Write about whatever you want in the comments, and, please, support this blog by entering Amazon through the Althouse Portal when you're doing any shopping. May I recommend L'Occitane foot balm and the new Daniel Clowes graphic novel "Monica" and a SmartWool thermal headband? Using those links will bring me a commission, so: Thanks!
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FYI: The Monica link goes to the foot balm too.
I came across an online article about the efforts to restore the Yerkes Observatory in Lake Geneva, WI – a very interesting subject in itself, but came across some technical information which seemed way off to me. In a paragraph on how the restoration was also shooting for ‘sustainability’, I read that they have installed a solar panel array. The paragraph had this quote regarding the 96-panel array: “The building and dome are now producing over 18,000 kilowatts but only using 2,000 to help lower operating costs.”
18,000 kilowatts = 18 megawatts – this is approaching a power level on the order of what a gas turbine can produce. I looked up what an industrial solar panel can produce power-wise: top end about 400W. There are 96 solar panels, so 96*400 = 38.4 kW – a factor of approximately 470 times lower that what the article quoted.
The article went on to talk about the backup batteries installed. “The backup batteries last between 5-6 hours, providing ample time to operate until the sun comes up… “. What?? This is Wisconsin winter. Right now, once the sun goes down, it will be about 14.5 hours before the sun comes up. If the batteries will “last between 5-6 hours”, how do they figure that’s enough time before the sun will come up?
I really have to wonder about how numbers quoted in slightly technical articles like this can be so far off, and what percentage of the reading audience just think “well, cool sounding technology with math to back it up, so I’m on board with it!”.
"I really have to wonder about how numbers quoted in slightly technical articles like this can be so far off..."
For starters, lots of people get into journalism because math is not required. Plus... if what the reporter is being told reinforces her preconceived notions, she's not likely to question it.
Whiskybum:
"a solar panel will produce around 100 watts of electricity per ... 10 square feet."
https://thepowerfacts.com/how-much-energy-do-solar-panels-produce-per-square-foot/
So to produce 18,000,000 watts would require 1,800,000 square feet of solar panels, which would be a square array of panels 1,340 feet on a side. A football field is 57,600 square feet, so the array would be the size of 31 football fields.
Sounds hard to believe. Maybe someone doesn't understand that a kilowatt is 1,000 watts.
Whiskeybum
They didn’t think anyone like you would run the numbers. The CAGW scam is all about feelings.
A Norm & Bob Dylan story via Reddit
“The Fall of Minneapolis” movie is a real shocker.
Via XTwitter: Robert F Kennedy Jr on How Bill Gates ‘Monetizes Philanthropy’
“He gets tax deductions for giving money to the WHO, he gains control of the WHO…The WHO finances the health ministries in virtually every country in Africa. He can say as a condition of getting that money, you have to show that you vaccinated a certain percentage of your population as the milestone. And the vaccines that they’re buying are owned by companies that Gates owns…The punchline on almost all of his philanthropic projects is that he ends up making money.”
@RobertKennedyJr
Based on data from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory, the national average cost of solar in 2022 is $3.67 per watt for an 8.6 kW system (rounded up). So the array of 96 solar panels at $3.67/watt approaches $150,000 before batteries et al. At 12.6 cents per kilowatt hour, 2,000 kw would cost $252/month from Lake Geneva's electric utility or $3,000 per year - which means that it will take 50 years to get the money back - and that doesn't count the discounted effect on cash flow for paying out $150,000 upfront. And you can guess who has to maintain the ugly solar panels.
Ian McKelvey
@ian_mckelvey
Replying to @ian_mckelvey
It seems that racist rhetoric is driving leftists to kill white people, but where is it coming from? Leftist “intellectuals,” who seem to fantasize about killing white people and indoctrinate young minds with racial hatred.
https://twitchy.com/grateful-calvin/2023/11/24/ian-mckelvey-thread-about-targeting-white-people-n2390099
Great salesmanship!! The foot balm is currently unavailable!!
Derek Chavin was stabbed in Federal Prison where HE should NOT be, because the criminal, George Floyd died of a fentanyl overdose.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/11/derek-chauvin-stabbed-in-federal-prison/
Whiskeybum- I personally never question math b/c we don’t speak to e/other. Some squabble or other around Freshman year… I really hope there are more people in this country like you- that can see something off and take the time to work it out. Thank you for doing the math.
I’m not a “green energy” cheerleader. I think it’s overrated in productivity and it’s main purpose is making someone rich. Or someones rich. It’s ugly, too. If those that push these alternative sources did so yo help individuals become independent and sustainable than I would be more interested.
Tangently related: we classified our herd in October &the classifier brought his wife. I went out to the car to say hello- and she told me about their farm and possibly how they would lease it all to panels. The cows are gone. It’s down by the Mason- Dixon line (&farm)(which I visited on a field trip in college: HUGE). The only way they can keep the land is to do this. Otherwise, it’d become condo ground. Or something. The neighbors are fighting it.
… coming to a farm near you …
"This is the fallout of Trump Derangement Syndrome, and I am holding each and every Democrat personally responsible for the consequences of the open border, because yes this is Biden’s fault, but it’s also their fault. And, when these rapists inevitably come to America, those Democrat “progressives” will call them “undocumented citizens” deserving of a place at the American citizenship table."
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/11/first_it_was_rape_trees_and_now_its_rape_tents.html
If you have a telescope you can see the sunrise sooner. Telephoto works the opposite. You didn't really think Althouse gets up before dawn everyday, did you?
If you want to warp space time use the Althouse Amazon Portal. Delivery one day before you order.
Whiskeybum: Nobody in media schools is trained to think critically enough to even do a back of the envelope (what’s an envelope?) analysis. Frankly, what you’re doing reeks of White Supremacy.
Ordered the thermal headband using your link---our son's girlfriend might like it and she's hard to buy for. Thanks!
Do I have to point out that Israel has just negotiated with terrorists? And successfully? Or that Hamas has succeeded in several of their stated goals already?
Or are some things better left unsaid?
wendybar said...
"Derek Chavin was stabbed in Federal Prison where HE should NOT be, because the criminal, George Floyd died of a fentanyl overdose."
One innocent guy gets stabbed in prison - compassion. 11,000 innocent Palestinian prisoners die - including children - nothing.
A certain segment of America's got some warped values.
Gadfly:
The roof that gets those solar panels will only last 20-30 years if its an asphalt roof. Then off the panels come, if that can be done, replace the roof, drill more hole throw the roof to mount those 30-year old solar panels, and then back to FREE electricity. Piece of cake!
Of course, the solar panels have a life time of only 20 years, and they leach heavy metals into the soil, creating a superfund site.
farmgirl:
Tell you friends that those solar panels will make their fields useless for farming due to heavy metal contamination. The rain water will leach heavy metals off the panels into the soil, creating a superfund site. Imagine digging up all that soil and sending it to a landfill. It's bad enough for just a small diesel spill, now do that for 1,000s of acres.
Gadfly:
Your 8.6KW installation at $3.67 per watt is only $31,562. Is there a fudge factor in your calculation? Batteries? Bigger array to compensate for low Sun altitude?
I think it is unfortunate that Israel deigns to negotiate with Hamas in any way, but political necessities being what they are, I can understand why they might feel the need to. Personally, I would prefer total war.
Mike of Snoqualmie said...
Gadfly:
Your 8.6KW installation at $3.67 per watt is only $31,562. Is there a fudge factor in your calculation? Batteries? Bigger array to compensate for low Sun altitude?
According to Whiskeybum, the 96 panels generate 38.4 KW which is far more than Berkeley Labs' 8.6 KW system. As far as the low sun in the Badger State, I spent 18 years attempting to get some passive heating from the sun, and even my earth shelter failed - but no, Berkeley used national averages. I mentioned batteries as an additional cost because Berkeley didn't specify with or without batteries.
But my point is that there are already electric lines at Yerkes Observatory providing relatively cheap electricity (at approximately 6% less than national averages, BTW) - so why the lies about free electricity?
Electricity backup using gasoline-powered or natural gas-powered generators would likely be no more costly than a battery array (and without a tendency to burn) if EV batteries are any indication.
One innocent guy gets stabbed in prison - compassion. 11,000 innocent Palestinian prisoners die - including children - nothing.
A certain segment of America's got some warped values.
11/25/23, 7:17 AM
I'll have compassion for them, when they release who is LEFT of the hostages, and the Palestinians turn in all of HAMAS. Until then, don't start nothing, won't get nothing...
More Crack craziness.
One innocent guy gets stabbed in prison - compassion. 11,000 innocent Palestinian prisoners die - including children - nothing.
A certain segment of America's got some warped values.
At least you acknowledged that he is innocent. The Palestinian "prisoners" are prisoners of Hamas.
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