I have always been opposed to solar energy. Tell me while I’m wrong: For all of civilization we have searched for more dense sources of energy (wood then coal then oil). The next frontier is nuclear. Instead, we have gone backwards and are using incredible inefficient source of energy. The sun is astronomically less dense than oil. You can live in the sun light, imagine living in oil. So the question becomes, why? I believe the largest reason is the environmentalists. We can get into all of that another time. The next reason I’m opposed is that solar power is only cost effective because of subsidization from the governments (again because of the environmental propaganda). Tell me what I’m missing. View quoted note →

Replies (12)

Try installing your own nuclear reactor and get back to us. At the current technological level, *self-sovereign solutions* require LESS dense power sources. Otherwise agree 100%
This was proved for years with the solar car races. The trouble that all these competing engineering teams consistently ran into is that you need more surface area than the size of a car to collect enough energy to propel a car with much power, even if you make the car incredibly light weight.
I agree that solar is appropriate for rural, islanded or grid-tied properties —especially with batteries. Grid scale solar makes far less sense, but for a household where you control the install and are not in some onerous lease agreement with a third-party, solar/batteries are the most accessible solution that works for the most people available today.
Correct but they intentionally stalled all nuclear advancement. We should be have personal reactors but they stopped everything because it was “dangerous.” Imagine if they did that with coal and oil which have cause countless more deaths than nuclear.
missing everything. no subsidies here. gov wanted $20k+ and a year to connect to the grid. plus permits on permits and inspections. this was $3.5k and a week of research + install with no permission asked of anyone. ironically the state grid failed the week I installed it and everyone in town was without grid power. if you live somewhere with abundant sunlight (important) you can produce loads of power instantaneously with no emissions. yes they take up space, can be ugly, and can be difficult to know how/what to source and how to build but never been easier or cheaper to decentralize off grid. View quoted note → View quoted note →
Without subsidies I don’t think solar would be chosen by the free market. It’s very inefficient and would only be used by the niche individuals.
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