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End to All Power Problems

Has anyone heard of Bloom Energy? It's a new technology that many tech companies are now using to generate power off of the grid.

It takes methane (or another similar fuel) and uses fuel cells to chemically convert fuel to power. Check out the 60 minutes segment on it, pretty amazing. I think it could be a huge paradigm type shift for the entire country.

It actually works, and they are hoping to be able to get the cost down to $3000 per house. No more power bill, only a gas bill, and we have tripled our Natural Gas reserves in the country since 2007. Fewer power plants, many fewer transmission wires, less oil........

Oh yeah, and most importantly, clean power to your audio gear.
macdadtexas
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,430 posts
 
Magfan,

2500W inverter is about $1700. I found LDK panels to be a little cheaper $500 for 235W.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250721031603&hlp=false&rvr_id=175661700227&crlp=1_263602_304652&UA=M*F%3F&GUID=6b8fbb1f12b0a0aad3009e10ff5125d6&itemid=250721031603&ff4=263602_304652

Specification at the bottom of the page show 0.47%/degC temperature coefficient of max power with nominal air temperature of 20deg C. If higher temperatures cause loss of power then 20degC increase will cause 10% loss.
It is guaranteed to deliver 80% of nominal output after 25 years. Your meter situation is a serious drawback since largest loads (air conditioning, heating) should partially operate from the grid while during rest of the time energy should be returned to grid to get overall balance better than zero. Power companies sell energy and need people to be dependent. They won't make it easier for the people to install solar panels unless courts will force them to.

Small solar panel can run small water pump that irrigates small field - it means food for some people for the next 25 years.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
If I understand California law....big IF, we are a 'Net Metering State' . This means they are required to 'buy' my power if I have extra. Meter runs both ways and I pay the difference if it is a positive number and don't get back a penny if it's negative. Sort'a me giving power away.
The new rat-fink electronic meter does not run backwards. That's why I'm going to call and make a minor stink about installing solar. just stirring the pot, you understand.
Here where I live, 90f+ is a couple weeks a year. 100+ doesn't happen every year. Typical daytime temp is in high 80s for summer months. 95% of the time, it drops below 70f at nite....so I can open windows.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
The 'new' electronic meters do not support net metering.

Were I to install solar, SDGE would reinstall an analogue meter until such time as the electronic meter could support net metering.

No a bit of pushback when I asked the questions.....I think that is fair.

I suspect this would also apply to anyone who could permit (get one, that is) one of the Bloom units.
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