I'm a huge advocate for solar (and batteries where appropriate) so don't take any of my following criticism of this particular artile as being against solar.
As much as I wish this was more broadly true its got some base assumptions that conflict with other green energy initiatives. This is from my personal experience with my solar panels and batteries.
The biggest flaw in the article is doesn't account for any energy for home heating. For parts of the world this isn't an issue, but lots of population centers live in areas dependent on heating during the winters. So this means either depending on fossil fuel heating for most or trying to get electricity from other non-solar sources.
During these seasons you get the triple whammy against solar PV:
higher energy needs if you heat with electricity
worse planetary angle for solar collecting during winter
snow! It covers panels potentially for days or weeks and you generate zero electricity
Another conflict of this article's assumptions with other green energy is EV cars. While its a massive reduction in fossil fuels switching to an EV, this electricity is usually added during home charging. During the winter when there is already shortage of solar PV derived electricity, so that is creating a higher demand that cannot easily be solved with solar PV with storage at today's technology.
Even with all of this, today's solar panels (and batteries where appropriate) are fantastic and I highly recommend the investment if you have the option.
I'm a huge advocate for solar (and batteries where appropriate) so don't take any of my following criticism of this particular artile as being against solar.
As much as I wish this was more broadly true its got some base assumptions that conflict with other green energy initiatives. This is from my personal experience with my solar panels and batteries.
The biggest flaw in the article is doesn't account for any energy for home heating. For parts of the world this isn't an issue, but lots of population centers live in areas dependent on heating during the winters. So this means either depending on fossil fuel heating for most or trying to get electricity from other non-solar sources.
During these seasons you get the triple whammy against solar PV:
Another conflict of this article's assumptions with other green energy is EV cars. While its a massive reduction in fossil fuels switching to an EV, this electricity is usually added during home charging. During the winter when there is already shortage of solar PV derived electricity, so that is creating a higher demand that cannot easily be solved with solar PV with storage at today's technology.
Even with all of this, today's solar panels (and batteries where appropriate) are fantastic and I highly recommend the investment if you have the option.