Contact | X10.com
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Pages: 1 ... 4 5 [6] 7 8

Author Topic: Questions about Solar Power  (Read 39793 times)

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #75 on: September 05, 2015, 08:59:42 AM »
Yet another entry into the residential solar market...
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/23/google-sunpower-solar-panel-fund/
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #76 on: October 03, 2015, 10:39:08 AM »
« Last Edit: October 03, 2015, 04:27:11 PM by dhouston »
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

Noam

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 51
  • Posts: 2818
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #77 on: October 13, 2015, 11:41:27 AM »
That's part of the reason I went with them ;-)
I've been very satisfied with them so far, and haven't noticed any problems with my X10 system as a result.

Shameless plug for them (and so I can earn some more referral awards):
If anyone is interested in getting a quote for solar for their home through SolarCity, here is my referral link:
http://share.solarcity.com/parness

The link above sends your information right to the Energy consultant, who will contact you directly. If you want to speak to me about it first, either hit me up with a direct message here, or e-mail me at: "solar *at* parness *dot* net" .

--Noam
Logged

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #78 on: November 10, 2015, 08:06:33 AM »
Texas actually has an electricity market wherein utilities actually compete with each other. The Texas grid is also largely independent of the rest of the US so utilities cannot readily sell surplus power to other regions. Here's an interesting article...
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/09/business/energy-environment/a-texas-utility-offers-a-nighttime-special-free-electricity.html
which starts with this paragraph.
Quote
In Texas, wind farms are generating so much energy that some utilities are giving power away.
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #79 on: March 25, 2016, 11:20:19 AM »
Here's an article that discusses the major points in a UN report on worldwide energy issues.
http://www.vox.com/2016/3/24/11300698/wind-solar-growth
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

bkenobi

  • PI Expert
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 24
  • Posts: 2082
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #80 on: March 25, 2016, 02:17:03 PM »
Solar/wind isn't available all the time.  At night and on windless days these plants don't provide any significant power.  Since storing energy in a large enough quantity to meet the grid's needs is ludicrous, backup energy sources are used.  Generally, that means coal power plants.  I have no data to support this, but in my state the wind farms have new coal burning backup plants.  The irony here is that Washington state has one of the largest hydro dams in the country but it's not considered clean energy, so they built wind farms down the river and coal plants just beyond to help.   B:(
Logged

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #81 on: March 25, 2016, 02:45:42 PM »
Had you read the article, they discuss that - making the same point you do.

But, they also discuss the large increase (with more planned) in utility level storage capacity intended to address it.
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

bkenobi

  • PI Expert
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 24
  • Posts: 2082
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #82 on: March 25, 2016, 05:15:29 PM »
TL;DR(all of it).  I read the first couple sections and ran out of time but this is a topic I've been interested in for quite some time.  Nice link!
Logged

dave w

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 139
  • Posts: 6116
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #83 on: March 25, 2016, 05:31:08 PM »
Quote from: bkenobi on March 25, 2016, 02:17:03 PM
The irony here is that Washington state has one of the largest hydro dams in the country but it's not considered clean energy,
wow!, how can that be??
Logged
"This aftershave makes me look fat"

racerfern

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 6
  • Posts: 275
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #84 on: March 25, 2016, 06:14:47 PM »
This is very interesting. I'm in the process of installing 8.6kw system and my biggest interest is storing all this energy. Tesla powerwall comes to mind but pricey.

Recently I was in a remote area of Baja Sur in Mexico and they are completely off grid. About 100 population and they store in DC packs somewhere. So you can watch TV, whatever at night. Awesome system. At least wind is available at night, just put them in the right places.

I will probably go with a natural gas generator as my back up vs. battery but the battery option is just so tempting. I'm surprised coal is still being utilized when natural gas is so much easier to move around. I do have natural gas now for cooking, heating, etc.

BTW, I bought my system, not leased.


Logged

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #85 on: March 25, 2016, 06:41:27 PM »
Quote from: dave w on March 25, 2016, 05:31:08 PM
Quote from: bkenobi on March 25, 2016, 02:17:03 PM
The irony here is that Washington state has one of the largest hydro dams in the country but it's not considered clean energy,
wow!, how can that be??
This might explain part of it.
http://www.bluefish.org/drought.htm
http://www.stateofsalmon.wa.gov/statewide/hydro-summary/
I don't live there and haven't visited for many years but I'd hate to see the salmon disappear (unless going down my gullet).
« Last Edit: March 25, 2016, 07:05:41 PM by dhouston »
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #86 on: March 25, 2016, 07:17:15 PM »
Quote from: racerfern on March 25, 2016, 06:14:47 PM
This is very interesting. I'm in the process of installing 8.6kw system and my biggest interest is storing all this energy. Tesla powerwall comes to mind but pricey.
Their new factory may lower costs but this might be another factor...
http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2015/06/22/24m-a-lithium-ion-battery-breakthrough-technology/#20db00bb333d
If it were me, I'd try to stay as flexible as possible, by avoiding any major investment in a permanent backup system with technology advancing and costs falling.
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

racerfern

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 6
  • Posts: 275
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #87 on: March 25, 2016, 07:36:17 PM »
I got a Forbes welcome screen???
Logged

dhouston

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 37
  • Posts: 2547
    • davehouston.org
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #88 on: March 25, 2016, 07:42:10 PM »
Quote from: racerfern on March 25, 2016, 07:36:17 PM
I got a Forbes welcome screen???

Are you blocking scripts? Or are you seeing a "Click to proceed to site."?
Logged
This message was composed entirely from recycled letters of the alphabet using only renewable, caffeinated energy sources.
No twees, wabbits, chimps or whales died in the process.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston

racerfern

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 6
  • Posts: 275
Re: Questions about Solar Power
« Reply #89 on: March 25, 2016, 07:46:19 PM »
Neither. Sometimes I see proceed to site, sometimes I have to wait. This time there is just the screen.

It almost works in Firefox. But Firefox complains about outdated Flash on the site. Chrome won't even let me continue. IE11 handles it properly. Thanks.
Logged
Pages: 1 ... 4 5 [6] 7 8
« previous next »
 

X10.com | About X10 | X10 Security Systems | Cameras| Package Deals
© Copyright 2014-2016 X10.com All rights reserved.