One of the issues I see, and I am hoping you can comment on this, is that roof top systems, via net-metering, have the potential of driving the monthly electric bill to zero. This strikes me as very unstable and unfair. Roof top solar users are still 100% dependent on the grid, even if their net usage is zero, because they will require power from the grid at night, when it is cloudy, and perhaps even when AC units kick on. So, they will still use grid-based power but not contribute to the costs associated with power plants and distribution networks. In other words, even if there are solar panels on every roof you still need power plants and distribution networks.
Also, solar panels produce a majority of their power during a specific time of the day, which doesn't necessarily correspond to peak usage times. Power plants must be built to meet peak demands. This can create an unstable economic condition where the installation of more solar panels drives down the net-metering reimbursement as solar panel energy supply surges during the middle of the day and is in excess of what is actually needed.
The real issue, as I see it, is not the adoption of solar panels but the lack of a reasonably priced way to store solar generated electricity so it can be used when peak demands don't correspond to peak solar production times, and/or at night.
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Originally Posted by villagetinker
I hope the link works, here is a 35 page report on the 10 worst stated for residential solar PV, and guess what Florida is #2. This provides a lot of background as to why you do not see a lot of solar panels here.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/p...owingShade.pdf |