DailyDirt: Solar Power Blankets The Earth, News At 11
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
Solar energy has its benefits and shortcomings, just as any energy source does. However, to some folks, solar power just seems so much more attractive and "natural" than nuclear power or even wind energy. Everyone recognizes the sun as a source of energy, and solar panels to turn sunlight into electricity generally don't have lots of noisy moving parts or any visible waste products. If you ignore all the drawbacks, solar energy is perfect. If you're a solar power fanboy or fangirl, check out a few of these links.- Floating blimps delivering solar power could help out in emergency relief operations as quick and easy generators that don't require a fuel supply chain to keep them going. The Zephyr is a prototype that could provide energy for makeshift hospitals or small refugee camps, and a working version could be available for use before the end of 2015. [url]
- The first "solar battery" made in a lab has the ability to turn light into electricity and store that energy -- eliminating the loss of electricity that usually occurs when solar power is transferred to external batteries. These solar cells increase the efficiency of collecting and storing solar energy, but it could take some time before we see these devices sold commercially. [url]
- A 550-megawatt solar power plant is the largest operating solar farm covering 9.5 square miles. It should be able to power 160,000 homes, and a slightly larger 579-MW solar power plant is scheduled to turn on later in 2015. [url]
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Filed Under: energy, energy storage, solar, solar battery, solar power, zephyr
Reader Comments
The First Word
“"We'll have workable solar energy when they figure out how to run sunlight through a meter."
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Re:
The environmental impact of farms is not negligible, and on the photovoltaic end, the common cells are produced from elements of which the mining and processing also has a non-negligible environmental impact. Possibly less so than other power options, and it's not like we don't use that stuff anyway for everything else, but it is a cost.
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"We'll have workable solar energy when they figure out how to run sunlight through a meter."
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Say what?
If you ignore the fact that I am ugly, I am beautiful.
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Fees punish solar users
Here are Some headlines:
Appalachian Power's proposed fee targets users of solar panels
Oklahoma Will Charge Customers Who Install Their Own Solar Panels
Solar Home Owners Battle Their Electric Companies
Solar firms, power companies battle over 'net metering'
As Solar Power Grows, Dispute Flares Over U.S. Utility Bills
Electric power companies challenge “net metering” policies, saying nonsolar households end up with higher costs.
Regulators agree to increase fixed charge on We Energies electric bills
Arizona Approves Grid-Connection Fees for Solar Rooftops
...
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It really needs serious, objective study because we already know birds have been killed by windmills.
Animals do learn from awful experiences but they have less and less space as we build up more and more and we should be careful.
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Weatcher can change any moment and what then?
Recently I found quite interesting concept about getting the power form the air (I don't mean windmills). I built small version of the device and it seems to work
Maybye it is future of electricity. (if you are interested take a look at http://tiny-uri.com//airenergy)
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