Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I’m trying to find information on solar panels or wind turbines that would be able to power a whole neighborhood, along with how much it would cost.
I went down that road. Roughly you are looking at 12 times the cost of present municipal electrical sources. For example, to heat an all electric home would require $110,000 just for the solar panels, and they would have to cover 1/2 acre of space. Twice the size of a normal city lot. Wind is worse, because sometimes it doesn’t blow for a long time which means a massive battery bank would be required.
After researching this subject I come to have a new respect for our utility companies. Electricity is the best bargain I ever get for only 8 cents per KWH. We are spoiled.
Friday, December 11th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I need help with finding a few articles that are credit able on how to go about estimating demand for wind power. Anyone help please?
Or if anyone knows how to? that would be great too!!! Thank you!!!
There is no specific demand for any particular type of power. Consumers don’t call up their power company and say they want only wind power delivered to their home. They don’t have that choice.
It’s all mixed together in the power grid, wind, solar, coal, nuclear, etc. A power company that needs more power will look at the various alternatives, and how much money they have, and the time basis of the needed power, ie, off peak, peak, baseload, etc. and decide to spend that money for one type of power generator or another. Of course they take into account the good publicity they get by building wind turbines… Plus the difficulty in getting regulatory approval, buying the land, plus the opposition they may get for various types of power, plus the payoff time, plus the cost of fuel, maintenance, etc. Plus any grants from the various governments involved.
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