I had a long trip from MK to Norwich then to Nottingham last week,
I was suprised to see how many houses are starting to get solar panels on their roofs.
I wonder how much it would cost/produce for a whole city to have them put on.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:20, 2 replies, latest was 13 years ago)

A mate of mine has been running a company installing them in Devon
Now the government has taken away the subsidies though so financially they are less attractive
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:21, Reply)

A BIT LIKE YOU!

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:21, Reply)

They removed 50% of the electricity price when selling back to the grid, I believe

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:22, Reply)

there was a grant to get them installled and yes you can sell any excess back to the leccy companies
still takes years and years to break even though
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:23, Reply)

I saw a few adverts that mentioned about 7-10 years.
Still a good investment I think
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:23, Reply)

That's a very good investment on a large scale
a very shit investment for an individual.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:24, Reply)

Depends on how long they last really
If you were guaranteed 20-25 years then they would be very good
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:25, Reply)

exactly
those who do it, do it for green reasons not finacial ones
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:26, Reply)

I bet this confuses the hell out of you, eh?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:27, Reply)

It really does

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:31, Reply)

Weren't they forced to reinstate that?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:22, Reply)

genuinely don't know

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:23, Reply)

I don't see why builders aren't compelled to include them as standard on all new buildings.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:24, Reply)

THIS^

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:25, Reply)

I think it's because as a blanket "every roof" rule it would be a waste of money.
If it was purely the south facing ones which aren't in shadow by trees etc, then it would be worth it.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:26, Reply)

This is why my house doesn't have them
Roof faces East-West. Shame really as it has a large sq footage
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:27, Reply)

Details.
I come up with the ideas, you guys make it work. Yeah?
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:27, Reply)

I wonder what the generation rate is like when it isn't sunny
Not something you could 100% rely on in Britain
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:29, Reply)

Clouds don't prevent all UV light from getting through though, do they?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:30, Reply)

clouds have little effect on PV as far as I remember.
But rain does.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:31, Reply)

because the long term energy consumption from construction
and demand for scarce materials invovled in said construction, outweighs any actual benefit it almost all cases, mostly by huge amounts.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:34, Reply)

I want solutions from you scientists, not further problems.
Make it work please.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 13:37, Reply)

I'm got a sideline in luminescence downshifting of natural sunlight to improve growth of algae
for nutrition, CO2 mitigation and potential biofuel production.

does that help your inner hippy?
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 14:14, Reply)

Needs a catchier name.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 14:19, Reply)

CUNTBUSTER.
it's not relevant, I just like the word.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 18 Oct 2012, 14:27, Reply)