My Solarventure

[NiceFarmer]

Sick of load-shedding and inflated electricity bills, and curious about alternative power solutions, I decided to invest in a solar powered set up. There are two options available in the market: either one large solar panel that can generate all the power required for a household, or one small solar panel for each light or fan. The cost of the former is quite prohibitive and it is easy to see why most people prefer buying smaller solar panels. I purchased three small solar panels to power three of our garden lights. At a total cost of around Rs12,000 (Rs4,000 per panel, including the battery) the panels come with attached batteries which have to be charged eight to 10 hours daily. They also doesn’t take up much space as the panels are small and thus adjustable.

Along with these panels, energy-saver bulbs had to be bought, which was another addition to the total cost. Apart from that there was no other hidden or additional cost except for the new wiring. This small investment merely made me more enthusiastic about the wonders of solar power and I expanded my solar set up to 10 more panels. The new setup has met our electrical needs for three bed rooms. The most advantageous factor is the constant supply of energy to our fans and lights — which mean no more sleepless nights!

Source

 

[Big Boss]

Why don't ur govt. and pak army goes for solar power??

 

[NiceFarmer]

Low commission I guess

 

[T90TankGuy]

Why don't ur govt. and pak army goes for solar power??

while solar power can help light small appliances on a large scale it impractical . its the failure of the GOP to develop the industry, its one of the most important pillars of growth .

 

[Pioneerfirst]

while solar power can help light small appliances on a large scale it impractical . its the failure of the GOP to develop the industry, its one of the most important pillars of growth .

Govt of Pakistan has made the policy in early 2000s and you will be amazed to know that two companies are making solar cells too and they export in small quantity.but their products are expensive and cheaper imported products are sold in the market.
Govt itself has less role to play,all they have to do is to promote manufacturing or reduce duties which are already done but you know this technology is still expensive for most of us.

 

[Big Boss]

Govt of Pakistan has made the policy in early 2000s and you will be amazed to know that two companies are making solar cells too and they export in small quantity.but their products are expensive and cheaper imported products are sold in the market.
Govt itself has less role to play,all they have to do is to promote manufacturing or reduce duties which are already done but you know this technology is still expensive for most of us.

You are completely wrong. In renewal energy resources like solar energy its only the govt. which can do anything.

For example: In India govt. allow tax free production, low interest loan, subsidy to the manufacturer and tax free purchase + subsidy to the consumer. It makes it economical viable.

And in R&D there is 200% tax concessions.

Our Indian army have taken many initiative for green energy too.

 

[livingdead]

I did not know solar panels are so cheap in pakistan. Why is it so expensive in India?

 

[cricketrulez]

while solar power can help light small appliances on a large scale it impractical .

a good statement about 10 years ago. Right now the pay off period for a residential solar system without any rebates about ~12 years in california. the life of the panels i guaranteed to 25 years!

in fact they prefer setting up large scale solar farms becos it cost less than residential

 

[Safriz]

a good statement about 10 years ago. Right now the pay off period for a residential solar system without any rebates about ~12 years in california. the life of the panels i guaranteed to 25 years!

in fact they prefer setting up large scale solar farms becos it cost less than residential

Even then you guys kicked out Arnold

 

[SBD-3]

while solar power can help light small appliances on a large scale it impractical . its the failure of the GOP to develop the industry, its one of the most important pillars of growth .

Its very expensive, the long term cost is unarguabally very low but the initial cost of investments and maintanence is still very high. In Pakistan NUST developed a solar panel solution for tanning industry but this costs 4Million PKR a set.

 

[SBD-3]

The cheapest and most abundent source of energy is not nuclear, not solar but geothermal energy. It is estimated that heat radiations absorbed by earth in just one year are enough for world's entire energy needs forever. But extraction of this energy is not only immensly challanging but also expensive.

 

[cricketrulez]

Even then you guys kicked out Arnold

You mean termed out? He had two terms as allowed by the constitution. Having said that, he was surprisingly pro-environment for a republican.

 

[cricketrulez]

The cheapest and most abundent source of energy is not nuclear, not solar but geothermal energy. It is estimated that heat radiations absorbed by earth in just one year are enough for world's entire energy needs forever. But extraction of this energy is not only immensly challanging but also expensive.

Geo thermal is viable only in places like iceland. solr power is cheap enough for residential installations w/o rebates now. FYI, residential tariff is ~30% of business tariff.

so for businesses it makes even more sense to go solar and they are doing it in a big way. many states in US are mandated to produce 20% of electricity form renewable sources and all of them are going to solar. Ever since enough plants came online for Silicon wafers, solar panels prices have been going down toa point where labor is more expensive than the panels. If you area certified electrician, residential installs payoff in about 5 years.