The European Tribune is a forum for thoughtful dialogue of European and international issues. You are invited to post comments and your own articles.
Please REGISTER to post.
On the other hand, the difference in solar conditions is not as big as commonly assumed: the Sun's angle changes through the day and due to seasons on both places, the solar panel can be aligned for the best angle at the given latitude*; so only weather and higher atmospheric absorption at lower angles remains. Note: even under a clouded sky, absorbing diffuse light, modern solar cells achieve some 20-40% of peak power. From a very good place in India (2000 kWh/year with 1 kW) to a bad one in Northern Germany (800 kWh/year with 1 kW), there is only a 60% reduction.
Now, since import of electricity from distant areas like North Africa would entail significant losses, in the end the reduction of German CO2 emissions is possibly better done at home (Euro for Euro).
* To put it another way: one downsize doesn't come Euro for Euro, but in the form of used-up land area. At high latitudes, solar panels have to be erected at steep angles, demanding larger distances between rows of solar panels along the north-south axis. Of course, for rooftop installations, this doesn't hold. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by Frank Schnittger - Dec 3 2 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Dec 2 2 comments
by gmoke - Nov 28
by Frank Schnittger - Nov 21 10 comments
by Oui - Dec 96 comments
by Oui - Dec 88 comments
by Oui - Dec 718 comments
by Oui - Dec 54 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Dec 32 comments
by Oui - Dec 214 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Dec 22 comments
by Oui - Dec 26 comments
by Oui - Dec 114 comments
by Oui - Dec 14 comments
by Oui - Nov 306 comments
by Oui - Nov 289 comments
by Oui - Nov 276 comments
by gmoke - Nov 26
by Oui - Nov 268 comments
by Oui - Nov 26
by Oui - Nov 2513 comments
by Oui - Nov 2318 comments
by Oui - Nov 22