For those of you who read yesterday’s Solar Power Cost vs. Energy Bill Cost here is part two.
Some utility company’s around the US are raising there power prices up to 29% according to an article by USA Today. If your thinking your electricity bill is already astronomical then I have some bad news for you. Prices will continue to rise for the foreseeable future. An average household that spends $70 a month may rise up to $90, the fact is most of us are already struggling to make things meet and one more addition to our plate is not something we’re looking forward to. The good thing is there are plenty of ways you and your family can do to save money and cut down on toxic pollution as well. But lets delve into why energy prices are going up a little further which brings me to:
Solar Power Cost of Building vs. Building New Coal and Nuclear Plants
So how much does it cost to build a new power plant anyways? Earlier last month an article by the New York Times quoted that GE estimates there new plants built in conjunction with it’s new nuclear partner Hitachi, would cost 1.83 billion dollars. Which coincidentally is 80% more then it’s previous estimates in May of 2005 for building twin power plants for a total of 2 billion dollars. This sharp increase in price is a tribute to how unstable the energy industry can be. These plants will generate electricity at in-between $2000 and $3000 per kilowatt. We also need to look at how much it costs to refurbish older nuclear power plants. As energy generating plants grow older, so does the technology and the fuel that is used for generating the electricity. For instance The Browns Ferry 1 plant in Alabama, which has just been turned on again has an overhaul Bill of 1.8 billion dollars. That’s almost 2 billion DOLLARS!!!! Is this really the best way we could be spending this money? On a side note this plant was involved with one of the most catastrophic accidents in nuclear power generation history and was close to a nuclear meltdown! Chernobyl anyone?
How much does it cost for a Coal Plant you ask?
While energy generation from coal can be way less expensive and way more toxic to the atmosphere (coal fired plants release more greenhouse gas then any other form of energy generation) it is still extremely expensive to build. In June 2008 it was projected that to build a new coal fired plant in Portage, a southwestern Wisconsin city, it would have the price tag of 1.2 billion dollars, and would supply 150,000 homes with power. Since then the cost of building supplies has risen sharply as stated previously, now we are looking at an even larger price. Are you getting pissed yet? as far as refurbishing goes the Hudson Power Plant in New Jersey has been going through renovation for the last couple of years. While yes the are outfitting it with better environmental controls, the price tag set for the project is 1 billion dollars. GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
So now lets get into Solar Power Cost
Now one of the biggest problems with a large scale Solar Thermal Power Plant also referred to as, concentrated solar power, or CSP. Is the initial price tag of constructing it. One of the reasons why is because it would have to have a large means of storing the generated power and also to store the heat it generates from the sun in able for the plant to function at night when the Solar energy retreats. Now lets look at the worlds largest Solar Power Plant that is underway to be constructed in the Mojave dessert!
PG&E has recently signed the worlds largest solar deal, and they will be partnering up with Brightsource Energy. The contract is for the construction of 3 brand new Solar Thermal Plants which will generate 500 Megawatts of power. There are also additional options to expand the plants to generate 900 Megawatts, powering 375,000 homes. The price tag on this project is 3 billion dollars, and yes I know what your thinking, that’s more then nuclear or coal. But the beauty of Solar is that for one it is environmentally friendly and 100% renewable, and two, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but sunlight’s free man. In the long run this is way more economical then coal or nuclear! If you would like to check out more about the Mojave project click here.
Solar power cost is still expensive to purchase from utility company’s, however utilizing solar panels on your residential home after the initial investment, is pretty much free, with very low maintenance charges. Especially considering there are lots of state and government programs that offer you incentives and tax credits to use this kind of energy generation. Also if you are into DIY projects or would like to get into them, then check this out. Making your own solar power panels have never been easier, and really are a great learning activity for your family. Tell your kids to turn off the TV and do something fun together.
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Recommended Reading :
- Solar Las Vegas: Center for Energy Research at Ryan Is Hungry – Las Vegas is a pretty sunny place, right? So why isn’t the whole city powered through solar energy? You could ask this question for a lot of places in the world. The answer we’re hearing more and more is that alternative energy is not …
- Clean Break » Blog Archive » Solar PV prices halved by 2010: Sharp – told Reuters today that he expects the cost of generating solar power will be slashed in half within the next four years. He went on to say that solar power will be competitive with nuclear power by 2030. But here’s the kicker: When asked about solar’s competitiveness with coal and other fossil fuels by 2030, Sharp’s president replied that fossil fuel resources will be totally out by then.
- Breakthough to Unleash Solar Revolution – Daniel Nocera has developed a simple method to split water molecules and produce oxygen gas. In a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers …
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