2 ms·
> isn't it better if the solar panels all end up in large installations where they can benefit from economies of scale The opposite: the closer you place produ
by goodpoint 5y ago
> isn't it better if the solar panels all end up in large installations where they can benefit from economies of scale
The opposite: the closer you place production and consumption the better. Less energy wasted in transportation, less costs for infrastructure maintenance, less risk of widespread outages.
However, decentralizing access to solar energy goes against the interest of energy companies, the gas industry, the nuclear industry and, consequently, the political class.
- TeMPOraL 5y ago> less costs for infrastructure maintenance Not sure about that. In general it's centralization that reduces maintenance costs. Centralizing in terms of location lets you use bigger, more efficient hardware, and gives you economies of scale. Centralizing ownership reduces administrative costs and allows for savings not possible with distributed ownership. I do see the various benefits of everyone running their own energy production, but costs and reliability aren't them.
- goodpoint 5y agoScale and network effects are complex and non-linear and need to be understood beyond simplistic slogans. The efficiency of solar panels stays the same with the number of panels deployed next to each other. The infrastructure to transport electricity (pylons, cabling, transformers) becomes more expensive with increasing capacity. Less centralization requires less transport.