For the solar doubters

[biglentil]

A Diesel in the Shed.


You can have your solar panels
and your turbines on the hills;
You can use the warmth of sunshine
to reduce your heating bills.

You can dream you’re self-sufficient
as you weed your vegie bed;
As long as you make sure to keep
A diesel in the shed.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Innovative use of solar powered irrigation system.

[URL="http://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/2017/09/05/solar-powered-irrigation-proving-its-worth-for-alberta-operation-2/?utm_source=GFM+Publications&utm_campaign=d2432307 3d-Canadian+Cattlemen++Weekend+Stories+Oct+11%2C+2015 &utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2da8244677-d24323073d-88078361"]http://https://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/2017/09/05/solar-powered-irrigation-proving-its-worth-for-alberta-operation-2/?utm_source=GFM+Publications&utm_campaign=d2432307 3d-Canadian+Cattlemen++Weekend+Stories+Oct+11%2C+2015 &utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2da8244677-d24323073d-88078361[/URL]

It seems we actually agree on this one, I was going to post that same article. What a perfect fit, peak season, and peak hours just happen to coincide with peak sunshine, and the area is also one of the sunniest anywhere. No storage required, which is what makes solar non cost effective for nearly any other application.

[ALBERTAFARMER4]

I'm not a solar doubter by any means, but you have to look into it further. This $400,000 solar system produces $8,000 of energy per year. You do the math. Also any grid tied system will still have a power bill and if you've looked at one of those recently you'll notice that the electricity used is the smallest part of the bill. Alberta has some of the cheapest electricity (0.04/kwh or less) in the world so why spend lots of money to generate it?

[grassfarmer]

With the addition of the transmission charges Alberta has very expensive electricity compared to most jurisdictions. Wouldn't it make sense to produce it on site and not have the transmission charges?

[ajl]

Most transmission charges are fixed and so go on when you are grid tied regardless of the amount of energy used. Also need transmission to distribute the energy produced by the solar when not using it on site immediately. It would be nice if solar was really cost effective as then I would put a system up right now but the reality is that it still take government meddling in the market place for it to work and that I can't stand.

[tweety]

So you're good with the billions and billions the non renewable industry gets with government meddling ?

[perfecho]

And your good with the billions and billions oil sands, lumber and other "private" industries have gotten?
Why should they be any different?

[furrowtickler]

All depends who's invested in what industry they support or have shares in

[northfarmer]

Solar can work but would like to see the total carbon footprint analysis per megawatt of power and the additional analysis of the carbon footprint of battery storage and standby conventional power generation with hydro or carbon fuel based.

The energy of the sun is free but the silica and rare earth metals in panels plus the other mfg costs and implications must be a part of the analysis and comparisons.

There are a lot of people making a lot of money pushing the wind and solar agenda but the general public is ill informed about the true economic and environmental costs. I include myself as one who also does not understand the full analysis because I have yet to see accurate comparisons.

[Hamloc]

With the addition of the transmission charges Alberta has very expensive electricity compared to most jurisdictions. Wouldn't it make sense to produce it on site and not have the transmission charges?

Grassfarmer I remember reading an article comparing the monthly electrical bill across Canada. Alberta was about $113 Ontario was about $200 for the same amount of electricity. So I disagree.