sci.energy.hydrogen

Home Power did a careful study on this a year or so ago -- I'm sure
you can find it in their archive.

The result was that the energy used in making the panel is paid back
in a fairly short time.
If I remember correctly it was of the order of two years and getting
better.

Gary

On Feb 13, 6:53 am, Morris Dovey wrote:
> fragma wrote:
> > THE point is that the energy (carbon-based) involved to produce a PV
> > is more than the panel will ever deliver back until it dies.
>
> > Basically independent of present price if you will...
>
> > Please think about the complex and energy expensive production methods
> > (refinery systems)
>
> [ Extending discussion to news: ]
>
> Ok. I'm _still_ thinking about that - and about questions that
> your posting raises:
>
> (1) Has anyone produced any verifiable numbers for the amount of
> energy required to produce a PV cell - and if so, where can the
> numbers be seen?
>
> (2) How much of that production energy is _heat_, and at what
> temperatures?
>
> Because of my thermal solar focus, I'm inclined to consider the
> possibilities of reducing the carbon-based energy content of PV
> cells by substituting solar heat for electrical (resistance)
> heat.
>
> (3) Might we now - or at some point in the future - develop a
> solar-based production technology that could produce a more
> favorable energy equation?
>
> --
> Morris Dovey
> DeSoto Solar
> DeSoto, Iowa USAhttp://www./DeSoto