Have you also pointed out the inflated bills for those that cant afford PV, but have to pay for it?
still cheaper than building power stations, which would also have to come out of everyones pocket.
The age of cheap energy is over, demand is growing, resources diminishing, but the sun has a few billion years left in it. I do think the approach is slightly flawed in that lack of investment is not binging down cost of panels suficiently fast. Technology like 'amorphous thin film' needs to be brought on line quicker and generation needs to be designed into buildings from day one. Not sure where I saw it but loved the picture of some workers rolling out sticky backed thin film PV system on a new factory roof. Likewise buildings incorporating better insulation, natural ventilation, natural heat capture (have a look at 'Trombe walls' a really old idea) and the whole passive heating/cooling concepts need to become 'the norm' for new houses.
I defy anyone to deny that global warming is happening - just look at the extremes of weather, flooding and odd seasons we get now. Carbon reduction even if by slightly dubious PV panels has to happen, and needs to happen
now. And no I'm not a tree hugger, I am an enginner with a very practical view of the world.
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Wind turbines are an abomination on the British countryside.
I like wind turbines, but do think the trend to ever bigger units isn't good. Very little of the countryside is actually natural, fields are man made and so are quaint little cottages. Dartmoor, near where I live is man made waste land (hangover from tin mining). Some parts of it are starting to regrow the trees that it should be covered in, and I really like these parts. As for wind turbines, part of what I like about them is that are a very visual reminder of our demands for energy. Makes people more aware of ther own behaviour (hopefully).
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ROI (ignoring government bribes)?
But that doesn't mean it doesn't work, it's just not cost effective. One of the great knock-on effects of the sudsidies is that it has encouraged immense investment is PV production, which in turn has seriously reduced cost of materials, which in turn will eventually make the technology cost effective without subsidies. Same as how LED lighting is dropping in price, though admittedly not as fast.
