Solar doesn't make sense

[Uys]

We just bought a new house, and I thought I may just as well go green and spend some money on a Solar setup, but it just doesn't make sense.

Spending R5000 just for lights, to save R50/month. Eskom is too cheap!

[JDeV]

You are right, but it is not for saving money, it is to save the planet.

[Uys]

No it is not! Solar panels are some of the dirtiest commodities to manufacture, and batteries as well. Discovery claimed the other night that we cannot mine enough lead to supply the worlds demand just for batteries, so we have to recycle!

[LS d2]

Uys, going green is not about the impact on your pocket it's about the impact on your environment........

[Uys]

Uys, going green is not about the impact on your pocket it's about the impact on your environment........

Like I said in post 3 - it is only green if you only consider the parts that suits you!

[Henris]

Uys, it is about having power, all the time.

Also, Eiskom is not going to stay all this cheap.

[RedLineR]

No it is not! Solar panels are some of the dirtiest commodities to manufacture, and batteries as well. Discovery claimed the other night that we cannot mine enough lead to supply the worlds demand just for batteries, so we have to recycle!

Exactly Uys.
Going green is not just going green. There's a hellova lot more than just sticking up solar panels and running a battery of batteries.

That said, the companies that manufacture these horribly unenvironmentally friendly "green" products need to release them to the commercial market in order to raise funds to R&D proper green energy stuff.
But to manufacture solar panels is a terribly ungreen thing. The acids and chemicals used during manufacture make burning down the rain forrest look like braai.

About the only thing you can do is a solar geyser on small scale.

I have a feeling that our green-power will actually come from some large scale electricity generating scheme, not from all of us making our own power in our back yards. You just score so much efficiency by going large scale.

[LS d2]

Like I said in post 3 - it is only green if you only consider the parts that suits you!

heeltemal tong innie kies gewees Uys......

het self al bietjie daarna gekyk met al die munisipale rekening indabas wat ek op my water & ligte state het maar is ook nie oortuig dis die roete om te gaan nie

[Uys]

heeltemal tong innie kies gewees Uys......

het self al bietjie daarna gekyk met al die munisipale rekening indabas wat ek op my water & ligte state het maar is ook nie oortuig dis die roete om te gaan nie

Ekskuus, ek verstaan dit. My punt is dat mense nie die hele som maak nie.

[Estee]

Glad SWAMBO stocked up on Pop Corn.......

[JDeV]

No it is not! Solar panels are some of the dirtiest commodities to manufacture, and batteries as well. Discovery claimed the other night that we cannot mine enough lead to supply the worlds demand just for batteries, so we have to recycle!

That's why you must use "lead free" batteries, do it properly, no excuses - still saving the planet.
Sometimes the media also only publish what they want you to hear at that point.

[LS d2]

Estee you gonna choke on all this popcorn.....hope it's fat-free/lite/butterless else you'll put on weight ...

Uys ek is op jou bladsy met die een - ek dink dalk eendag wanneer ons kiddies in ons skoene is sal dit dalk meer die "viable" opsie en die aanvaarde norm wees - 'n generasie gelede het min mense 'n rekenaar gehad en 20 jaar gelede het ek en jy nie gedroom van 'n selfoon nie..........so wie weet

[Rico]

Stupid question. Why all of a sudden so many new uranium mines are popping up in Swakop.? One mine claims to up its production to 5.2m pounds per year. Where is all that stuff going ?

And at 60US$ per pound its not cheap too.
US$312m per year turnover - sjoe!!!

[RedLineR]

To add a bit of fuel to this smoldering fire, mainly because I hate greenies and greenpeace...
Have a look at wind turbines...
http://www.wind-watch.org/alerts/200...-highlands-ad/

Denmark being our prime example, as the country with the most wind turbines. Over 6000 of them.
And they haven't reduced their CO2 output. Not even by a gram.
And their electricity is the most expensive in Europe.

I loved this comment:

The Wall Street Journal (12/29/08: “Wind generation is the prime example of what can go wrong when the government decides to pick winners. The idea that it can replace coal or natural gas in electrical generation is a fantasy.”

Let the scientists do their thing.
I'm still a nuclear fan, and support all research into disposing of, or preferably destroying the waste.
If I have to choose something sun/wind/water related, my vote goes to the mirrors with heating tower in the karoo, though we'll still kill the planet with the batteries we need for that time when the sun doesn't shine, ie. night time.
Also love geo-thermal energy, though it's not renewable.

[Estee]

To add a bit of fuel to this smoldering fire, mainly because I hate greenies and greenpeace...
Have a look at wind turbines...
http://www.wind-watch.org/alerts/200...-highlands-ad/

Denmark being our prime example, as the country with the most wind turbines. Over 6000 of them.
And they haven't reduced their CO2 output. Not even by a gram.
And their electricity is the most expensive in Europe.

Awe..... I was hoping that a strategically placed turbine outside of our parliment would have resulted in free electrickery for all of us

[offroadrover]

Has anyone looked into other ways to store energy other than batteries such as flywheels, pumped water or even rubber bands.

[Randy]

Nuclear may work, BUT PEBBLE BED does not

Solar is expensive, wind is even more expensive! and the cost per kW is way too high still.

we have a trial site that the wind turbine is sitting at 60m off the ground to get effective operation.

At 30m (half the height) the peformance would be maybe 25% at ground level or say 6.7 or 8m that is what mayeb 10% at best.

if you have no other choice - YES, to save COST - FORGET it.

Solar has a big expense on batteries to store the power, for night time, bad weather days etc.

We sell some rather expensive deep cycle / solar type of batteries and they mostly have a 1000 - 1200 cycles in them, and that is with decent cooling to extend the life time.

So after 4 years or so you have to replace them again........... unless there are 20 year life batteries out there there are! at 10 x teh cost but not suitable for this type of application.


I saw a program last night, not sure on which channel, couple who had a SELF sustaining house.
USD100k worth of solar panels!
50 000 gallon Storage under house to store rain water.

Now THAT is going green, but our electricity is still too cheap for thsi kind of investment

Guy who works with me and lives in germany had a geo thermal heating system put into his house. essentially big pipes deep into earth and they use the earths core temperature to heat up the house. great idea! Cost EURO 25k .........

M2CW

[Estee]

Has anyone looked into other ways to store energy other than batteries such as flywheels, pumped water or even rubber bands.

I just looked at my belly and yes, there are other ways to store energy, Ls d2, I think you are right, need to lay off the Pop Corn abit

[RedLineR]

I saw a program last night, not sure on which channel, couple who had a SELF sustaining house.
USD100k worth of solar panels!
50 000 gallon Storage under house to store rain water.

I hope that couple plans on living a long long time to offset the damage done during the manufacture of those panels, through their "saving" the environment now

[RudolfD2]

For me reducing your carbon foot print is just that.
Does not mean alternative energy of some sort.

Reduce your water usage and limit electricity use too.
Solar geyser is one way to go.

Whe are three people in my house and the services bill is aroung R1k per month. Water, electricty, sewage and refuse.
I also recycle my glass and tins used. (mostly beer)

Solar is just the current fashion.