posted
This is about photovoltaic cells, but you could extend the topic to about any other "clean" energy forms.
I'm asking these questions here because I couldn't find the answers I'm seeking elsewhere.
When searching the net about the efficiency of photovoltaic cells, the only answers I could get are like: "PV cells are paying their cost of purchase after about seven years of use, and their lifespan is of twenty years or more, and they don't release greenhous gases or toxic materials, and are virtually maintenance and operation free, therefore PV cells are gooood."
But, this doesn't answer the really important questions.
I don't care much about the economical benefits of alternative energy, but rather their real energy cost and what people call the "ecological footprint" of these alternative energies.
It is capital to know precisely the real energy cost and ecological footprint of PV cells, wind-powered generators, hydroelectric plants, etc, versus the "dirty" energy sources. I'll explain:
REAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Sure, using PV cells can cut a significant part from your electric bill, but globally, do they really save energy? How much energy does it takes to actually manufacture and install a PV cell? How this amount of energy compares with the total energy this PV cell will produce over it's lifespan? One must take into consideration all the energy needed to build and put that cell to use, including:
-The energy used for production/ extraction/ transformation of raw materials, -The energy used at the PV cell factory in all the steps of fabrication, -The energy used to install the PV cell.
Add to this the energy used in transportation in every step: -Transport of the ore/raw materials between their different proccessing plants, -Transport of the materials to the PV cell factory -Transport of the PV cells from the PV cell factory to the PV cell shop, Transport from the PV cell shop to the PV cell user.
Also one must consider in the same fashion the packaging material the PV cell is wrapped in (raw materials, tranformation, production, transport...)
ENVIRONMENTAL COST: PV cells are made of toxic materials and/or toxic materials are used to make PV cells.
So, what is the toxicity of pv cells compared to other energy sources? Can PV cells be recycled when they are worn-out? Are the toxic materials well contained or does some part get released in the environment? If so, what kind of damage is done to the environment?
Those are the real question one must ask about all alternative energy forms, and I couldn't find the answers anywhere.
Alternative energy seem better than fossil fuel because they are still marginal and they don't pollute at first glance, but what would it be if they were to completely replace oil and gas? Would it be a real improvement, or would it be a different harm done in a different way?
Now please, don't flame me! I don't represent big oil companies nor do I think alternative energy are bad ideas, it's just that, in order to get a picture as clear as possible, one must play the devil's advocate...
posted
If only the environmental costs of Coal ,oil and gas were similarly added to the price of those sources,not many people could afford them certainly,,but as to the energy costs to produce Photovoltaics,that energy is paid back in 3 years..as to the question of toxics people have been trying to get the Computer Industry to recycle their toxics and there is some progress being made,ditto for Microwave ovens and Cellphones.all need recycling!
Posts: 89 | From: santa rosa,ca.u.s.a. | Registered: Aug 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Director of the Private Enterprise “The Law Firm ‘Elite-Consulting” ul. Chelyuskintsev 202-‘a’, Donetsk 83048 Ukraine tel/fax (+38 062) 381-22-93 www.elit-cons.com office@elit-cons.com
ELECTRIC GENERATOR WITHOUT ANY FUEL
1. Description Diagram and electric generator arrangement are designed on the basis of three new neutron sciences – astrophysics, physics, chemistry, stated in three books – “Thoughts Aloud”, “People…”, “Principles of Neutron Physics” (www.elit-cons.com). An electric generator was designed on the basis of treatment of the General six fields theory, one of which is new – electromagnetic. It was Nicola Tesla’s generator. He used it in his famous motor car in 1931 for the 80 hp alternating current motor. The new electric generator of the same principle of operating is more effective because it based on science but not on guesses. Bodily it is also a box with three units inside: control, generating, and 50 Hz outlet frequency holding. The box dimensions for 80 hp are less by 1.5 fold, than Nicola Tesla’s generator had. It is offered a series of four production prototypes for displaying: 1 kW (weight – 3 kg), 10 kW (weight – 5 kg), 50 kW (weight – 15 kg), and 100 kW (weight – 30 kg).
2. Rates of Phasing Investments The 1-st phase is the main one – displaying 4 production prototypes under load. In displaying there are no any risks problems completely as the new energetic will be operating just before the investor. The first 1 kW prototype was bed-tested. It is necessary about 4.0 mil US Dollars for arranging the new energetic object display and its guard. That amount will be not the investment. It will give the opportunity to make sure personally of our proposal and to be entitled to make a privileged commercial proposal without any risks. Details will be discussed during the negotiations. The 2-nd phase is legal protection of the new technology with maintenance for 3 years in 70 countries – 20 mil US Dollars. The 3-d phase is parallel to the legal protection – launching an electrical engineering enterprise (a middle sized works) to be able to bring the new production to a commercial level with gross income at 10 mil a month, the volume of output – 100, 000 sets a month. Calculating – at the set retail price at the rate of 600 US Dollars, 300 of which – expenses and taxes, 300 – net income. In total there will be income at 10 mil a month, for 6 months – 60 mil, reimbursement of the investments at the rate of 30 mil – 6 months. Investments – 6.0 mil US Dollars – technical rearmament of two works – an electrical engineering works and radio assembling one. 30 mil US Dollars reimbursement will be in 6 months after launching of the enterprise. It’s a truncated scheme with the both single investor and enterprise. Stefan.Kieslich physik.uni-giessen.de There is no point in speaking of marketing outlets, advertisements, and volumes – any investments will turn to advantage. The new energetic also is new kinds of power transport and production equipment. New kinds of production equipment will be self-powered. All household appliances also will be self-powered.
Sebastian.G.Boehm physik.uni-giessen.deJoerg.F.Jacobi strz.uni-giessen.deJoerg.F.Jacobi strz.uni-giessen.de Stefan.Kieslich physik.uni-giessen.de Director of the Private Enterprise “The Law Firm ‘Elite-Consulting” ul. Chelyuskintsev 202-‘a’, Donetsk 83048 Ukraine tel/fax (+38 062) 381-22-93 www.elit-cons.com office@elit-cons.com
ELECTRIC GENERATOR WITHOUT ANY FUEL
1. Description Diagram and electric generator arrangement are designed on the basis of three new neutron sciences – astrophysics, physics, chemistry, stated in three books – “Thoughts Aloud”, “People…”, “Principles of Neutron Physics” (www.elit-cons.com). An electric generator was designed on the basis of treatment of the General six fields theory, one of which is new – electromagnetic. It was Nicola Tesla’s generator. He used it in his famous motor car in 1931 for the 80 hp alternating current motor. The new electric generator of the same principle of operating is more effective because it based on science but not on guesses. Bodily it is also a box with three units inside: control, generating, and 50 Hz outlet frequency holding. The box dimensions for 80 hp are less by 1.5 fold, than Nicola Tesla’s generator had. It is offered a series of four production prototypes for displaying: 1 kW (weight – 3 kg), 10 kW (weight – 5 kg), 50 kW (weight – 15 kg), and 100 kW (weight – 30 kg).
2. Rates of Phasing Investments The 1-st phase is the main one – displaying 4 production prototypes under load. In displaying there are no any risks problems completely as the new energetic will be operating just before the investor. The first 1 kW prototype was bed-tested. It is necessary about 4.0 mil US Dollars for arranging the new energetic object display and its guard. That amount will be not the investment. It will give the opportunity to make sure personally of our proposal and to be entitled to make a privileged commercial proposal without any risks. Details will be discussed during the negotiations. The 2-nd phase is legal protection of the new technology with maintenance for 3 years in 95 countries – 20 mil US Dollars. The 3-d phase is parallel to the legal protection – launching an electrical engineering enterprise (a middle sized works) to be able to bring the new production to a commercial level with gross income at 10 mil a month, the volume of output – 100, 000 sets a month. Calculating – at the set retail price at the rate of 600 US Dollars, 300 of which – expenses and taxes, 300 – net income. In total there will be income at 10 mil a month, for 6 months – 60 mil, reimbursement of the investments at the rate of 30 mil – 6 months. Investments – 6.0 mil US Dollars – technical rearmament of two works – an electrical engineering works and radio assembling one. 30 mil US Dollars reimbursement will be in 6 months after launching of the enterprise. It’s a truncated scheme with the both single investor and enterprise. There is no point in speaking of marketing outlets, advertisements, and volumes – any investments will turn to advantage. The new energetic also is new kinds of power transport and production equipment. New kinds of production equipment will be self-powered. All household appliances also will be self-powered.
Posts: 9 | From: Ukraine | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Everything used in human activities has to come from "somewhere" (extracted from the environment). So it is inevitable that the production and use of photovoltaics or other solar technology will have an environmental impact. However, that is also true of all other systems used for energy generation, distribution and consumption (whether from sources renewable or non-renewable). The most important issue is a comparison, for each available energy option, of how the technology's performance balances against its various environmental "footprints".
As such, even though there are potential impacts to the environment from using solar energy sources, the most important issue is how this compares to other sources of energy, and how the identified impacts can be reduced, controlled and mitigated.
Posts: 24 | Registered: Aug 2008
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
