Germany Produced Half Of Its Energy Using Solar (For an hour)

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Even if this was just for a short period of time, the achievement is great. Greater has been their ability to manufacture solar panels to now compete with fossil fuels.


http://www.iflscience.com/technology/germany-now-produces-half-its-energy-using-solar

 

[MassHavoc]

So was it half it's energy or half it's electricity. The comment started confusing me, i'm not sure why I even bothered reading them</p>

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Germany is so full of win.</p>

 

[winos5]

Why aren't they doing it consistently?</p>

 

[jaxhawksfan]

If we (the world) can bring the cost of solar produced electricity down, I'm all for it.  Like most, we want exploration into alternate energy sources, but there is no reason to demonize current methods in the process.  Take politics out of the situation and it will be solved sooner than later, but we all know that will never happen because WORLD GOVERNMENTS are involved, not just our own corrupt organization.</p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-time="1403705178" data-cid="232928" data-author="MassHavoc">

So was it half it's energy or half it's electricity. The comment started confusing me, i'm not sure why I even bothered reading them</p></blockquote>
Electricity. I think it was more of a translation problem on that and several other articles. Regardless, that is pretty big as the vast majority of energy usage is in the form of electricity.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-time="1403732760" data-cid="232970" data-author="jaxhawksfan">

If we (the world) can bring the cost of solar produced electricity down, I'm all for it.  Like most, we want exploration into alternate energy sources, but there is no reason to demonize current methods in the process.  Take politics out of the situation and it will be solved sooner than later, but we all know that will never happen because WORLD GOVERNMENTS are involved, not just our own corrupt organization.</p></blockquote>
Current methods that throw large amounts of carbon (of any form) into the air deserves to be demonized. However, you are correct: Until the price is comparable or less, alternative forms of non carbon dioxide producing energy; they will always have a hard time competing.


Where this feat is big is due to the large monetary support from the German government to make it happen.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

GO GERMANY GO!!!</p>


 </p>


USA SUCKS!!!</p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Grimzus" data-cid="232978" data-time="1403748755">

GO GERMANY GO!!!
 
USA SUCKS!!!</p></blockquote>
Are you telling Germany to leave and stating that the USA sucks in all the greatness?

 

[MassHavoc]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="BiscuitInTheBasket2in17" data-cid="232976" data-time="1403747241">
<div>


Electricity. I think it was more of a translation problem on that and several other articles. Regardless, that is pretty big as the vast majority of energy usage is in the form of electricity.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


I guess here is my real question, and maybe I missed it in the article so I apologize. It's impressive, but what's the context. Was the energy actually simultaneously being produced and used? What I mean is, did they store up a bunch of energy from the solar panels and then just turn on the switch? Or did they actually produce enough to sustain itself... I can only imagine that they only went an hour because they were using much more than they were producing?</p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MassHavoc" data-cid="233003" data-time="1403791333">
<div>


I guess here is my real question, and maybe I missed it in the article so I apologize. It's impressive, but what's the context. Was the energy actually simultaneously being produced and used? What I mean is, did they store up a bunch of energy from the solar panels and then just turn on the switch? Or did they actually produce enough to sustain itself... I can only imagine that they only went an hour because they were using much more than they were producing?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


 </p>


Generated enough electricity via solar power to produce 50% of the electricity usage at a given time period (1 hour in the day).  I am sure there were circumstances as to why it was only 1 hr, like the time of the day, temperature, manufacturing output, etc.</p>


 </p>


What I find more impressive is that they have made solar power's price point competitive with fossil fuels based on cost per watt.  Solar is still more expensive, but very close.   That took about $16 Billion Euro to do, but that effort will have impacts across the board.</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="BiscuitInTheBasket2in17" data-cid="233013" data-time="1403794412">
<div>


Generated enough electricity via solar power to produce 50% of the electricity usage at a given time period (1 hour in the day).  I am sure there were circumstances as to why it was only 1 hr, like the time of the day, temperature, manufacturing output, etc.</p>


 </p>


What I find more impressive is that they have made solar power's price point competitive with fossil fuels based on cost per watt.  Solar is still more expensive, but very close.   That took about $16 Billion Euro to do, but that effort will have impacts across the board.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


So if it took 16 billion to do, why isn't that taken into consideration in the cost per watt somehow?</p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MassHavoc" data-cid="233023" data-time="1403802923">
<div>


So if it took 16 billion to do, why isn't that taken into consideration in the cost per watt somehow?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


 </p>


Government money to help develop the process of improving and manufacturing the panels to make the panels competitive enough.   </p>

 

[MassHavoc]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="BiscuitInTheBasket2in17" data-cid="233038" data-time="1403810585">
<div>


Government money to help develop the process of improving and manufacturing the panels to make the panels competitive enough.   </p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Yeah, but if you are directly relating this (not you personally but the articles implying) that this is becoming more of a reasonable resource for the world to do, you can't discount the fact that everyone would have to make the same kind of investment right?</p>


 </p>


I guess what I'm saying is the article to me sees to be saying, hey look we made solar power a viable resource. The rest of the world should do the same just like us. But in reality it's saying we had to spend 16 billion just to get half of germany's electricity production for 1 hour. It just doesn't seem reasonable to me. At that was absolutely peak production. Right time of day and such. I can only imagine how much it would have cost for a full days production 50%... 100 billion?</p>

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MassHavoc" data-cid="233048" data-time="1403815498">
<div>


Yeah, but if you are directly relating this (not you personally but the articles implying) that this is becoming more of a reasonable resource for the world to do, you can't discount the fact that everyone would have to make the same kind of investment right?</p>


 </p>


I guess what I'm saying is the article to me sees to be saying, hey look we made solar power a viable resource. The rest of the world should do the same just like us. But in reality it's saying we had to spend 16 billion just to get half of germany's electricity production for 1 hour. It just doesn't seem reasonable to me. At that was absolutely peak production. Right time of day and such. I can only imagine how much it would have cost for a full days production 50%... 100 billion?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


 </p>


The rest of the world would not need to front as much for the R&D to develop improvements to the manufacturing process since it has been done (that is what a chunk of the money went to, and other to help subsidize people purchasing and installing).   Of course, those that own the patents could upcharge up the wazzu...but I suspect they would want to be out front of it as much as possible if it truly appears like this could gain lots of traction.</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="BiscuitInTheBasket2in17" data-cid="233068" data-time="1403818784">
<div>


The rest of the world would not need to front as much for the R&D to develop improvements to the manufacturing process since it has been done (that is what a chunk of the money went to, and other to help subsidize people purchasing and installing).   Of course, those that own the patents could upcharge up the wazzu...but I suspect they would want to be out front of it as much as possible if it truly appears like this could gain lots of traction.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Someone always has to pay. haha</p>

 

[Tater]

Let the free market improve the panels. No more Solyndras, the country can't afford it. If it can be manufactured cost efficiently, it will happen, and hopefully it does.</p>

 

[Pez68]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MassHavoc" data-cid="233048" data-time="1403815498">
<div>


Yeah, but if you are directly relating this (not you personally but the articles implying) that this is becoming more of a reasonable resource for the world to do, you can't discount the fact that everyone would have to make the same kind of investment right?</p>


 </p>


I guess what I'm saying is the article to me sees to be saying, hey look we made solar power a viable resource. The rest of the world should do the same just like us. But in reality it's saying we had to spend 16 billion just to get half of germany's electricity production for 1 hour. It just doesn't seem reasonable to me. At that was absolutely peak production. Right time of day and such. I can only imagine how much it would have cost for a full days production 50%... 100 billion?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


How much do you think has been spent on researching/improving the oil and natural gas industry?</p>

 

[phranchk]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tater" data-cid="233111" data-time="1403841503">


Let the free market improve the panels. No more Solyndras, the country can't afford it. If it can be manufactured cost efficiently, it will happen, and hopefully it does.</p></blockquote>Bullshit. Let's cut all the subsidies to oil and gas companies. we need the subsidies going to alternate energy to drive innovation and competition. Without it they'll never have a chance to compete.

 

[Tater]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="phranchk" data-cid="233482" data-time="1404005256">
<div>


Bullshit. Let's cut all the subsidies to oil and gas companies. we need the subsidies going to alternate energy to drive innovation and competition. Without it they'll never have a chance to compete.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


Great! Cut subsidies to oil and gas too, please. Let the free market decide who wins and loses. I'm all for that.</p>


 </p>


Edit: I know they'll never cut subsidies to either, to much lobbyist money coming in for re-election.</p>