Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Booms, Busts, and Recoveries -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Snowshoe who wrote (54477)	10/19/2004 8:36:47 PM
From: Snowshoe	Respond to of 74559

German Know-How For China's Energy Sector Solar panels could be the solution to China's energy problems deutsche-welle.de

To: Snowshoe who wrote (54477)	10/19/2004 8:41:59 PM
From: Seeker of Truth	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 74559

I have heard frequently that solar panels only pay if the location has no electricity and no nearby source for generation or transmission of electricity. Current models use some kind of doped silicon, soo expensive! In other words, it's a very minor aspect of the energy picture. Of course if oil were to go to $100 a barrel ...

To: Snowshoe who wrote (54477)	10/19/2004 10:44:55 PM
From: Taikun	Respond to of 74559

Snowshoe, They really need to get the price down. Basically you pay about $4/watt (ie $400 for 100w panel, 20 panels for a basic home system) for a good quality panel. You need a warranty and even the Japanese makers which have had the benefit of a major push in installing home solar, with and earlier net metering program than most other countries, has had problems and recalls with Kyocera and others. As long as you can keep the rated wattage up and they don't start rusting you'll be alright, otherwise the maintenance costs mean that a utility or power provider's returns will get slaughtered by the maintenance costs. Even at $2/watt overheads by the power provider can still make solar expensive if you have to keep hiring electricians. The highest ROI is in remote places in India and Africa where a home gets a thin solar film and gets enough power for a light and radio. The reason the ROI is so high is that even providing a small amount of power would require infrastructure, but what is needed is replacement of existing power grids and that will require lowering costs on the higher end panels, such as those use in US and Japanese home and commercial installs. David