Estevan considered for solar power

[farmaholic]

Reply #200

My goodness oneoff....did it ever occur to you they can't answer your questions or don't know how to. Maybe you know as much or more as the person you're questioning! I doubt they'd be prepared for the assault of questions you have for them....easier to brush you off!

You're a determined fella!

[tweety]

Just because an oneoff got an email from someone at sask power missing a digit, the whole project should be scrapped because no one can multiply Estevans 2500 hours of sun times 10 mw times a theta fudge factor?

[farmaholic]

I doubt Saskpower reads Agriville, but then you never know if word of a discussion like this was brought to their attention.

[chuckChuck]

I have not received a reply yet. They also have a media person who did the meeting in Estevan. Would have been good to be at that meeting/

[chuckChuck]

This is the solar resources map for Canada that clearly shows the southern prairies have the best solar energy resource in the Country.
http://www.estevaneconomicdevelopment.ca/images/energy/solarresources.jpg

I am pretty confident that 10Mw of solar at Estevan will produce 14000Mwh or better.

[Hamloc]

This post is a little off topic but related. As I stated before I am building a new farm shop. I want to set up one corner with a few chairs and a separate heater where we can sit and discuss the world after feeding cows in the morning. I had 3 ideas for localized heat, an air tight wood stove, a small natural gas furnace and an 1500 watt electric radiant heater. Now the electric heater is the simplest because no chimney, no gas line, no wood mess and less fire hazard than wood. So then I thought run the electric heater with solar, free heat or so I thought. Did some reading and concluded I would need 8-9 265 watt panels to produce enough power in Alberta winters. Then I thought no point in having heat if it is not available every day, so I priced out a system with battery back up. Total price for parts still has to be mounted and wired in 11750 dollars, fml, to run a 1500 watt heater. Now of course I could just set up the panels without batteries and buy a small Honda gen set to run when it is cloudy, much cheaper than the batteries. But the part that amazed me was over 12000 dollars once installed to create enough power for dependable access to 1500 watts of heat! Wouldn't heat a very big house. Ontario's Premier wants to phase out natural gas heat and heat with electricity, can't imagine what that would cost. As for using passive solar panels which you cycle glycol through, would only heat on a sunny day and wouldn't provide the localized radiant heat I desire.

[tweety]

Newsflash, generating renewable energy costs more to produce then just burning stored energy.

[tweety]

I am pretty confident that 10Mw of solar at Estevan will produce 14000Mwh or better.

Definitely. But it will cost more than just lighting a match, so scrap it. Isn't that what is being said after 7 pages?

[Hamloc]

Tweety I guess that is probably how I come across. My problem is that Trudeau, Wynn and Notley are trying to tell me that we can switch to green energy at no cost to our economy and if we don't the earth will become uninhabitable for future generations. I think both of those statements are untrue.

[tweety]

Tweety I guess that is probably how I come across. My problem is that Trudeau, Wynn and Notley are trying to tell me that we can switch to green energy at no cost to our economy and if we don't the earth will become uninhabitable for future generations. I think both of those statements are untrue.

I think you came across as totally realistic, my statement was more directed as just a general statement to all - including and especially Trudeau, Notley et al.

I did the same math for geothermal. Have lines all run to the field from the house but it was too expensive to run the heat pump and buy all the stuff. Its expensive. My solar lighting project is small and was not that expensive, but i definitely could have done it cheaper just running underground wire.

But still no answer from Oneoff to just because it costs more, should we not do it. Why shouldn't we get the ball rolling on learning about renewable energy. 10 MW is a drop in the bucket in our entire SK grid production. Can it really drive a man to be that passionate to absolutely not do it? Apparently it can.

I just want to know why. Awaiting an answer