sci.energy.hydrogen

Bill Ward wrote:
> On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:27:33 -0500, Morris Dovey wrote:
>
>> Mauried wrote:
>>>
>>> On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:56:29 -0800, Bill Ward
>>> wrote:
>>
>>>> One clue would be when you see solar cells manufactured using
>>>> only
>>>> solar energy.
>>
>>> Yes, thats the major question. Why dont you see this. The cost of
>>> solar panels is absolutely lowest at the point of manufacture.
>>> If its not economically viable to power solar cell plants from the
>>> solar cells the plant makes, then when will it be , if ever.
>>
>> Actually, I was thinking of using heliostats for melting Silicon.
>> If
>> the bulk of the energy needed is heat, then it seems wasteful to
>> convert solar radiation to electricity - then convert it to heat to
>> do the job we want.
>>
>>> One also has to look at the energy content that goes into making
>>> the
>>> aluminium thats used to make the completed solar panel.
>>
>> I think aluminum refining pretty much requires a high-current
>> electric smelter.
>
> Wouldn't "free" solar DC electricity be a perfect match, then? Yet
> no one seems to use it for aluminum electrolysis...

So what, you only run the smelter 4 hours a day?

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