alt.energy.renewable

On Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:26:16 GMT, wkaszeta@ (Bill Kaszeta /
Photovoltaic Resources) wrote:

>On Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:23:44 GMT, mauried@ (Mauried) wrote:
>
>>In Australia you can get subsidies of up to $8K to install PV on your
>>roof , but surprisingly you cant get any subsidy to put a wind turbine
>>on a pole at your house, even if the wind turbine will make more power
>>than the PV.
>>Is this the case in most Countries that have subsidies.
>>Seems a bit strange.
>>
>As I understand it, incentives for wind energy on a residential scale have
>been considered by several USA states. There is a problem in implementation
>that has been solved for PV: Determining a system energy rating that is
>comparable to the rated watts of PV systems. Output is far more dependent on
>local wind conditions, and there are few if any consensus standards on
>wind energy equipment.
>
>
>Bill Kaszeta
>Photovoltaic Resources Int'l
>Tempe Arizona USA
>bill@

Yes , Im sure thats part of the problem.
Sadly also, the $8K subsidy only applies to a particular sized PV
installation which is 1KW of panels, and this means that this is what
people are buying.
PV prices in Australia are very high, around $9 a watt, so its a very
expensive way to reduce carbon emmissions.
Small windmills are much cheaper, around $3 a watt, so for the same
subsidy, you could get a much bigger windmill.
I wonder if part of the problem is the aesthetics issue, PV panels are
not noticable but windmills are.
In my case, even though I dont get a lot of wind , a 1KW windmill that
only runs at 1/2 speed still beats 1KW of solar panels.
A far better solution all around would be to simply subsidise better
insulation in houses, but no chance of this happening,as it isnt seen
t o be green.