Comments on: N.A.’s biggest solar PV farm planned for Ontario http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/ Trends, happenings and innovations in the clean technology market Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:38:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-1135 Anonymous Wed, 02 May 2007 22:14:57 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/#comment-1135 According to some newly released research, PV solar panel use in homes is due to soar in the next five years:<P> <a href="http://xooxleanswers.com/pv.aspx" rel="nofollow">The Growth of Photovoltaic Solar Energy for Home Use</a> Not quite the same as a PV-based farm, but it's all connected to the inevitable growth of this important technology. David According to some newly released research, PV solar panel use in homes is due to soar in the next five years:

The Growth of Photovoltaic Solar Energy for Home Use

Not quite the same as a PV-based farm, but it’s all connected to the inevitable growth of this important technology.

David

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 Anonymous Fri, 27 Apr 2007 22:38:53 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/#comment-1134 I wish the issue of concentrating solar had not been left out entirely. While I realize that the second paragraph of the Star article can be read that this would be merely the largest PV solar installation in North America, it certainly dwarfs in comparison to the 350MW SEGS (concentrating solar thermal) plants in California, part of which have been operating for over two decades. Another issue I find interesting is the lack of discussion as to whether this level of subsidy for solar in Ontario is necessarily the best use of global and local resources. Given that currently the world is constrained by production capacity of solar cells might it make more sense to have these deployed in more solar rich regions of the world, such as California. Might it make more sense for Ontario to spend subsidies on things like combined heat-power cogeneration that are much more beneficial as average heating days go up. "Think globally, Act locally!" Seems like this new development is strong on the latter, but possibly missing the former. I wish the issue of concentrating solar had not been left out entirely. While I realize that the second paragraph of the Star article can be read that this would be merely the largest PV solar installation in North America, it certainly dwarfs in comparison to the 350MW SEGS (concentrating solar thermal) plants in California, part of which have been operating for over two decades.

Another issue I find interesting is the lack of discussion as to whether this level of subsidy for solar in Ontario is necessarily the best use of global and local resources. Given that currently the world is constrained by production capacity of solar cells might it make more sense to have these deployed in more solar rich regions of the world, such as California. Might it make more sense for Ontario to spend subsidies on things like combined heat-power cogeneration that are much more beneficial as average heating days go up. “Think globally, Act locally!” Seems like this new development is strong on the latter, but possibly missing the former.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Anonymous Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:22:38 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/#comment-1133 At this cost of power, maybe it will be cheaper to buy throw away batteries from China (a little sarcasm). I know it is a bit early in the technological developement, but still 40 cents per KWH is an obscene price. It will attract all of the quick buck artists. At this cost of power, maybe it will be cheaper to buy throw away batteries from China (a little sarcasm).

I know it is a bit early in the technological developement, but still 40 cents per KWH is an obscene price. It will attract all of the quick buck artists.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-1132 Anonymous Fri, 27 Apr 2007 02:36:36 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/#comment-1132 Nice to see this front-page story break the same day that Colombia's national power grid went dark for unknown reasons. Which is also the same day that children born during the Chernobyl meltdown turn 21 years old. Happy birthdays! Nice to see this front-page story break the same day that Colombia’s national power grid went dark for unknown reasons. Which is also the same day that children born during the Chernobyl meltdown turn 21 years old. Happy birthdays!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-1131 Anonymous Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:15:51 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2007/04/26/nas-biggest-solar-pv-farm-planned-for-ontario/#comment-1131 I totally support the PV on the grid SOP of the OPA, I already have 1.5 kW of grid connected PV at home, but OPTISOLAR does not have a product yet, so let's see what actually happens here. Hopefully as these kinds of projects get rolling, the Ontario government will look for old industrial land and other land areas that are of little value and are not useful for food production. These are the places we should put PV farms, in that department, the OPTISOLAR project looks on the right track. I am aware of several other large PV projects in the embryonic stage, so very exciting times for Ontario. It is interesting that when I attended the OPA supply mix public meetings, they totally panned the idea of grid connected PV as having any impact, that was in the fall of 2005 (winter 2006?). How things can change. I was even heckled by pro-nuclear people in the audience for suggesting PV could be a major force for generation on a 50 year basis. cheers I totally support the PV on the grid SOP of the OPA, I already have 1.5 kW of grid connected PV at home, but OPTISOLAR does not have a product yet, so let’s see what actually happens here.

Hopefully as these kinds of projects get rolling, the Ontario government will look for old industrial land and other land areas that are of little value and are not useful for food production. These are the places we should put PV farms, in that department, the OPTISOLAR project looks on the right track.

I am aware of several other large PV projects in the embryonic stage, so very exciting times for Ontario.

It is interesting that when I attended the OPA supply mix public meetings, they totally panned the idea of grid connected PV as having any impact, that was in the fall of 2005 (winter 2006?). How things can change. I was even heckled by pro-nuclear people in the audience for suggesting PV could be a major force for generation on a 50 year basis.

cheers

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