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It's amazing how even today most rooftops don't have solar panels. We have the technology and resources to solve our energy problems, the only thing missing is

It's amazing how even today most rooftops don't have solar panels. We have the technology and resources to solve our energy problems, the only thing missing is the policy.

JumpCrisscross 4y ago
> even today most rooftops don't have solar panels I'm installing rooftop solar. It makes me feel good. Its output is an order of magnitude more expensive than utility-scale solar behind the meter. The solution has to be renewables + storage + zero-carbon baseload, i.e. nuclear. Everything else, including calls for rooftop solar, is a distraction.
SamReidHughes 4y ago
Rooftop solar isn't cost-efficient, or Walmart would be putting solar on its roofs instead of just virtue signaling with it in the parking lot. (Apologies to whoever I took this from.) Edit: (You might say, isn't cost-efficient yet. For all I know parking shade structures could have turned the corner already; they used to require tax incentives to break even.)
- jogjayr 4y ago
  The Walmart near me here in Canada has rooftop solar.
- dragonwriter 4y ago
  > Rooftop solar isn't cost-efficient, or Walmart would be putting solar on its roofs instead of just virtue signaling with it in the parking lot. (Apologies to whoever I took this from.) Walmart has more parking lot space than roof space, and parking lot solar doubles as covered parking, which itself has value. Even if both were cost effective, it makes sense to do parking lot first (with accompanying PR) and then rooftop later (with another round of PR).
- Gigachad 4y ago
  Something must be different in Australia. I live in a highrise and when I look down, almost every single building, residential, office space, government, even schools, they all have solar on the roof. Almost every home owner has solar on their roof as well. It’s basically just rental properties without.
  - SamReidHughes 4y ago
    It's subsidized.
- trixie_ 4y ago
  If there were a cost for pumping pollution into the atmosphere required to generate electricity then that cost would be passed on to you the consumer and then it might be 'cost-efficient' to install solar. Like I said, the problem is policy.
  - SamReidHughes 4y ago
    As some other commenter mentioned, rooftop solar can be compared against other deployments of solar power.
jotm 4y ago
It's even more amazing how most rooftops aren't painted white/silver/reflective. Just because it looks ugly.

It's amazing how even today most rooftops don't have solar panels. We have the technology and resources to solve our energy problems, the only thing missing is the policy.

JumpCrisscross 4y ago

> even today most rooftops don't have solar panels I'm installing rooftop solar. It makes me feel good. Its output is an order of magnitude more expensive than utility-scale solar behind the meter. The solution has to be renewables + storage + zero-carbon baseload, i.e. nuclear. Everything else, including calls for rooftop solar, is a distraction.

SamReidHughes 4y ago

Rooftop solar isn't cost-efficient, or Walmart would be putting solar on its roofs instead of just virtue signaling with it in the parking lot. (Apologies to whoever I took this from.) Edit: (You might say, isn't cost-efficient yet. For all I know parking shade structures could have turned the corner already; they used to require tax incentives to break even.)

jogjayr 4y ago
The Walmart near me here in Canada has rooftop solar.
dragonwriter 4y ago
> Rooftop solar isn't cost-efficient, or Walmart would be putting solar on its roofs instead of just virtue signaling with it in the parking lot. (Apologies to whoever I took this from.) Walmart has more parking lot space than roof space, and parking lot solar doubles as covered parking, which itself has value. Even if both were cost effective, it makes sense to do parking lot first (with accompanying PR) and then rooftop later (with another round of PR).
Gigachad 4y ago
Something must be different in Australia. I live in a highrise and when I look down, almost every single building, residential, office space, government, even schools, they all have solar on the roof. Almost every home owner has solar on their roof as well. It’s basically just rental properties without.
- SamReidHughes 4y ago
  It's subsidized.
trixie_ 4y ago
If there were a cost for pumping pollution into the atmosphere required to generate electricity then that cost would be passed on to you the consumer and then it might be 'cost-efficient' to install solar. Like I said, the problem is policy.
- SamReidHughes 4y ago
  As some other commenter mentioned, rooftop solar can be compared against other deployments of solar power.

jotm 4y ago

It's even more amazing how most rooftops aren't painted white/silver/reflective. Just because it looks ugly.