Newfie wrote:Years ago there were a couple of Spanish Project Managers responsible for some big renewable installations. Back then Spain was big on going renewable. These guys monitored their installations and came to the conclusion that it was about a wash.
Been a long time and my memory is dim. But that may be enough info for someone interested to find the study.
Another thing I saw last year was farm land being converted to solar, along with forest being converted to farm in about equal numbers. I find that ludicrous.
Yeah, I've seen a few solar projects that were break-even, but the project was intended to reduce emissions. The thinking was that even if the costs were identical, the reduction in emissions was a value in itself. Other projects often are technology demonstrators or 'capacity building' where they are trying to develop an industry.
But newer solar installations have new advantages. Maximum Power Point Tracking increases the power output and that seems standard now. Newer panels are much less expensive. I've only been involved in a couple of projects, but when I first started, solar panels were $10/watt, now they're $1/watt.
Two years ago we set up a research facility in a remote off-grid location, and it's had no difficulty running entirely off solar. If we had tried to do that 15 years ago, it would have been difficult and expensive.
I agree though, that sometimes the driver of a solar project is to make money from the tax breaks or subsidies, or venture capital funds.