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[Nickbat]

This is terrible. George Monbiot, that green – and normally loony – writer in The Guardian has just come out with a piece that it's hard to find fault with.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/01/solar-panel-feed-in-tariff

Basically, from April 1st there will be a new feed-in tariff for electricity which means that the poor will pay for the more wealthy to stick pointless solar panels and windmills on their houses.

Rip off? I should say, so. 

[Dishevelled Den]

Slowly but surely it becomes obvious, even to zealots like Mr Monbiot and the mouthpiece of government diktat (the Guardian), that  most people will have to pay dearly for our Government's lofty ideals - or revenue raising measures - where these environmental matters are concerned.

[Kevin Wood]

It's almost going to be worth getting some dummy solar panels and running a diesel generator on red diesel to pump as much in as you can. 

What a joke!

Kevin

[Varche]

I have mixed feelings on renewables. Here in Spain they have understandably gone in for solar electric stations in a very big way. We have had 7 built near here in the last five years alone. Elsewhere there are dozens including the world leading tower and field near Seville. Of course you need some sun for them to work well though even on cloudy days the panels produce.

There are also dozens of windfarms with lots more planned. The nearest one to us is located 1600metres above sea but even so doesn't generate all the time.

When they are working it is energy for "free" and makes sense against say burning gas or worse peat! in a UK power station.

On the other hand very few people have solar powered water heating. The reason ? capital cost too high and the price of bottled gas (from North Africa) is dirt cheap. No incentive to shell out money.

Britain seriously must get a grip on its future energy sources. Gas from Russia? Electric from France? Far better to control your own resources but I would draw the line at Saudi financed nuclear power stations. that is a step too far for me.

When the real aftermath of the recession kicks in later this year and public spending is slashed and taxes hiked then where is the money going to come from?

[threppence]

Just another arm of the Great Wealth Transfer thats been going on since the start of the 1980's and so-called Trickle Down Economics.
 

Saving the planet adds a nice new twist to it.
"We need to do this because it'll help the planet, you do want to help the planet don't you?"
"Errrrmmmmm, OK, here have some more of my money that I can't afford but, well, it'll save the planet"

[Dishevelled Den]

I have mixed feelings on renewables. Here in Spain they have understandably gone in for solar electric stations in a very big way. We have had 7 built near here in the last five years alone. Elsewhere there are dozens including the world leading tower and field near Seville. Of course you need some sun for them to work well though even on cloudy days the panels produce.

There are also dozens of windfarms with lots more planned. The nearest one to us is located 1600metres above sea but even so doesn't generate all the time.

When they are working it is energy for "free" and makes sense against say burning gas or worse peat! in a UK power station.

On the other hand very few people have solar powered water heating. The reason ? capital cost too high and the price of bottled gas (from North Africa) is dirt cheap. No incentive to shell out money.

Britain seriously must get a grip on its future energy sources. Gas from Russia? Electric from France? Far better to control your own resources but I would draw the line at Saudi financed nuclear power stations. that is a step too far for me.

When the real aftermath of the recession kicks in later this year and public spending is slashed and taxes hiked then where is the money going to come from?

Far better to control your own resources

Without doubt, V

When they are working it is energy for "free"

Insofar as our Government’s energy policy is concerned V nothing can ever be termed as being for free.  We will be obliged to pay a levy (by way of energy bills) to enable utilities to comply with government policy to have a proportion of the energy they distribute taken from renewable sources.

In any case, where wind generation is concerned, the distinct lack of the technology’s ability to produce on demand energy really defeats the purpose of developing this kind of very expensive generating capability - especially when conventional generators have to remain online to handle fluctuating demand levels.

[Varche]

I have mixed feelings on renewables. Here in Spain they have understandably gone in for solar electric stations in a very big way. We have had 7 built near here in the last five years alone. Elsewhere there are dozens including the world leading tower and field near Seville. Of course you need some sun for them to work well though even on cloudy days the panels produce.

There are also dozens of windfarms with lots more planned. The nearest one to us is located 1600metres above sea but even so doesn't generate all the time.

When they are working it is energy for "free" and makes sense against say burning gas or worse peat! in a UK power station.

On the other hand very few people have solar powered water heating. The reason ? capital cost too high and the price of bottled gas (from North Africa) is dirt cheap. No incentive to shell out money.

Britain seriously must get a grip on its future energy sources. Gas from Russia? Electric from France? Far better to control your own resources but I would draw the line at Saudi financed nuclear power stations. that is a step too far for me.

When the real aftermath of the recession kicks in later this year and public spending is slashed and taxes hiked then where is the money going to come from?

Far better to control your own resources

Without doubt, V

When they are working it is energy for "free"

Insofar as our Government’s energy policy is concerned V nothing can ever be termed as being for free.  We will be obliged to pay a levy (by way of energy bills) to enable utilities to comply with government policy to have a proportion of the energy they distribute taken from renewable sources.

In any case, where wind generation is concerned, the distinct lack of the technology’s ability to produce on demand energy really defeats the purpose of developing this kind of very expensive generating capability - especially when conventional generators have to remain online to handle fluctuating demand levels.

Hence my reservations !

[Banjax]

"The solar panel is the ideal modern status symbol, which signifies both wealth and moral superiority, even if it's perfectly useless."

it's like the Toyota Pious for the 2010's 

sorry Zulu 



good article Nick, stopped buying the Grauniad in protest about their treatment of the Observer but you agreeing with Monbiot has made me splooter coffee all over the screen 

[Dishevelled Den]

"The solar panel is the ideal modern status symbol, which signifies both wealth and moral superiority, even if it's perfectly useless."

it's like the Toyota Pious for the 2010's 

sorry Zulu 



good article Nick, stopped buying the Grauniad in protest about their treatment of the Observer but you agreeing with Monbiot has made me splooter coffee all over the screen 

Should I leave out the solar roof option on the Prius I'm about to order then bj? 

[Banjax]

"The solar panel is the ideal modern status symbol, which signifies both wealth and moral superiority, even if it's perfectly useless."

it's like the Toyota Pious for the 2010's 

sorry Zulu 



good article Nick, stopped buying the Grauniad in protest about their treatment of the Observer but you agreeing with Monbiot has made me splooter coffee all over the screen 

Should I leave out the solar roof option on the Prius I'm about to order then bj? 

well I'm not paying for it