Zealless,
I am a strong supporter of photovoltaics. I agree with you on a lot of the things you mentioned. However, when I was talking about Malaysian weather, I was talking about power efficiency, not that Malaysian is unsuitable. There was a group of us who wanted to do some business on solar power. Unfortunately, the entry cost at the time was too high. Currently, solar panel production is more efficient and lower cost so the idea is being revived.
The problem we encountered was the efficiency of solar panel technology against its cost - and no support from government. We did a survey within Klang Valley on how many days of FULL 8 hours sunlight against partial sunlight (due to clouds and rain).
Even with some simple sun tracking enhancement (panel will generate at near 100% efficiency when facing sun directly but drops when at a gradient), we were not yet convinced that the power produced would pay back the investment in a reasonable time (15years). One of us mentioned that he would make more money by buying public bank stock and taking dividends than investing in solar power.
The 2009 energy convention conference was interesting. But have you seen anything on solar energy in the budget? Has TM launched a power buy-back program that the public can participate in?
We cant yet run away from fossil fuel yet (and bio-fuel derivatives) when using solar as a alternative. During day time, we would be able to reach grid parity - as in, possible to power all Malaysia using solar only. But come night time, traditional power generation has to come online to compensate. This would reduce the cost of power production over-all. I dont know about doing 2x grid parity so that you have surplus to make Hydrogen for night time use but it does not seem likely.
First Solar, a US company, has a factory in Glenmarie producing 192MW equivalent of panels a year at end 2008. By 2010, it will be 4x times more. Unfortunately, these panels are being export to Germany as the German government has a strong solar power promotion program. This is sad because Malaysia is a better country for photovoltaics - except for the stupid rain.
There is at least one other solar panel producer in Malaysia - I think its factory is in Bangi.
Hi,
well due to how sun works in malaysia, i understand why we cannot get 100% due to the sun are not always in the middle, only during noon. "heliostat" is using this sun tracking capability; this is not out scale for public, is for government, what we can do is private sun tracking pv panel. Yes, we will not get 7 days a week will full 8 hours (we get more than 8 hours a day) sun, but 4-5 day a week is good enough to offset our energy bill. tnb is not discussing this (in the energy conference) because we got a new energy minister; however trial is going on, let say someone is selling it back to tnb at the moment, can't discuss more here, later you will know when you read "thestar". trial selling price is 1 to x, means 1kw u sell is = to xkw you buy, but this for studies only, offset the experiment price, real price, let u know later... pm me ... *X is more than 1 ... hehe
as i have mentioned earlier , public have to invest in it. mass production = cheap
see how much is a 200hp car back in the old days, you must driving a ferrari, and lambo to get those sort of power. now, a type r or a 1.3L rotary can do the job with better mileage. if we don't get start with solar technology, the technology won't improve; well to get good news to you, there is a improve PV panel out soon. again pm me with your email, will reply once i have that, but is not roof mount, probably suitable for backyard or some void area.
hydrogen generate during the day should be enough to feed us all during the night, basically like my house, only my mum in the house in the day, all other member is working, how can a person use so much energy. we harvest and store for night. design a better home, hi energy efficiency home, hydrogen should able to power the house during the night and have surplus.
hydrogen is a medium, not actually power source, you still need to convert hydrogen to electricity; well, one day we will run out of oil, what left is bio-mass (butane), natural gas, biodiesel and etc. so this will be a primary source to burn in power plant, well we have to offset a much a possible to avoid a world crisis. what everyone is thinking is commercial ($ point of view), money money money. i tell you if they get rid of AP, everyone can afford this, is not the world problem or technology, is our government.
anyway, i know our government is doing something now for solar, because few polyethylene plant being setup, raw material for solar panel. we got 3 major plant in malaysia, first solar, Q cell and one more... forgot the name. they are in strong ties with Malaysia government, so let hope and pray this happen and this will generate good $ for our people and country.
Bump:
Very interesting discussion here.....
It's the matter of our G's decision to subsidise Green Technology or forever drilling for fuel like a caveman..... You see G's biggest revenue is tax on petrol and natural gas, they won't simply give way becos you are not generating power with petrol, coal or natural gas...... G's isn't getting tax money becos taxing solar generated power is insane ( You wont wanna mess with green peace fella) ..... TNB doesn't want public to generate their watts and sell it back to grid, which in term will have a big conflict against IPPs...... Mind you that most IPPs had TNB people behind thats why when we ask for lower tariff, all sort of rubbish reasons come out.......... We are always on the losing end against IPPs..... You can see how the contract was drafted for supremacy given to IPPs, like what Highway operator are doing.......
No doubt we will be driving a hydrogen car soon...... But the matter is how to get the hydrogen at cheap rate..... Generally i like to have solar panel on my roof top....
damn agree with you, politics ... yeerrr ... and anyway, hope the 1.6L rotary is more efficient and low maintenance