[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: FW: Wind Generator

[Lawrence Lile]

Good points!

 

>>Also, I don't see a clear demarcation between kW, kWp, and kWh. Energy

and power. I think that's confusing. For example, your comment about 
"750 - 1000 kW/month" should read kWh (people do this often, but that 
won't stop me from holding you to a higher standard ;-)

Since I am an EE, I SHOULD get these terms straight.  Thanks for the
tip!

>Also, the consumption numbers you quote seem low to me (especially if 
they really include AC), but it depends of course on electric ranges, 
dryers, water heaters, heat pumps, etc. It's probably most interesting 
just to convert average residential energy use of all fuels into kWh.
and came up with nearly 6000 kWh/household/month. 

Yow!  Egads!  That's $400 a month at my utility rates! I was using my
own bill as a rough guide, based on all gas appliances and furnace.  No
wonder we have an energy crisis!?!?!

>I also think your estimates of PV costs are optimistic -- crude module 
cost right now is around $4.88/W (check solarbuzz.com), so that doesn't 
leave much room for inverters, transfer switches, and that expensive 
copper wiring if you're quoting $5/W. Obviously you aren't paying for 
labor. Typical quoted prices for installed small systems are about twice

that.

$2.59 a peak watt, new cells, on Ebay right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/540Watt-15w-X-36pcs-solar-panel-set-power-jack_W0QQi
temZ300072155062QQihZ020QQcategoryZ41981QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Yeah, $5/W is probably too cheap for a whole system, but a fair guess at
a solar cell price.  The point was, that if you are installing energy
generation, superconservation will save more money per dollar.  $10 a
peak watt?  $15? Do I hear $20?  

>Okay, I didn't mean to pick it apart, it was good, sorry, I can't help 
myself. I hope that's helpful and not just obnoxious!


Thanks, Kieth! Much appreciated! 


-Lawrence Lile