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.

Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mary Cluney who wrote (61949)	4/26/2008 9:32:59 PM
From: Cogito	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 541776

>>Allen, How competitive is solar versus coal or oil? I know that solar is only about a several billion dollar industry right now and that oil is in the trillions. But how close is solar to being competitive with oil on a cost basis for say heating homes? Or another way of asking the same question is how much does oil have to be (now at $120) before solar can be competitive? If it becomes competitive than we can go whole hog and the landscape changes completely.<< Mary - I don't know how many homes use electric heaters, so that may not be the best example to use. But according to several things I've read, solar is now either very close to being at cost parity with coal, on a cost per kilowatt hour basis, or even below it. A lot of different factors have to be considered. Here's one article: edn.com and another: celsias.com My feeling is that even if it costs somewhat more at the outset, the savings over the long term make solar thermal or distributed solar voltaic preferred options. And once again, I am also advocating roof-top mounted vertical wind turbines. Financing for distributed options does present a problem, since there are no utility companies able to make a profit after construction costs are recouped. - Allen