solar energy systems handle inductive and motor loads?
Will power grids need to treat inductive and motor loads differently as solar sources provide a greater percentage of the input to the grid?
Are we likely to see on-site mitigation solutions to power surges caused by inductive and motor loads?

I have never seen this issue raised before. [But then, I need to get out more. :? ]

Great post, pinguin!

[Albert0373]

http://www.solveclimate.com/blog/20071219/1-watt-itunes-solar-energy-has-arrived

It's actually a breakthrough by an unlisted, privately invested company named Nanosolar based in California.

Their mission: to deliver cost-efficient solar electricity. The Nanosolar company was founded in 2002 and is working to build the world’s largest solar cell factory in California and the world’s largest panel-assembly factory in Germany. They have successfully created a solar coating that is the most cost-efficient solar energy source ever. Their PowerSheet cells contrast the current solar technology systems by reducing the cost of production from $3 a watt to a mere 30 cents per watt. This makes, for the first time in history, solar power cheaper than burning coal.

These coatings are as thin as a layer of paint and can transfer sunlight to power at amazing efficiency. Although the underlying technology has been around for years, Nanosolar has created the actual technology to manufacture and mass produce the solar sheets. The Nanosolar plant in San Jose, once in full production in 2008, will be capable of producing 430 megawatts per year. This is more than the combined total of every other solar manufacturer in the U.S.

Company home page: http://www.nanosolar.com/


And...interesting to read...

December 26, 2007 Wednesday 6:20 AM EST
Report: China to stick with coal, promote clean energy
Beijing

DPA x China Energy Report: China to stick with coal, promote clean energy Beijing
China will remain dependent on coal for energy in
the long-term, but has vowed to give the development of renewable
energy a "top priority," the government said in a white paper
released Wednesday.

Coal will continue to play the main role as an energy source for a
"long time" with efforts stepped up to burn it more cleanly,
said the country's first white paper on energy.

"China will pay more attention to the clean utilization of energy
resources, especially coal, and make it a focus of environmental
protection," the report said.

China is the world's second largest producer and consumer of
energy, behind the US, but said its demand for fuel "will not pose
any threat to the world's energy security."

[Pinguin]

Good information Albert.

The fun things with coal is the gasification possibilities (not liquefaction). The coal-to-liquids companies have some tremendous growth opportunities in China, India, and of course here. India and China have significant brown coal (lignite) reserves.