Sunday, February 25, 2007

Technology is leaping ahead of a stale political debate about fossil fuels

Within five years, solar power will be cheap enough to compete with carbon-generated electricity, even in Britain, Scandinavia or upper Siberia. In a decade, the cost may have fallen so dramatically that solar cells could undercut oil, gas, coal and nuclear power by up to half.
...

The "tipping point" will arrive when the capital cost of solar power falls below $1 (51p) per watt, roughly the cost of carbon power. We are not there yet. The best options today vary from $3 to $4 per watt - down from $100 in the late 1970s.

Mr Sethi believes his product will cut the cost to 80 cents per watt within five years, and 50 cents in a decade.
...

"We don't need subsidies, we just need governments to get out of the way and do no harm. They've spent $170bn subsidising nuclear power over the last thirty years," he said.
I'm eagerly awaiting the day when I can cut that
power cord. This breakthru may just come at a
very opportune time, if donkeys are to remain
just pets. It would also topple large parts of The
System giving independence to each of us,
disruptive technology
at its best.

Read.

Ripped from Bill St. Clair