Is concentrated photovoltaic really going to be a disruptive technology?

[solarant2010]

Is concentrated photovoltaic really going to be a disruptive technology that could be a game-changer? This is the question in many solar energy professionals' minds today. By promising much higher efficiencies than the mainstream crystalline solar technology, CPV as it is called, could overcome one of the key bottlenecks of solar PV (low efficiencies), but the much higher capital costs of CPV today end up producing electricity that costs more than that from c-Si.

Will the future be different, with CPV ruling the world? It will be interesting to see.

Solarant @ Energy Alternatives India.

[Jbignes5]

I doubt it will change a thing...

Listen if you think this is gonna lower the bill you got it wrong. Lets take for example the situation in my area. Our power company used to generate and sell power itself. Now it has changed it's business model to only be a broker for other companies that generate the power. No matter what happens in this situation they add outrageous fees for delivery of the power we get here now and nothing has changed in any way.

Unless you go off the grid you will always pay them for power. Does a solar option change the costs associated with generating the power you need? I doubt it. As long as there is money involved you will always get charged. Either it is from the initial costs of the setup to the maintenance of the system you are going to have to pay one way or the other.

We need to find better ways to generate the power we need. It needs to be low cost and not over inflated prices that are setup by the guys in charge.

Is solar a viable option for the in between period as we change from a polluting supply to a more natural less polluting supply? Yes.. Will it costs less? Nope!

[Matthew Jones]

I make enough power to power my home and bring in enough every year to pay the taxes on the property. With Solar...

I have a substantial investment but it will be paid for in 7 years total time (I didn't finance it) and the system has a 20 + year lifespan.

So any investment in Solar is a very viable solution. It just breaks down to whether or not you want to afford it or not. Almost all States have subsidy plans that are both good for the solar owner and the local power company if your grid tied. The Federal and State tax credits add up also, you just don't get your money back till the end of the year. Or maybe over a period of time depending on your income.

If you look at it as an investment and not the gloom and doom principle of some people who claim you can never win. Solar turns out to be a better investment over time than any 401k type retirement thing.

But you have to do your own home work on the payback, and only you can know if its affordable or not for yourself.

Cheers
Matt

[Jbignes5]

Very true...

Mathew thanks for reminding me of the other side. Of course there is a long time commitment. Both in investment and maintenance. Yes it works better then the grid supply service but it does need a certain amount of expertise to run and maintain your system. Not a lot of people have that. Services to fix problems and battery replacement is another part of the equation.

Solar does pay out in the end and thats better then using the other sources. But his example is about the newest technology and there is quite the investment on that as well seeing it is just emerging from conception.

My opinion is that there are other less costly options and we are trying to perfect that here.

[Matthew Jones]

Mathew thanks for reminding me of the other side. Of course there is a long time commitment. Both in investment and maintenance. Yes it works better then the grid supply service but it does need a certain amount of expertise to run and maintain your system. Not a lot of people have that. Services to fix problems and battery replacement is another part of the equation.

Solar does pay out in the end and thats better then using the other sources. But his example is about the newest technology and there is quite the investment on that as well seeing it is just emerging from conception.

My opinion is that there are other less costly options and we are trying to perfect that here.

Well we should have long term commitments. The largest part of the dire need for energy in this country is everything we have is disposal short term junk.
Grid tied Solar is plug and play. Even Island and Hybrid systems are readily becoming plug and play. Very little need for any expertise outside of what you see hear.

As far as emerging tech that promises greater efficiencies, Don't count on it. Don't ever count on anything on the market that collects over 20% of the visible light. There is already to much investment in the current Solar for the people who would invest to produce anything better.
But its enough... Its affordable if you amortize it over a period of time. It easy to install and run.

And as long as you have to the power you can increase production any way you see fit. As long as you are selling power you have the ability to do anything to produce power on the DC side of the system as they are not regulated and defined as LOW voltage devices, as long as it doesn't emit harmful fumes or radiation, ect....

You just have to take the opportunity..

Cheers
Matt