Solar power not so cheap

Queensland is pretty much considered a sunshine state, i.e. where there are little clouds, and the sun shines all year around, making it favourable to generate electricity via photovoltaic cells.

Not so favourable according to the Queensland government, which has cut funding to a solar electricity generation project,  on the grounds that it is too expensive.

The masses are peddled by governments that solar is the saviour to the ‘global warming’ catch phrase coined by authorities, which now has the slightly less dramatic label of ‘climate change’. Climate change incidentally can occur as a natural cyclic phenomenon not necessarily effected by man.

Photovoltaic cell specifications are somewhat a bit of mystery, which is hidden by retailers and not spelled out to the technically unaware general population.

There are many factors which contribute to the efficiency of the production of electricity from photovoltaic cells.

Manufacturers specifications rate the electricity production at the equator, during midday, in summer, at a specific temperature.

As the ambient temperature increases, so does the temperature of the cells, which lowers the efficiency of the production of electricity. Other factors that also contribute to lower efficiency include dirt and dust on the glass panels as well as lower (higher numerically) latitudes. Currently photovoltaic cell efficiency for the domestic market for electricity production is at a low 14-16%.

Reputable electronics companies now state that PV cell electricity generation for latitudes comparable to Melbourne should use the figure of 4 hours of sunlight per day as an average.

A recent visit to Melbourne indicated that the solar companies are peddling their wares at various shopping centres (malls). The picture illustrates that one can install solar power for ‘just’ $4.20 per day.

The residents in Australia’s two most populous cities Sydney and Melbourne are considered to use an average of 25kWh of electricity. Domestic electricity prices vary from off peak 17.5c/kWh to 23.5c/kWh. In an example of an average price of electricity of 20c/kWh is used the cost of using 25kWh of electricity per day is $5.00. It is also not uncommon to find households that use $3.00 of electricity per day.

Remembering that current standard priced solar solutions do not include electricity storage, therefore only the electricity generated during daylight hours can be used. For working families with children at school, electricity during daylight hours can be less that during the ‘peak’ times. 

The figure of $4.20 used by solar companies does not seem to be that cheap after all, and in addition to one’s grid supplied electricity, does not seem like a cheap alternative, but rather a nice niche money making scheme.

Another win for the corporates at the expense of the uneducated masses.