tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post1820511403437591980..comments2023-12-26T05:33:56.740-05:00Comments on John Hanger's Facts of The Day: USA Passes 5,000 Megawatt Solar Generation MilestoneJohn Hangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06565915866938789295noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-79486124289184363852012-10-09T15:32:08.119-04:002012-10-09T15:32:08.119-04:00I truly like to reading your post. Thank you so mu...I truly like to reading your post. Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a nice information.<br /><a href="http://www.socalsolarinc.com/" rel="nofollow"><b>socalsolar inc</b></a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15298734367546838271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-84735252985923766032012-06-25T13:57:39.565-04:002012-06-25T13:57:39.565-04:00Where is the comparison exactly?
-Sharone TalWhere is the comparison exactly?<br /><br />-Sharone TalSolar Installations New Jerseyhttp://www.greenappleenergyusa.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-57798847185687965982012-06-24T09:12:10.655-04:002012-06-24T09:12:10.655-04:00Ok, you did no comparison.
Still I find it misslea...Ok, you did no comparison.<br />Still I find it missleading when you just state "5000MW" without the caveat that a solar MW isn't comparable to any other MW we know, beeing worth just about 1/4 of it (much less, in my opinion).Jacobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-60457288014534425042012-06-21T10:36:01.058-04:002012-06-21T10:36:01.058-04:00The original posting did not compare to gas or any...The original posting did not compare to gas or anything else. It focused exclusively on the major progress in solar installation. <br /><br />Comparisons based on capacity and production are both useful when doing comparisons.John Hangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06565915866938789295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-14343607537228324252012-06-21T10:24:20.005-04:002012-06-21T10:24:20.005-04:00So, gas powers 1000 (or 900 if 90% capacity) homes...So, gas powers 1000 (or 900 if 90% capacity) homes per mw, solar power - 155 homes per mw - correct ? Isn't this "small" difference a relevant parameter worth mentioning when doing comparisons?<br /><br />As to intermittency: gas is capable of powering x homes almost 100% of the time, while solar only, maybe 40% of the time (during the day only), and at unpredictable intervals (when not cloudy).<br />You don't need solar backup for gas, but you need gas backup for solar...Jacobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-13163946914450575482012-06-21T08:18:04.907-04:002012-06-21T08:18:04.907-04:00The home metric assumes average national usage. I...The home metric assumes average national usage. It means that 5,000 megawatts of solar produces enough electricity over a year that equals the amount of power used by 775,000 homes over a year.<br /><br />Depending on how much the gas plant runs dictates how much electricity a gas MW produces. When gas prices were high, many gas plants ran very little. Now gas plants capacity factors are rising. <br /><br />Were a gas plant to run close to 100% of the time it would produce about enough power for 1,000 homes per megawatt.John Hangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06565915866938789295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-19866562908171715932012-06-21T06:15:28.009-04:002012-06-21T06:15:28.009-04:00I never understood the metric "number of home...I never understood the metric "number of homes that 5000 MW could supply".<br />Not all homes are equal, etc.<br /><br />But: how could solar supply any homes at night?<br />Do 5000MW solar "supply" the same number of homes as 5000MW gas ?<br /><br />As for solar being competitive - fine - go ahead and install, why not? Cancel subsidies and mandates, and go ahead.<br /><br />They are not competitive without various tax credits, and without the utilities being forced to buy excess solar electricity at high prices.Jacobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-69254093292585147472012-06-20T12:09:00.738-04:002012-06-20T12:09:00.738-04:00We have previously made the point that nameplate c...We have previously made the point that nameplate capacity is one measure. Production from that capacity is another measure. Included in the post is the number of homes that 5,000 megawatts of solar could supply, which captures the difference between capacity and production.<br /><br />Subsidies are multi-dimensional. The single biggest direct energy subsidy in the world is in countries like China that do not allow the market price of fossil fuels to be paid for by consumers. They subsidize the consumer consumption of oil and electricity, often generated from coal. The next biggest subsidy is the exclusion of external health and environmental costs, including climate, from the price of energy. Another huge subsidy is the military and national security costs paid by US taxpayers to keep the world oil lanes open and to fight at least 3 wars in the Middle East in the last 20 years. <br /><br />If all the various flaws in energy pricing were corrected, the cheapest fuels would look completely different. <br /><br />But that is not going to happen. All fuels are subsidized in multiple ways.<br /><br />In the case of solar, solar is now available for $3 per watt installed in the USA or less, without any direct subsidy. See other comment below. That makes it competitive with on-site power from the grid in parts of the country with high bundled rates and good solar resource. Solar also generates well when wholesale market prices are the highest.John Hangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06565915866938789295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-28207036924956072872012-06-20T11:57:29.614-04:002012-06-20T11:57:29.614-04:00I talked to a solar installer who said he's pu...I talked to a solar installer who said he's putting systems in for $3 a watt. That's less than half of what it was a few years ago. Solar is a sure return investment, especially when the temps go into upper 90s. For the community, solar helps keeps the electricity going on hot days. For the owner, it means no cost for AC. No downside.Linda Smallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-52194211057503219122012-06-20T08:26:15.522-04:002012-06-20T08:26:15.522-04:00Again, for fairness' sake, you should mention ...Again, for fairness' sake, you should mention that this is nameplate capacity, with possible production being no more than 25% of it.<br />You should mention that this capacity isn't comparable to fossil plant capacity.<br />You should also mention the crucial factor that drives these installations: subsidies and mandates.<br /><br />Then, your reporting whould be complete and unbiased.Jacobnoreply@blogger.com