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Payback time for solar panels
According to this study, the payback time in energy costs for solar panels on roof tops is around 4 years. However, I'm not sure what latitudes they're considering. (and I'm not sure of the date either)
This summary of research from the Centre for Alternative Technology estimates that even in Europe, the carbon footprint of photovoltaic panels is about a tenth of producing electricity by other means. (assuming a 25-30 year lifespan of the panels)
Factors influencing the results include the carbon cost of mountings for panels (which used to be higher when aluminium was the main metal used), the energy mix in the country you live in - the carbon saving is greater if your country burns a lot of coal, carbon cost of labour and maintenance, energy losses in distribution, the carbon cost of making the glass panels, etc.
(There's also interesting details of reductions in heavy metal pollution if you follow this link here.)
In short, I'm feeling a lot more positive about solar panels than I used to. (But I still think roof-mounted wind turbines are useless)
There are still issues of whether the electricity is produced at times of day when it is useful, but I think they may well be useful overall - especially if battery technology continues to improve.
This summary of research from the Centre for Alternative Technology estimates that even in Europe, the carbon footprint of photovoltaic panels is about a tenth of producing electricity by other means. (assuming a 25-30 year lifespan of the panels)
Factors influencing the results include the carbon cost of mountings for panels (which used to be higher when aluminium was the main metal used), the energy mix in the country you live in - the carbon saving is greater if your country burns a lot of coal, carbon cost of labour and maintenance, energy losses in distribution, the carbon cost of making the glass panels, etc.
(There's also interesting details of reductions in heavy metal pollution if you follow this link here.)
In short, I'm feeling a lot more positive about solar panels than I used to. (But I still think roof-mounted wind turbines are useless)
There are still issues of whether the electricity is produced at times of day when it is useful, but I think they may well be useful overall - especially if battery technology continues to improve.
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I recently visited the Cooper-Haggard house (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16156673@N00/5198416566/in/set-72157625445152652/) in San Luis Obispo. This is a passively-heated off-grid strawbale house - although it takes its water from a local stream which isn't an option for everyone.
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Interesting building. Note the massive over-hang for shade in summer.
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My impression is that the real rapid progress being made these days is in low-cost low-efficiency materials, so more useful for eg. if you're getting your roof entirely retiled or getting a new flat roof put in -- no current tech developments seem likely to make a huge difference to the foreseeable economics of just adding traditional rigid panels to an existing roof.
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Mm, I think that the flexible stuff will probably carry on improving in efficiency for a while. But otoh for an area of only shed roof size, and accessible by ladders rather than needing scaffolding, you're not going to be sinking a lot of money into the actual purchase and installation of the material. The main fixed cost will be the current inverter and other electrical paraphernalia to connect it to the mains, which would be reusable (I would think).
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You can't really lose out with those as they do the maintenance as well.
It strikes me that they won't sell you a duff product as it's only in their interests to install panels, if your roof is indeed suitable and the panels sturdy enough to last the full 25 years.
Don't currently have enough free cash to buy in my own right, so I'd be a later adopter in any case.
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