Solar's future doesn't look quite so sunny

Solar's future doesn't look quite so sunny from the MN Star Tribune. One point of view, basically that there will be over supply that will result in lower prices.

My view is with lower prices, that will increase demand resulting in more solar installations. And with the increase in production there will be further cost reductions in manufacturing, that will help lower the cost to the end user. Not to mention how technology keeps on increasing the efficiency. Short term, yes capital headaches due to the freezing of credit, medium and longer term I am very positive.

Toyota delays Lithium Batteries in Prius

The new date seems to be 2010 for Lithium Batteries in the Prius, Toyota is concerned about the reliability. May be the Sony Battery fires put them off.

The Energy Challenge: Energy Goals a Moving Target for States

The Energy Challenge: Energy Goals a Moving Target for States from the NY Times. It brings up a lot of issues based on the experience of states setting targets for renewables (the easy part), and then actually meeting them. The article briefly mentions a major problem, which is the transmission lines. Unfortunately they did not mention the easy solution of DC Power Transmission Lines!

Related Posts:

• Gore Urges Obama to Create US Power
• Grid limits Renewables
• DC Power High Voltage Transmission Advantages

Electric Car Chargers

Hawaii Endorses Plan for Electric Cars from the NY Times, basically the state working with a private company wants to set up recharger stations.

Questions that have not been asked:

1. How long does it take to charge a car?
2. Would most cars be charged a meaningful amount to justify the cost of the charging station?
3. Why not just charge them at home?
4. What is the estimated amount of Electric Cars per year (everyone is doing hybrids currently, plug ins are someday).
5. What is the estimated cost of an electric or plug in car by year?

My 2 cents, if cars are charged at home and they take a while to charge (battery technology unfortunately has not improved that much), what good does a charging station do? Is this the best use of money? Perhaps subsidies for electric cars that can be recharged at home first? Or set up a fleet of rental vehicles that people can use that are electric till the cost decreases?

Solar thermal projects gather steam -- and opposition

Solar thermal projects gather steam -- and opposition from the LA Times. I have a guess the reporter spent a bit of time with the Solar Thermal People, and next to none on Photovoltaics. The prospective of the entire article is pretty pro Solar Thermal.

Interesting...

Solar Panels Proliferate in Brooklyn

Solar Panels Proliferate in Brooklyn - With all the rebates the local home owners it makes a lot of sense, especially since they can sell the Electricity back to the utility (which is currently not possible in California).

Solar cell efficiency boosted

Solar cell efficiency boosted from the EE Times. The claim is a 50% increase in energy is possible theoretically for thin film. That would change everything...