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Solar power is still expensive and the current infrastructure installed in Europe has required heavy subsidy. This was to boost take up and create businesses that supply the equipment. As take up has increased the subsidies have had to be cut as no one can afford the bill if everyone is doing it. But prices of solar are steadily reducing at some point they won't need subsidy. But it is a fact that the closer to the equator you live the more effective solar power is. Not only do they have less clouday days they don't have dark winters.

Solar will be extra effective in the sunbelt for several reasons. Not only will low density housing provide more roof space for the actual panels, the power supplied will be in the day. Areas that require heavy air conditioning will appreciate cheap power at the hottest part of the day.

Electric exist at the moment but they are not particularly good. Read the horrific stories of people who have 'bricked' their Tessla cars. Or the poor shmos who had their nissan leafs die after only half of the supposed milage has been done, or the fiery fiery death of people in an electric taxi in China involved in a shunt. The main problem with electric is the batteries are not there yet. They are heavy, don't hold enough mileage, very expensive. Not only do they not have enough charging points they take an absolute age to recharge. Electric only works if you have your parking spot or garage, which might work in suburban US but in older suburbs and cites with extensive street parking I'd love to see how people are supposed to run cables to recharging points. There needs to be electric filling stations, where high voltage transfers can take place and a battery be recharged in less than 5 minutes.

The better choice may be biofuels mixed with direct gas/electric hybrids. we will probably have better luck creating new genetic hybrid plants with high fuel outputs than getting new battery technologies.

by Rational Plan on Jun 3, 2012 11:30 am • link • report