15kwh per kg silicon seems low. If so, that's a good deal.
The next question is how much surface area does 1kg cover and I'm thinking its quite a lot, because it is wire sliced so thin. But even if it only made one 300w panel, it would pay off in about a week.
15000 / 250w (actual) = 60 hrs / 8hr per day = 7.5 days
For reference, my cars gas tank which I fill weekly, stores 0.5MWh of energy, or enough to make 33kg of silicon.
I have half of a used Tesla battery to power my off grid farm and will sell my panels on Craigslist one day for a third of what I paid and someone with more space will use them for many more years. They don't stop working at 20 years. I have installed used panels in the past and they work fine. My new panels are doped with boron which is supposed to decrease the degradation rate. Time will tell.
I would love to see a nuclear powered PV foundary! I'd buy that all day. Aluminum, silicon and glass are all electricity heavy. My county specifically prohibits nuclear power generation in my zoning area. Panels made by a nuke plant would be a consolation if I can't have an smr.
I'm sure they have their applications -- I plan to buy some. However, we are a long way from them being pollution free, and I oppose funding them through regressive taxation (I expect you agree). My focus is on the externalized pollution ignored by proponents. I read everywhere that they have a limited useful life, and need replacement eventually. Thanks for your insights! Nuclear seems to be the only answer, but I steer away from that debate... :)
I am the NIMBY @peterludlow commented about. I would hate to have a Chinese style PV factory in my neck of the woods. Especially the slave labor.
Unfortunately, the panels that used to be made in north American had their IP taken by said party and basically are no longer exist in any meaningful way.
I don't celebrate it, it won't run an industrial economy, its really quite expensive but it is nice to have some energy independence. Don't give up your diesel gen sets either.
Bravo John for bringing to light the environmental prices paid for solar panels and the supporting battery systems. Most people unfortunately are illiterate, lazy, or absent sufficient mental capacity to comprehend the complexities of the issue. They crawl back under their stones and live out NIMBYism.
Wait another 10-20 years when this clean green equipment has to be disposed & replaced.
And then, the batteries to store all that nice 'legtricity. Another whole debacle, it seems.
15kwh per kg silicon seems low. If so, that's a good deal.
The next question is how much surface area does 1kg cover and I'm thinking its quite a lot, because it is wire sliced so thin. But even if it only made one 300w panel, it would pay off in about a week.
15000 / 250w (actual) = 60 hrs / 8hr per day = 7.5 days
For reference, my cars gas tank which I fill weekly, stores 0.5MWh of energy, or enough to make 33kg of silicon.
I have half of a used Tesla battery to power my off grid farm and will sell my panels on Craigslist one day for a third of what I paid and someone with more space will use them for many more years. They don't stop working at 20 years. I have installed used panels in the past and they work fine. My new panels are doped with boron which is supposed to decrease the degradation rate. Time will tell.
I would love to see a nuclear powered PV foundary! I'd buy that all day. Aluminum, silicon and glass are all electricity heavy. My county specifically prohibits nuclear power generation in my zoning area. Panels made by a nuke plant would be a consolation if I can't have an smr.
I'm sure they have their applications -- I plan to buy some. However, we are a long way from them being pollution free, and I oppose funding them through regressive taxation (I expect you agree). My focus is on the externalized pollution ignored by proponents. I read everywhere that they have a limited useful life, and need replacement eventually. Thanks for your insights! Nuclear seems to be the only answer, but I steer away from that debate... :)
I am the NIMBY @peterludlow commented about. I would hate to have a Chinese style PV factory in my neck of the woods. Especially the slave labor.
Unfortunately, the panels that used to be made in north American had their IP taken by said party and basically are no longer exist in any meaningful way.
I don't celebrate it, it won't run an industrial economy, its really quite expensive but it is nice to have some energy independence. Don't give up your diesel gen sets either.
Bravo John for bringing to light the environmental prices paid for solar panels and the supporting battery systems. Most people unfortunately are illiterate, lazy, or absent sufficient mental capacity to comprehend the complexities of the issue. They crawl back under their stones and live out NIMBYism.
Wait another 10-20 years when this clean green equipment has to be disposed & replaced.