Comments on: Map shows when solar will be cheaper than grid electricity in North American areas http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:21:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: W. Kiernan http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1308068 W. Kiernan Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1308068 In what way?  If solar panels were to achieve 100.0% efficiency and thus they could not get more efficient even in theory, the price of manufacturing them can still go down. In what way?  If solar panels were to achieve 100.0% efficiency and thus they could not get more efficient even in theory, the price of manufacturing them can still go down.

]]> By: Vincent Maldia http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1306253 Vincent Maldia Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1306253 "The cost of solar decreases by 7% per year.". Is this supported by at least historical data? “The cost of solar decreases by 7% per year.”.

Is this supported by at least historical data?

]]> By: JorgeBurgos http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1306232 JorgeBurgos Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1306232 No, its highly likely that we have already passed the point where we can save ourselves from the proverbial dangerous 2 degrees of warming, unless we invent something to start sucking carbon out of the atmosphere in great quantities. No, its highly likely that we have already passed the point where we can save ourselves from the proverbial dangerous 2 degrees of warming, unless we invent something to start sucking carbon out of the atmosphere in great quantities.

]]> By: jhertzli http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1306171 jhertzli Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1306171 Does this mean we don't have to worry about global warming now? Does this mean we don’t have to worry about global warming now?

]]> By: pjcamp http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1306137 pjcamp Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1306137 2023? Dohhhh! 2023? Dohhhh!

]]> By: Cris Noble http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305814 Cris Noble Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305814 The map DOES take into account the differences in 'sunniness' for different localities. Take a look at the following article from the same website to get an idea of how they figure grid parity:  http://energyselfreliantstates.org/content/solar-grid-parity-101 As a side note it is very possible to run a pure solar house in Seattle, my grandfather has done it for at least the last 15 years. Granted it gets less sun so needs more panels / costs more to implement than San Diego, but that is why Seattle doesn't achieve parity until DEAD LAST at 2027. The map DOES take into account the differences in ‘sunniness’ for different localities. Take a look at the following article from the same website to get an idea of how they figure grid parity: 
http://energyselfreliantstates.org/content/solar-grid-parity-101

As a side note it is very possible to run a pure solar house in Seattle, my grandfather has done it for at least the last 15 years. Granted it gets less sun so needs more panels / costs more to implement than San Diego, but that is why Seattle doesn’t achieve parity until DEAD LAST at 2027.

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305811 Cowicide Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305811 According to the chart, it's not the subsidized price.  Cheaper solar is being driven by a lot of factors including: • <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-breakthrough-double-solar-energy-output-20111216,0,3897047.story" rel="nofollow">Increasing efficiency</a> of solar cells (ratio of electrical energy produced to sunshine energy) • Dramatic manufacturing technology improvements • Economies of scale. (The PV solar industry has been growing globally about 25% per year even during the recession) According to the chart, it’s not the subsidized price.  Cheaper solar is being driven by a lot of factors including:

• Increasing efficiency of solar cells
(ratio of electrical energy produced to sunshine energy)

• Dramatic manufacturing technology improvements

• Economies of scale.
(The PV solar industry has been growing globally about 25% per year even during the recession)

]]> By: E T http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305739 E T Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305739 Continental USA ≠ North America Continental USA ≠ North America

]]> By: manooshi http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305677 manooshi Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305677 I guess I still don't understand why San Diego will be the first solar grid parity city  in 2013.  Is it because San Diego's demographics tend to be mostly the wealthy class [conservative/Republican/WASP's] who can afford to get off of the grid sooner than other less wealthy locales? I guess I still don’t understand why San Diego will be the first solar grid parity city  in 2013.  Is it because San Diego’s demographics tend to be mostly the wealthy class [conservative/Republican/WASP's] who can afford to get off of the grid sooner than other less wealthy locales?

]]> By: jaduncan http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305649 jaduncan Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305649 Let me preface this by saying that I like solar very much, and once solar panel production is entirely solar powered it comes close to free energy. Assuming that solar costs go down 7% a year assumes no physical limits on electron recovery, however, and that seems like something that at the very least demands reasoning to support this assumption over the next 5-10 years. Let me preface this by saying that I like solar very much, and once solar panel production is entirely solar powered it comes close to free energy. Assuming that solar costs go down 7% a year assumes no physical limits on electron recovery, however, and that seems like something that at the very least demands reasoning to support this assumption over the next 5-10 years.

]]> By: Henry Pootel http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305600 Henry Pootel Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305600 Ah Oregon - so green (thanks to the rain). Ah Oregon – so green (thanks to the rain).

]]> By: Sachmo http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305590 Sachmo Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305590 A similar article comparing the cost of renewable vs. non-renewable energy in the UK was posted recently in the Guardian:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/dec/28/uk-switch-low-carbon-energy A similar article comparing the cost of renewable vs. non-renewable energy in the UK was posted recently in the Guardian: 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/dec/28/uk-switch-low-carbon-energy

]]> By: subhan http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305585 subhan Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305585 While interesting in concept, this map is largely useless, as it appears to completely fail to take into account variation in efficiency due to climate factors as well as the effect of latitude.  I can guarantee you that you will get much less electricity out of your solar panels here in Portland than you will in San Diego, which is way further south & gets a lot more sunshine!. While interesting in concept, this map is largely useless, as it appears to completely fail to take into account variation in efficiency due to climate factors as well as the effect of latitude.  I can guarantee you that you will get much less electricity out of your solar panels here in Portland than you will in San Diego, which is way further south & gets a lot more sunshine!.

]]> By: matisse http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305576 matisse Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305576 $4/watt installed for unsubsidized solar seems low. That would mean a 2.5Kw system installed (unsubsidized) for $10,000 and I think the real numbers right now are roughly twice that, at least in major cities (where labor is more expensive.) The *subsidized* cost per installed watt is probably around $4/watt (that is, after tax incentives, etc.) $4/watt installed for unsubsidized solar seems low. That would mean a 2.5Kw system installed (unsubsidized) for $10,000 and I think the real numbers right now are roughly twice that, at least in major cities (where labor is more expensive.) The *subsidized* cost per installed watt is probably around $4/watt (that is, after tax incentives, etc.)

]]> By: Jake Boone http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305577 Jake Boone Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305577 Does the map account for climate variance?  I suspect there would likely be some significant differences, bang-for-the-buck-wise, between solar panels installed in, say, Phoenix and those installed in Seattle. Does the map account for climate variance?  I suspect there would likely be some significant differences, bang-for-the-buck-wise, between solar panels installed in, say, Phoenix and those installed in Seattle.

]]> By: techblog http://boingboing.net/2011/12/28/map-shows-when-solar-will-be-c.html#comment-1305564 techblog Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=136222#comment-1305564 I would like to live in San Diego ! :-) I would like to live in San Diego ! :-)

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