I read your article on solar energy with great interest. It is important to note that while Europe either has or will meet the 20 percent renewable by 2020, they are paying $0.40/kw-hr for their power. Most Americans are paying in the neighborhood of $0.15/kw-hr today. We in America have to come to the realization that if we want the same amount of renewable power we are going to have to pay the same price.

The problem is not that the cost of installation of renewable is so much more, although that is a factor, the real issue is capacity factor. The average coal plant has a capacity factor (output/installed capacity) of 90 percent or more and most nuclear plants around 99 percent, depending on the dispatch. A good solar plant in the Mojave Desert may be able to have a capacity factor of up to 25 percent. The same system in upstate New York will be lucky to get a 15 percent capacity factor. Wind farms in the best locations are lucky to get a capacity factor of 40 percent. So when I see the numbers like 17 gigawatts, I am assuming it is installed capacity and the actual output is more like 3 gigawatts. This means the cost can't be based on the installed capacity, as is the case with coal and nuclear, but rather on final output which is up to 80 percent less than installed capacity. I am assuming that the banks already know this and it is one reason they are so reluctant to make loans to the renewable energy industry.

Tell the American people that in order to meet the 20 percent by 2020 their electric bills will have to more than double and see what the reaction would be.

Philip T. Flowers, P. E.
TMPA
Performance Engineer
 

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