Question: Why is solar energy not available more cheaply, only garden lights in stores like walmart is available?

(Posted by: aodhmc on 2006-06-30 10:54:16)

Posted by: kathy_is_a_nurse on 2006-06-30, 10:59:08

Because right now the cost that goes into making the solar panels isn't cheap AND the storage capability is not very efficient making their practicality at this point questionable for most large-scale applications.

Posted by: Amanda C on 2006-06-30, 11:00:43

It's a fair question. And I know my local council gives out money to help you install it in your home. Quite a few people round here now have panels on their roofs. But, thinking about it, I think once it's been installed thats the end of any money making out of you isn't it. Thats probably what it is.....it always boils down to profits.

Posted by: thedarksacrifice on 2006-06-30, 11:00:43

Because its unstable..... the solar energy only works during the time when sun is out and usually people need more lights after the sun goes down.... so we cant use it @ night........the solar energy take more time and its more costly then lets say if we use oil or coal.......

Posted by: bur667 on 2006-06-30, 11:07:06

Because the technologies not been developed enough yet. Take cpus for example, when a new line comes on the market, the top end processor costs about £700-800 initially, then when the next line is released the cost of the previous line drops drastically because the manufacturing process has been so refined. It's the same for everything, the more refined a process becomes, the less it costs. So if we wait a few years hopefully the cost of kitting out a house to run on solar power will drop enough for it to become standard for building contractors to install them on new developments, that way the burden on the national grid will be lessened and the power stations that are due to be decommissioned won't have to be replaced.

Posted by: wilhelmus m on 2006-06-30, 12:20:06

THAT is a great theme for a university's study. And that would be a great contribution to humanity if they worked out methods to replace all polluting methods of energy making.