Germany has spent OVER 100 BILLION EURO's on solar power..

[JJ_BPK]

Make up your own mind..

Germany has spent OVER 100 BILLION EURO's on solar power..



"For weeks now, the 1.1 million solar power systems in Germany have generated almost no electricity. The days are short, the weather is bad and the sky is overcast."

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,809439,00.html


Not my idea of a good investment... But then,, it's THE LAW... :[

[JJ_BPK]

SPIEGEL Interview with Michael Fuchs, Solar Subsidy 'Insanity' Will Cost Consumers, By Peter Müller and Alexander Neubacher


http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,809529,00.html

[Dozer523]

The oldest son -- who has managed to practically homestead at Vilsek (when he wasn't in Iraq) -- told me that most German houses have solar panels on the roofs. Might even be a requirement for a building permit. The construction is subsidized and the panels can power the house for free (not acounting for installation costs) and excess electricity is fed into the grid. That program seems to work. Looks like the one in the article is a case of "A little is good so a lot must be great". It probably employs a lot of people, too. And maximizing employment seems to be a major government function. Germany has the money.

And it will be nice to have this for those sunny days that come every summer . . . in August . . . about the third week . . . on Monday and Thursday . . . except everyone will be at the shwimbad. :D

[VAKEMP]

They have a similar program on the Navajo Reservation here in the US.

Power to the reservation is provided by NTUA (Navajo Tribal Utility Authority). The populace is spread out, and several area still do not have power/running water available to them, so the NTUA installs solar panels with a charging station and a backup generator (they also offer free water stations for locals, since residents do not own the land they live on and are not allowed to dig wells).

NTUA is really pushing to get power lines to all communities ASAP. Not sure if it is because solar really isn't a good alternative, or because they don't want residents to decide to keep their solar panels and cut them out altogether.

Reference: http://www.ntua.com/solar/solarinfo.html

EDIT: It seems to still be a money maker for NTUA:


Cost: The customers is charged $95.00 per month. A contract is signed for a period of 15 years through a Lease Purchase Agreement.


Total cost to customer: $17,100
Approx value of 650W worth of solar panels (could not find an estimate from Kyocera): $1,137.50

I know that a charging station and a generator isn't going to be cheap, but will the total cost come close to $17,100?

Customers get to keep their systems after the 15 year lease, but Kyocera warranties are good for only 20 years, so the customer will likely have to start another lease shortly after paying for their first system.

Warranty reference: http://www.kyocerasolar.com/assets/001/5151.pdf


B. Limited Power Output Warranty of 20 years (90% / 80%)

...
Kyocera warrants that if, (a) within the first ten (10) years from the date of sale to the Customer, the PV Module(s) exhibits a power output of less than ninety percent (90%) of the original minimum rated power specified at the time of sale*,or (b) within twenty (20) years from the date of sale to the Customer, the PV Module(s) exhibits a power outputof less than eighty percent (80%) of the original minimum rated power specified at the time of sale*, Kyocera will deliver additional PV Module(s) to replace the missing power output, or repair or replace the PV Module(s), at Kyocera’s sole option.
...

[VAKEMP]

As for the original topic on Germany's blind faith in solar power, it does seem to have been blind faith:

Link to map: http://krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e888330105371948f2970b-pi

Link to article: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2008/03/the-ugly-side-o.html

...
This map (click to enlarge) shows the amount of solar energy in hours, received each day on an optimally tilted surface during the worst month of the year.
...



Germany is not in an optimal location for reliable solar power. :eek:

This might be a good opportunity for an African nation or Australia to get a good deal on some solar panels. :cool: