Bill, I'd like to know where you heard that (incorrect) tidbit about solar panels having more energy content than they generate. Last I checked (about 15 years ago) it was information published by the maker of my solar panels (Kyocera) showing that typical energy payback time of complete solar panels (cells, glass and alu frame together) was in the order of 1 year, but due to the fact that I installed them in The Netherlands, my energy payback time was closer to 2 years. And this was of course well before the current solar improvements of thin film or ribbon cells, which greatly reduce the amount of silicon per cell, as well as the progress of efficiency which means more energy returned per surface area. So - I expect that solar panel energy payback is certainly under 1 year in favorable locations and it can be over 1 year in less favorable locations. But no way that energy would not pay back or the price of the panels would not offset the price of electricity generated and it does - a couple times over even - including manhours and other non-energy related cost additions.
But it is good to look at the source - where did you find this info? Cor van de Water Chief Scientist Proxim Wireless Corporation http://www.proxim.com Email: [email protected] Private: http://www.cvandewater.info Skype: cor_van_de_water Tel: +1 408 383 7626 -----Original Message----- From: EV [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Woodcock via EV Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2014 4:44 AM To: Lawrence Rhodes; Electric Vehicle Discussion List Subject: Re: [EVDL] Solar roadways. Raw silicon is certainly less expensive, but refined silicon is refined by, ahem, burning a LOT of petrochemicals. Not quite as energy-intensive as aluminum smelting, I'd guess, but nearly so. That's why the embedded energy of PV panels nearly always outweighs their lifetime solar energy capture. Have to put them in the right places (meaning Arizona or New Mexico or North Africa, not your roof) to make that equation work out favorably. Unfortunately. -Bill > On May 24, 2014, at 19:49, "Lawrence Rhodes via EV" <[email protected]> wrote: > > I think the reasoning is silicon is cheaper than petrochemicals. I particularly like the idea of programmable and sensing roadways. Reminds me of the world of Minority Report. Lawrence Rhodes > > > On Saturday, May 24, 2014 6:09 PM, Lee Hart <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> >> >> Lawrence Rhodes via EV wrote: >> >>> This is a very good idea in my opinion. >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep4L18zOEYI >> >> It's an interesting idea. But cost is going to be a *major* problem. >> >> I wonder why they just don't put the PV panels in the noise walls, >> barriers, and other vertical constructions alongside the highways. They >> don't have to carry road traffic, and are much easier to erect and >> repair without closing traffic. >> >> -- >> A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is >> nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. >> -- Antoine de Saint Exupery >> -- >> Lee Hart's EV projects are at http://www.sunrise-ev.com/LeesEVs.htm > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20140524/7bc7 4750/attachment.htm> > _______________________________________________ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
