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The plunging cost of storage, along with that of wind and solar power, appears to have crossed a new threshold after a tender conducted by a major US energy utility suggests “firm and dispatchable” renewables are now cheaper than existing coal plants.
Hopefully the coal farmers don't get mad.
I wonder if this takes into account the artificially low cost of solar due to dumping of solar cells by China. Maybe solar is not so cheap in reality.
But still, it's very good news and going to solve many problems:
The utilities don't like that.
I am big on renewables, mainly because of air pollution, secondly importing oil is bad in general, and who we import it from is even worse. To give perspective, some companies advertise their solar leases and other programs by the generation, and that figure is 7 cents a kilowatt.
It is getting so noticeable that SDG&E is changing its pricing so that now night time usage will be billed at a higher rate than daytime. This is because people were really maximizing the solar benefit and doing the opposite time of use with a solar system, thereby generating very expensive energy during the day and then having minimal use and cost at night. The utilities don't like that.
Imagine what will happen to prices as more and more Hemp is brought on line?
Where can someone buy panels so cheap that it works out that way?
Because every company out here that offers solar, charges an arm and a leg for them.
Where can someone buy panels so cheap that it works out that way?
Because every company out here that offers solar, charges an arm and a leg for them.
but if it is, why does China have so many coal-fired plants?
I wish it were true that solar is cheaper than coal, but if it is, why does China have so many coal-fired plants?
south solar makes great sense, is it worth putting such solar in North east Pennsylvania? and what companies are doing that so cheap to recover in 7 years
43% of electricity generated by SDGE is renewable. Well above any other utility in California.
An electric car goes 3 or 4 miles per KwH. At 7 cents that equates to 2 cents a mile. Imagine driving 1,000 miles per month for $20.00 compared to $100 to $200 for gas.
It's very sad. Exxon Mobil was such a nice company.
There is now NO reason to not go electric.
Malcolm saysYour numbers are spot on, I know since I drive a Leaf. It is the most liberating move you could ever make. The Bolt might be my next car, as its range is insane. There is now NO reason to not go electric.
I am on my third EV. The first two were Leaf's and third is Chevy Volt
So, you're spending 30% more for the same sized vehicle to save a few dollars on gas?
and you have to replace them more frequently?
This saves you money, how?
Strategist saysAn electric car goes 3 or 4 miles per KwH. At 7 cents that equates to 2 cents a mile. Imagine driving 1,000 miles per month for $20.00 compared to $100 to $200 for gas.
It's very sad. Exxon Mobil was such a nice company.
Your numbers are spot on, I know since I drive a Leaf. It is the most liberating move you could ever make. The Bolt might be my next car, as its range is insane. There is now NO reason to not go electric.
If you need a new car sooner than that, you have another problem that probably isn't all that environmentally friendly needing a new car every 3 years.
So, you're spending 30% more for the same sized vehicle to save a few dollars on gas?
and you have to replace them more frequently?
This saves you money, how?
So in reality you are driving a pretty cool car
FortWayne saysWhere can someone buy panels so cheap that it works out that way?
Because every company out here that offers solar, charges an arm and a leg for them.
Define "arm and leg". As it stands now the system covering 90-110% of residential power demand in CA pays for itself in about 6-7 years. At least this is the numbers I've got from multiple solar companies. Ten years ago the number would be 15+ years IIRC, so it does get cheaper. Which also acts as an incentive to wait a bit more before purchasing one.
PS. This for fully owned system, I don't care about somebody else's property sitting on my roof, so no "solar leases" or PPAs for me.
Malcolm saysSo in reality you are driving a pretty cool car
Sorry, but "Leaf" and "cool" do not belong in the same sentence. It's an econobox, dorkmobile or whatever the proper derogatory term is for Corollas and Versas of this world. Which is ok if you're into this kind of thing.
So the savings is no gas, which I use 10 cents a mile for easy math. No oil changes or tune ups, almost no maintainence. So in reality you are driving a pretty cool car for $100 a month.
Satoshi_Nakamoto saysMalcolm saysSo in reality you are driving a pretty cool car
Sorry, but "Leaf" and "cool" do not belong in the same sentence. It's an econobox, dorkmobile or whatever the proper derogatory term is for Corollas and Versas of this world. Which is ok if you're into this kind of thing.
You should check out the latest model of the Leaf.
I was told for me it would cost about 30k to get panels from Solar City by their rep who came out. Our electricity bill comes out to about $140/month. So
140 * 12 = $1680/year
30,000 / 1200 = 17.8 years (assuming money is not earning interest or dividents and just stays under the mattress). There is no benefit.
Even the break pads went 115,000 miles on our 2011 Prius , and it's just a hybrid, not even a true electric.
I was told for me it would cost about 30k to get panels from Solar City by their rep who came out. Our electricity bill comes out to about $140/month. So
140 * 12 = $1680/year
30,000 / 1200 = 17.8 years (assuming money is not earning interest or dividents and just stays under the mattress). There is no benefit.
I assume your utility is SCE, and you must have got that quote a while ago. $140.00 per month tells me you have a benefit in going solar.
Strategist saysI assume your utility is SCE, and you must have got that quote a while ago. $140.00 per month tells me you have a benefit in going solar.
What the hell are your electric rates out there? Or do you have 3k plus square foot houses? That seems like a high average for the temperate climate you all have out there.
I've got muggy ass muggy fucking whether in the summer here in IL and I'd really be stretching to average $140/mo over the entire year. I'm closer to $110/mo. At $140/mo I could just unplug the fridges in the summer and keep my beers cool with the house A/C.
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I wonder if this takes into account the artificially low cost of solar due to dumping of solar cells by China. Maybe solar is not so cheap in reality.
But still, it's very good news and going to solve many problems:
* terrorism is funded mainly by our dollars flowing to Saudi Arabia and Qatar
* coal causes pollution directly, especially in China (from which it blows over to California)
* global warming is likely exacerbated by our use of fossil fuels