What Just Happened in Solar Is a Bigger Deal Than Oil Exports

[Eddie Teach]

Nothing wrong with good old Chinese coal.

You don't have a place to plug in your car.

Hong Kong's electricity generators burn coal

Was saying oil is better cause it will power your car.

[Valmy]

So the credits are too big, and the same could have been achieved with smaller credits.

In fact the industry representatives were recommending the credit be reduced slowly over time. So yeah the credit is probably way too big.

[Admiral Yi]

THANKS OBAMA!

[Valmy]

Nothing wrong with good old Chinese coal.

Well except for the rising costs and infrastructure problems I discussed in the other thread

[Valmy]

Hey Spicey...might this create: Green Jobs?

Damned straight.  And Spiessyndra Industries is fully prepared to get its hands on some of that government sugar.

[jimmy olsen]

Most people live in high rise buildings here, so solar panels or whatnot are not realistic in Hong Kong. 

They can line high rise windows with transparent solar panels these days.

[Monoriu]

Most people live in high rise buildings here, so solar panels or whatnot are not realistic in Hong Kong. 

They can line high rise windows with transparent solar panels these days.

I'm sure they can.  Just won't make much of a difference.  Imagine a 70-storey residential building.  Adding a couple of solar panels on top will supply enough electricity for, what, half a family? 

[jimmy olsen]

Most people live in high rise buildings here, so solar panels or whatnot are not realistic in Hong Kong. 

They can line high rise windows with transparent solar panels these days.

I'm sure they can.  Just won't make much of a difference.  Imagine a 70-storey residential building.  Adding a couple of solar panels on top will supply enough electricity for, what, half a family?

I'm guessing a bit more than that...

[Monoriu]

The technology doesn't exist for now.  Even if it does, who is going to pay for the costs of installing them?  Replacing my windows is very expensive and troublesome.  I, as a home owner, will not agree to this unless there are significant monetary benefits.  My electricity bill is not significant enough to justify the costs of replacing my windows. 

And then there is the question of the Owners' Committee.  They won't let individual owners decide if they'll get their own solar panels.  The building will look ugly, decreasing its value.  There'll be a vote, and good luck getting half the owners to agree. 

[Martinus]

"Unprecedentedly boost solar energy with this one weird trick"

"Coal producers hate these guys"

[The Minsky Moment]

So the credits are too big, and the same could have been achieved with smaller credits.

In fact the industry representatives were recommending the credit be reduced slowly over time. So yeah the credit is probably way too big.

Sure the idea is that solar will continue to approach cost parity over time.
But I would be curious who in the industry is talking down the credits.  And whether is it out of altruistic concern for the fisc or desire to see smaller competitors flushed out . . .

[Brazen]

Yeah, I think the real breakthrough for solar will come when we finally, if ever, develop a very efficient means of being able to store energy in a somewhat dormant state (which really, is why fossil fuels have served us so well) for long periods of time.

What we really need are energon cubes.

On the domestic level, the Tesla Powerwall has problems but it's a step in the right direction.

[Valmy]

So the credits are too big, and the same could have been achieved with smaller credits.

In fact the industry representatives were recommending the credit be reduced slowly over time. So yeah the credit is probably way too big.

Sure the idea is that solar will continue to approach cost parity over time.
But I would be curious who in the industry is talking down the credits.  And whether is it out of altruistic concern for the fisc or desire to see smaller competitors flushed out . . .

Context is important here Minsky. They thought the credit was expiring. Their response was 'ok we will be fine but the shock to the system would be lessened if it was reduced over time' and they had some suggestions.

[Valmy]

The technology doesn't exist for now.

For somebody who gets all his industry news from Wikipedia you sure claim expert knowledge on how these things work.

[Eddie Teach]

The technology doesn't exist for now.

For somebody who gets all his industry news from Wikipedia you sure claim expert knowledge on how these things work.

Eh, doesn't Mono have access to Timmy News Service?