[ExI] watt an opportunity

[spike at rainier66.com]

...> On Behalf Of efc--- via extropy-chat
Subject: Re: [ExI] watt an opportunity

>...If the (or one of the) power company in california comes up with too bizarre pricing schemes, maybe it would be a great enabler of individual solar power generation?

>...In california I imagine it shouldn't be too expensive or difficult to become self sufficient when it comes to power.

>...In mid to northern sweden that is still too expensive. You need hydrogen storage in order to pull through 4 dark winter months,and last time I checked it cost 600k to 1000k USD.

Best regards,
Daniel



Daniel, rooftop solar doesn't generate enough power to make that much difference.  It helps some if one has ideal conditions: south-facing roof with plenty of area.  In California, if your roof has plenty of area, you have plenty of money.  Those two really go together.

In summer when those panels generate a lot of power, the reason they are good on south-facing roofs is that they deflect some solar energy which would otherwise be absorbed and the AC would need to remove.  The panels cool the house, saving power.  Problem: those same panels also cool the house in the winter, when they don't generate as much power, but it requires more gas to heat the home with the panels up there.

Apply the above to Sweden.

Self sufficiency via solar power is not realistic for the suburban dweller, but might be for a really comfortable landowner.

People who own rooftop solar around here will tell you: they are better than nothing.  They reduce but don't pay the power bills.

spike