On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 23:12:09 GMT, Jan Panteltje
wrote:

[snip]
That does not mean that there are no individual
cases today where solar is attractive economically, nor
does it encompass those who can't connect to the grid.
Here in teh Netherlands where i am, you could get the
solar installation almost for free, because of government grants,
so many people did it that the gov ran out of the allocated budget,
and is now drastically reducing subsidizing solar power.

Arizona is presently *increasing* their tax credits for solar.


But it's a non-starter for better than 99 percent of the
people who can connect to the grid. The number of
people who are grid connected and are economically ahead
with solar is exceedingly small. Even Solar Guppy, who
clearly has expertise in this area, posts a 16+ year
payback period - and that's without considering mortgage,
degradation, maintenance etc. over time.
If you get it 4 free, payback starts immediatly.
Problem is that in teh old electricity meters the meter
would run backards, and you got a lot for a kWh into the grid.
Now the power companies fixed that by using electronic meters that
will not run backwars.. clever!, but you can become a 'certified
electricity supplier' or something (I am not, just what I did read),
for 250 Euro or so a year, and then ge t7 Eurocent for a kWh so no
good deal, only costs money.

[snip]

Sourcing INTO the power grid is also supported in Arizona. Apparently
there are a few customers here who produce more than their own
consumption and get PAID every month. (Not difficult at all if you
own at least an acre of property.)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.