whats with solar panels being popular?

madpaddler

Here is the part of my previous post that is the program I want feedback from all you doomers. This is more specific to the solar program being offered. This seems to insure stable current rates for 25 years with full maintainence for the period.

http://renu.citizenre.com/

yesplease · Fission Joined: Oct 03, 2006 Posts: 2270

The only cognizant argument against that company is that it could be a scam. That may be the case, but given state incentives if it isn't a scam the business model is certainly viable IMO. Essentially what they do is deal w/ all the permitting/rebates/electricity buy-back, and sell you electricity for some price. In the long run, you wouldn't save as much money as if you had gone through all that yourself, but you will likely save some money versus staying w/ your usual electricity provider.

Essentially, over some time interval a solar system will pay itself off compared to strictly grid use, but most people don't like waiting so in exchange for borrowing capital for their solar power system, they forfeit a significant portion of the savings later on down the road.
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madpaddler

yesplease...

I keep hearing from different postings that speak to the longevity of the systems and maintainence etc... just wonder if the trade off in savings isn't made up in replacement costs of the system over the 25 year program offered. For instance over 25 years just on energy rate increases my household would save 40k plus. The does not count the monthly energy savings that would be realized.(of course this is dependent on how long and hard the fall is) If the energy rate is locked in for 25 years, this may be a viable alternative for many that cannot spend the money now for their "own" system and could make an impact to a degree on energy consumption. The cool thing if someone develops a better way, you only lose your deposit of $500 to get out of the deal. What is your take?

yesplease · Fission Joined: Oct 03, 2006 Posts: 2270

I would say the best thing to do would be to minimize use first, since that's money in your pocket every month. Let all of that savings add up, then look into putting up your own solar (or wind depending on location) panel system. Ya know the saying reduce, reuse, recycle? Reduce is first for a reason. Wink

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peak · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 21, 2005 Posts: 80

I still don't get everyone. The solar stocks rally when crude oil rally, yet why would people buy more solar panels because of higher crude oil prices? For most people out there, they can't use solar panels to power their car. In china, there are coal powerplant(s) dedicated to the solar companies to produce solar panels. It takes a lot of energy to create solar panels then ship them, solar panels are cheap now from silicon scrap, but costs should increase considerably when silicon scrap becomes harder and harder to get.

Evergreen energy doesn't seem to be profitable, just look at their balance sheet!

mos6507

peak · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 21, 2005 Posts: 80

JRP3 · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 23, 2006 Posts: 394

What are you talking about? It has nothing to do with "lost" power. Coal is dirty, non renewable, and mining it is damaging to the landscape. Solar is clean, renewable, and requires no transmission lines or infrastructure if living off grid.
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Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3233 Location: Maine

Solar is going up now too. Read this:

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5) George Soros owns a small stake in both Sirius and XM. Soros currently owns 1.21 million shares of Sirius and roughly 105,000 shares of XM. While this is a very small position for Soros, he has been known to specialize in these turnaround stories and may offer some key advice for both companies.

Next up this week is Evergreen Solar (ESLR - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr). After the close on Thursday, Evergreen announced that it had struck a 10-year polysilicon supply deal with a French company. With polysilicon a scarce commodity right now, this deal shows that Evergreen's management is working hard to get the best prices possible.

Evergreen also has 20% of its shares sold short, which could fuel its rally even more. Despite a massive rally in First Solar (FSLR - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), Evergreen now seems cheaper based on forward earnings projections and growth/market size expedition.
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