Solar Inefficiency Is Economically Ruinous

Solar Inefficiency Is Economically Ruinous | Somewhat Reasonable
...Ethanol in gasoline, for example, according to EPA’s own data, increases key pollutants such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxide by as much as 7 percent.
Yet it was on the basis of phony scientific claims that ethanol would reduce pollution from automobile emissions that it use was mandated by the government.
Biofuels have a power density of only 0.3 watts per square meter, and modern solar voltaic panels about 6 watts per square meter.
An average oil well producing 10 barrels per day is at 27 watts per square meter, and an average nuclear plant more than 50 watts per square meter.
Biofuels used 247 million acres of land—that’s more than twice the size of California—to produce less than one-half of one percent of the world’s energy, according to Robert Bryce, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, in 2014.
...If actual installed costs for solar projects in California are any guide, a global solar program would cost roughly $1.4 quadrillion….Mining, smelting, processing, shipping and fabricating and their associated hardware would yield about 149,100 megatons of carbon dioxide.
And everyone would have to move to the desert; otherwise transmission losses would make the plan unworkable.
The cost of solar cells has dropped markedly, but Zehner says the panels account for less that half the cost of an installed solar system, according to the industry.
Based on research by solar energy proponents and data from the California Energy Commission …cheaper voltaics won’t offset escalating expenditures for insurance, warranty expenses, materials, transportation, labor and other requirements.
Low-tech costs are claiming a larger share of the high-tech solar system price tag.
Finally, unforeseen limitations are blind-siding the solar industry as it grows.
Fire departments restrict solar roof installations, and homeowner associations complain about the ugly arrays.
Adding to the burden, solar arrays now often require elaborate alarm systems and locking fasteners; without such protection, thieves regularly steal the valuable panels…
For instance, California resident Glenda Hoffman woke up one morning to discover thieves stole sixteen solar panels from her roof as she slept. [Replacement cost $95,000, was paid by insurance.]
...It also means that consumers who are forced to overpay for energy have less money available for other purchases.