What can WE do to fight global warming?

The WE in the title is for us, on a personal level. So WE can:
- Install a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on our roof.
- Install a solar water heater on our roof.
- Install a geothermal heat pump.
Now these are all choices that benefit us directly, and the rest of the world indirectly by limiting our generation of greenhouse gases.

But how about donating to organizations that use solar PV or equivalent to provide electricity to remote off-grid people who desperately need electricity, if only for illumination for kids to study at night. I truly believe that smarter kids will most definitely benefit our World.

So that is where I plan to target my dollar support efforts. I will let you know what avenues I find that seem to be most reliable to achieve that goal. And please let me know if you are aware of other good avenues.

Solar estimator

Find-Solar.org is a free public service of the solar and wind communities with the mission of helping others estimate their energy cost savings when installing solar and wind systems. In trying it for Lewes, DE, the results almost seem too good to be true, like a 6 year breakeven. See what you think, and be sure to check out the many links, including Solar Pro recommended installers.

And if you want to understand Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC's) so you can explain them to our class, go to SRECTrade, where there is also a Delaware page.

Utility-scale Solar Energy on Public Lands

Just in from the US Dept of the Interior: Obama Administration Approves Roadmap for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development on Public Lands.

Today’s action builds on the Administration’s historic progress to facilitate renewable energy development....“Energy from sources like wind and solar have doubled since the President took office, and with today’s milestone, we are laying a sustainable foundation to keep expanding our nation’s domestic energy resources,” said Secretary Salazar, who signed today’s Record of Decision at an event in Las Vegas, Nevada with Senator Harry Reid. “This historic initiative provides a roadmap for landscape-level planning that will lead to faster, smarter utility-scale solar development on public lands and reflects President Obama’s commitment to grow American made energy and create jobs.” 

Okay, there may some politics involved in the announcement timing, but my initial interpretation is this is a good step forward. For the full press release click here and select the top link.

 MSNBC link published 10/12/12 at 4:59 pm.

Photovoltaics vs Solar Thermal (CSP)

The referenced article titled, "Cheap Photovoltaics are Eating Solar Thermal's Lunch" makes clear how competitive the solar field is, and how quickly economics, and hence strategies can shift.

This is an excellent article with clear insight into the economic driving forces involved, such as "dispatchable power", i.e. power which can be rapidly put on-line when needed. Solar thermal offers this feature by storing the collected solar energy as a hot fluid, and later using the hot fluid to generate electricity as needed. However, dispatchable power is also readily available from natural gas, which is inexpensive, in good supply, and faces no current penalties, such as a carbon tax.

And why are photovoltaic prices falling so quickly? Just see this Bloomberg analysis if you really want the details.