Climate Policy

[--Pete]

Hi,

Check the section on disadvantages. Volume of land required, expensive, long pay back period, components wear out, need a storage system(or grid connect) for when power is absent.

Something that has been absent from both sides: the need for some kind of inverter. Our power system is based on AC (50 or 60 Hz, depending on where you live). There is almost nothing we can use DC for directly. Light, yes, but only incandescent. Florescent ballasts need AC. The step up transformers for arc, mercury vapor, etc. need AC. Heating? OK for resistance heating. Would need to replace the AC motors in any type of forced air or heat pump system. And the 24V for the control system would need to come from somewhere. Even your door bell would need some kind of voltage divider. Computers? Cell phone chargers? Anything using a power brick? Same thing. AC is easy to step up/down to the required voltage. AC is trivial to rectify (one diode if you don't need it too clean).

So, we either need a lot of little inverters or one big one (probably a DC motor / AC generator). Another point of expense, failure, and need for maintenance.

--Pete