Solar Power.

kneemos · 06-06-2016 09:55PM #1

Notice planning permissions for quite a few solar farms lately.How can they be efficient in Ireland or are they a meet our emissions subsidised scam?
At least they aren't as visually polluting as wind farms.

tomwaterford · 06-06-2016 10:06PM

We get a week of good weather and people go mad

Solar farms ffs...

HornyDevil · 06-06-2016 10:11PM

kneemos wrote: »

At least they aren't as visually polluting as wind farms.

I have to sleep with one.

Alf Veedersane · 06-06-2016 10:15PM

kneemos wrote: »

Notice planning permissions for quite a few solar farms lately.How can they be efficient in Ireland or are they a meet our emissions subsidised scam?
At least they aren't as visually polluting as wind farms.

I suspect a lot of people are anticipating solar PV to be supported in the next REFIT scheme so people applying now.

Decent potential in the southern half of the country though.

There's a renewable target to be met by 2020 and they pretty much need to use as many different resources as possible

06-06-2016 10:15PM

Presume they are the latest in "how do we screw as much money out of the EU in grants" scheme.

Same as wind turbines really. Oh like they contribute 5% to the grid and some private enterprise is drawing down money hand over fist until someone in 15 years asks how much it'll cost to replace them...at which point the charade will be up and we'll wonder why we gave up our landscape to chase a farce.

Peregrine · 06-06-2016 10:18PM

tomwaterford wrote: »

We get a week of good weather and people go mad

Solar farms ffs...

Didn't you hear? We're a tropical island now!

Alf Veedersane · 06-06-2016 10:21PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Presume they are the latest in "how do we screw as much money out of the EU in grants" scheme.

Same as wind turbines really. Oh like they contribute 5% to the grid and some private enterprise is drawing down money hand over fist until someone in 15 years asks how much it'll cost to replace them...at which point the charade will be up and we'll wonder why we gave up our landscape to chase a farce.

They're not a big eyesore on the landscape.

Ireland has to meet a target of 16% of energy from renewable sources by 2020. Which means fines if it's missed.

At 8.6% in 2014.

So if we rule out wind and solar and everything else, where does that leave us?

Wibbs · 06-06-2016 10:24PM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

So if we rule out wind and solar and everything else, where does that leave us?

Wave. Man we would be fantastic for that.

darkpagandeath · 06-06-2016 10:26PM

I thought the issues was view and selling our Air and Sun to the British ?

Alf Veedersane · 06-06-2016 10:27PM

Wibbs wrote: »

Wave. Man we would be fantastic for that.

Hopefully. But it's still very much at RD&D stage so maybe linger term but not in the next 5 years.

There is a certain amount of support for offshore renewables including wave and tidal planned to come in this year.

Allinall · 06-06-2016 10:27PM

Wibbs wrote: »

Wave. Man we would be fantastic for that.

Right.

Just look how Mexico perfected it.

Wibbs · 06-06-2016 10:28PM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Hopefully. But it's still very much at RD&D stage so maybe linger term but not in the next 5 years.

I dunno AV, I clearly remember it being in the R&D stage back in the 70's. By now...

RayM · 06-06-2016 10:29PM

I used to live in a house with two small solar panels on the roof for heating water (I presume the builder got a grant for them). They were actually really good. In the summer, I had a near-permanent supply of boiling water. Saved a fortune in the winter too, because the water was already a bit warm whenever I switched the water heater on.

06-06-2016 10:29PM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

They're not a big eyesore on the landscape.

Ireland has to meet a target of 16% of energy from renewable sources by 2020. Which means fines if it's missed.

At 8.6% in 2014.

So if we rule out wind and solar and everything else, where does that leave us?

I live on the Ring of Kerry, we can now see wind turbines matching across the horizons. A real blight. I don't want long term strategy in real money, tourism here, affected by private enterprises drawing down grants. It's a scam. I know many people involved in them who laugh at the while charade, it's all about drawing down grants as far as they're concerned. I'm not against renewable energy, but not at some short sighted expense. We should not end up looking like the Ruhr Valley.

Alf Veedersane · 06-06-2016 10:34PM

Wibbs wrote: »

I dunno AV, I clearly remember it being in the R&D stage back in the 70's. By now...

In Ireland though. It hasn't been continuous because of funding. There are a host of different technologies to be tested for cost effectiveness.

That said, it's being done in France, for example. There's a cool bridge at La Rance amd they generate over 600 GWh....but then the French do nucular as well so they're not afraid to press on

john the one · 06-06-2016 10:36PM

We need to look at nuclear...

Junkyard Tom · 06-06-2016 10:36PM

It's a bit short-sighted to expect the Sun to provide us with all our energy needs. If we extract power from the Sun it will shorten the Sun's life and then we're all screwed when that runs out. The term 'fiddling while the Sun burns' springs to mind.

Alf Veedersane · 06-06-2016 10:39PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I live on the Ring of Kerry, we can now see wind turbines matching across the horizons. A real blight. I don't want long term strategy in real money, tourism here, affected by private enterprises drawing down grants. It's a scam. I know many people involved in them who laugh at the while charade, it's all about drawing down grants as far as they're concerned. I'm not against renewable energy, but not at some short sighted expense. We should not end up looking like the Ruhr Valley.

They have to actually produce the energy though. They can't just, you know, nudge the decimal point over a spot.

It's their perception. Private companies...grants...scams. Not saying its not understandable but that doesn't mean it's well founded.

Everyone is ok with renewable energy once it's not visible or in their back yard.

So take away those wind farms that they laugh out...what then? Where does the renewable energy come from?

Edit: I do think the model for realisation of wind energy needs to be more community centred though. Any of the community based projects I've ever encountered have been a success because communities do not feel tlit has been foisted upon them and they have had a say. Hopefully that's the future

For Forks Sake · 06-06-2016 10:40PM

john the one wrote: »

We need to look at nuclear...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoASZyihalc

darkpagandeath · 06-06-2016 10:42PM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

They have to actually produce the energy though. They can't just, you know, nudge the decimal point over a spot.

It's their perception. Private companies...grants...scams. Not saying its not understandable but that doesn't mean it's well founded.

Everyone is ok with renewable energy once it's not visible or in their back yard.

So take away those wind farms that they laugh out...what then? Where does the renewable energy come from?

If they were put in Dublin no one would have an issue and could relax in their none view affecting white one off.

john the one · 06-06-2016 10:58PM

For Forks Sake wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoASZyihalc

Vexed. I am Vexed.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 06-06-2016 11:00PM

RayM wrote: »

I used to live in a house with two small solar panels on the roof for heating water (I presume the builder got a grant for them). They were actually really good. In the summer, I had a near-permanent supply of boiling water. Saved a fortune in the winter too, because the water was already a bit warm whenever I switched the water heater on.

I hope you remembered to switch the emersion off!!!

Fiery mutant · 06-06-2016 11:04PM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

It's a bit short-sighted to expect the Sun to provide us with all our energy needs. If we extract power from the Sun it will shorten the Sun's life and then we're all screwed when that runs out. The term 'fiddling while the Sun burns' springs to mind.

Huh?

lalababa · 06-06-2016 11:10PM

wind and solar and pumping reservoir are the way to go. wave and tidal to follow later. You could put a wind turbine on my head and i wouldn't bat an eyelid. There aren't that many turbines in kerry but they still churn out enough for 200,000 households. Anybody who can't appreciate how turbines and renewable sources help to maintain the environment is illogical. I can find both their physical and practical aesthetic much more appealing than that of moneypoint or Tarbert.

donegaLroad · 07-06-2016 12:33AM

DIY solar panel made from aluminium cans.

There are many instructional videos on youtube on how to make these, this clip is an interview with the inventor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRZvAAqzXIw

Totofan99 · 07-06-2016 12:47AM

john the one wrote: »

We need to look at nuclear...

+1 on this.

People have this irrational fear of nuclear power. I'd have absolutely no problem living next to one.

policarp · 07-06-2016 12:49AM

Ireland has a better window for solar power than Spain. Believe it or not.

LordSutch · 11-06-2016 06:52AM

RayM wrote: »

I used to live in a house with two small solar panels on the roof for heating water (I presume the builder got a grant for them). They were actually really good. In the summer, I had a near-permanent supply of boiling water. Saved a fortune in the winter too, because the water was already a bit warm whenever I switched the water heater on.

Here here, well worth the initial outlay.

kneemos · 11-06-2016 09:38AM

LordSutch wrote: »

Here here, well worth the initial outlay.

A gift I'd imagine in the summer when fires and heating aren't running,loads of hot water ?

snubbleste · 11-06-2016 10:21AM

Meanwhile your electricity bills are to rise to support renewable energy http://www.bonkers.ie/blog/gas-electricity/energy-regulator-proposes-32--increase-in-pso-levy-for-all-households/

Sh1tbag OToole · 11-06-2016 10:23AM

Wibbs wrote: »

I dunno AV, I clearly remember it being in the R&D stage back in the 70's. By now...

More efficient, cheaper solar panels are always 10 years away from mass production

Solar Power.

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