DocAndersen
Today is an exciting day. I have right now, a solar system on my roof that is running around 20% efficiency. Due to the rain and cooler air temperatures, that is enough to power our house. If we lost control today during the daylight hours, we are power connection free. The concept in question is called Transactive energy or TE for short. TE or transactive energy is a very complicated world that means energy producers can exchange their products with a third party. Most states in the US and many countries support the concepts of TE, but the reality is the system isn’t designed today for the creation of what is called a micro-grid.
A grid is simply any place where a power production system exists, and power consumption systems exist. Today, most people with solar power end up consuming their power. The extra or “overage” really doesn’t go anywhere. It is wasted. Now, some of the newer solar roof installations also include a battery system. In that case, you literally germinate solar power, and place that into the battery and then over time consume that. In that case, you can produce more energy every day than you consume, knowing you will store the extra in a battery. You have effectively created a power grid, but one that only involves your home.
TE is the ability to instead of store the extra power in a battery to sell it back to the electric company. The laws are now in place in many parts of the world to do this. More and more homes all around the globe are adding solar power—the impact on the environment doing that is enormous. The last piece today, I will end with is the solar panel toxic waste issue. Yes, solar panels have a percentage of materials that are toxic to them. If they were released into the atmosphere in one year, they would represent a minimal amount of toxic waste. But Solar panels aren’t built for a one year use; they are made for 20 years. When you factor 20 years of coal or other power for your home, versus the toxic waste in the panels, the amount of solar panel toxicity is negligible. IF you have a battery system, the amount of toxic waste is a little higher. But the reality is these things can and should be recycled. Most people that put solar panels on their roofs would never throw their old boards in the landfill; they probably recycle already anyway!
What do you think about Solar Power?
This work is Copyright DocAndersen. Any resemblance to people real or fictional in this piece is accidental (unless explicitly mentioned by name.)
-
Question of
would you consider solar power on your roof?
-
Yes
-
-
Question of
Do you think green power is important?
-
Yes
-
-
Question of
Would you like more information on solar power?
-
Yes
-
-
Question of
The comment monster is getting worse?
-
Yes
-
-
Question of
i need to go back to using the work around yes?
-
Yes
-
-
Question of
oh well, one last question…
-
Yes
-
I would do so in future as they’re quite expensive. Maybe in future the costs will be affordable.
Learned some info I wasn’t aware of.
the costs are way down from where they were just 5 years ago. we are getting closer!
Nowadays, I see most appliances are geared towards solar’s use.
they are focusing more and more on saving energy!
That’s better. And also costs will be lower of using it.
right now there are roughly 20 years to pay back a fully solar install. Elon Musk’s company Tesla has built new roof shingles that are solar-powered and last as long as a regular roof. That will pull the cost of solar into the upfront cost of a house.
Now that, I’m left speechless.
it literally makes the pay back for a house 10 years. just amazing!
I’ve been thinking about this too, only the initial costs are very high so it probably doesn’t pay off for my years …. the depreciation time is too long
right now the depreciation is around 20 years.
For so long, however, the question is if I will still live, dear friend……I don’t think the investment pays off for me …. now I have opted for central electricity … it is currently the cheapest
i fully understand that my friend. i am hopeful that more and more roofs have solar, making the question moot in the end.!
In our country, many people opt for solar energy … something is added by the state that promotes this type of energy
yes the nations of Europe are very far ahead of the US and Asia right now in Solar power!
Indeed, quite a few people here opt for solar energy
it needs to get cheaper , but that will happen!
It surely is a good alternative than coal-powered generators.
any day of the week! wind power turbines are also very good!
Q: WOULD YOU CONSIDER SOLAR POWER ON YOUR ROOF?
Yes (5 votes) – 100%
Q: DO YOU THINK GREEN POWER IS IMPORTANT?
Yes (5 votes) – 100%
Q: WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON SOLAR POWER?
Yes (3 votes) – 100%
Q: THE COMMENT MONSTER IS GETTING WORSE?
Yes (4 votes) – 100%
Q: I NEED TO GO BACK TO USING THE WORK AROUND YES?
Yes (4 votes) – 100%
Q: OH WELL, ONE LAST QUESTION…
Yes (4 votes) – 100%
I have checked this out for my house here in Australia, but the initial setup costs are still very high, and here, there are many cowboy operators who fleece you of your money, and leave you with a white elephant of a system, a liability, rather than an asset.
You need to be an Einstein , plus have loads of spare time to work your way through the cowboys, if you are to find any legitimate business’s out there to help you, not to just take you for a ride.
that will change in the very near future. The US was like that for many years, things are improving. Europe is really far ahead now!
That is very interesting and I am glad it is working for you. I only rent an apartment so not something for me to consider.
you can always get a portable system if you have a porch!
I really like solar power but not now, not yet because connected to the grid is still cheaper.
perhaps in the Philippines yes. in the US it is much cheaper to have solar power. Over the course of 20 years, you will save 12000 US dollars or more.
I’m thinking about solar energy. I need to talk to experts.
here is a great piece on the top five producing countries in Europe (for solar power) it is amazing how much power is generated in Europe now!!!
https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/solar-power-europe/
Thanks for the link. I will look in peace. You are right. If I look only in our country there are more and more users of this energy.
we were the first house in our neighborhood with solar – there are more than 45 houses now!
Someone has to start. I think people are still a little distrustful.
Germany and Holland are vying for top stop in the world Both are over 33% of the total power consumed in their countries from solar!
Solar power is something I would consider. Very important information here !
i can honestly say that it works very well overall. we’ve had no issues since putting on the solar panels now almost 4 years ago!
Solar power panels are a great option for all homeowners in my opinion.
ours are down to 14% efficiency today because of the rain!
That is too bad, but the rain is good.
that is true we needed the rain.