05-01 Holy Moly

When my grandchildren see something interesting, they say “cool”. But I say, “holy moly”. And in the world of renewable energy, especially solar, I am living in a state of “holy molies”.
I recently saw homes in the Lake Chapala district of Mexico all with solar panels on their rooves. Investments of $6K that pays off in four years.
These panels convert light into a form of electricity called direct current and then what they call “inverters” convert this into another form of electricity called alternating current that is required by the power grid.
It is a global application of solar energy as supplemental residential energy. Holy Moly.
In 1985, I attended a Congress in Israel, and discovered they were leaders in solar technologies and solar applications. There were just hundreds of global corporations with research arms in Israel. Israeli firms were taking a special lead in the design of high productivity solar panels and in the use of solar for heating water.
Now it is the law in Israel that all homes must be heated by Israeli-developed solar water heaters. A monster application.
And with all the security threats Israel faces, solar is a well distributed source of energy that is difficult to attack. Holy Moly.
Israel with its Negev desert is not unlike Nevada in the US. Great for large utility solar panels. Sources of energy that are becoming competitive with grid power.
But, solar can be anywhere with lots of sunshine. And the photo shows farmland being used to generate solar income. The sheep seem happy.
But the excitement associated with solar is its residential applications.
Back in the 1970s visiting the home of the future in PEI, they equipped the home with both solar and wind. But the wind turbine was well away from the home, and neither renewable energy sources could compete with crude oil at only $12 a barrel.
Combining solar and wind will be credible in the future first because they will all be on your roofs and secondly it will compete with fossil fuels. And the wind will be necessary at night for powering up the battery in your electric car.
It would be my judgement call that we do not try to choose between wind and solar as replacements for fossil fuels. The technology is changing so quickly, that no one can predict the future.
How about what might seem to be crazy. Solar stitched into our clothing and into the curtains covering your windows. Cozy and warm. And how about solar material on your driveway and sidewalk that melts the snow. Holy Moly.