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Warming to the hybrid approach in solar energy

Eco-Business -- Singapore, September 7 - Efforts to harness the sun’s energy are spreading in the heartland.

The Housing Board recently bought solar photovoltaic panels worth about $2.3 million for various residential estates. In total, the panels are expected to produce 170 megawatt-hours of energy each year which, said an HDB spokesman, would represent about $40,000 in savings a year per precinct.

The HDB began installing solar panels in the estates of Serangoon and Wellington in December 2008. Since then, the price of solar panels has dropped by more than half, from $5.17 a watt-peak to $2.33 a watt-peak.

While there are many options for renewable energy - hydropower, biofuel and wind among them - solar power could become a significant energy source in Singapore.

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Submitted Sep 07, 2010 By: PDQBlues

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DrCashFlow Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,775 Points:1,168,555 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2010 12:52:37 PM Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse prices will keep dropping with so many suppliers still in business.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,252 Points:1,141,025 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 9, 2010 4:14:00 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse roadhog: it couldn't catch on b/c in the 1980s a certain president made it sound as if solar was a little boy's dream that was just a big ol' joke.
TomJDriver Champion Author London Posts:1,036 Points:302,340 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 7:57:26 AM Ignore TomJDriver Report Abuse To shed a little light (ha) on these panels, they are in precincts, which is Public Housing Projects, also referred to as Estates. Estate means a sizable area, in this case not posh houses. In 2008, 2 precincts got panels, this year 4 more precincts got panels costing ½ as much. The ROI for the latest 4 is 14 years. A 5% return on public money! Value for government money Increasing as prices go Down. What a concept. If this is a way to achieve that, bring it on. The story goes on to talk about how Hybrid (combination) systems are some 40% more efficient. For example PV/T which are Photovoltaic (electrical) and Thermal (heat transfer) panels working together.
the1roadhog Champion Author Atlanta Posts:7,703 Points:1,593,630 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 7:00:26 AM Ignore the1roadhog Report Abuse All for solar as an energy source but the notion has been trying to catch on since the 70s. What up?
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,252 Points:1,141,025 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2010 4:15:56 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse jadeusa: I don't think that "tree huggers" are concerned about the amount of energy produced, but they are concerned about the environmental damage done by building the dams and flooding the areas to generate lakes.
Scotty99QC Veteran Author Montreal Posts:275 Points:74,950 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:43:54 PM Ignore Scotty99QC Report Abuse As i read in the last message , long live hydro!
jadeusa Champion Author Dallas Posts:6,885 Points:1,368,935 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:39:14 PM Ignore jadeusa Report Abuse Solar is still only a small part of alternative energy. Hydro is a good reliable supplier of energy - water from dams for electricity. "Tree-huggers" may not like it as much since it does produce large amounts of energy.
Sody33 Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:15,482 Points:1,814,560 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:37:11 PM Ignore Sody33 Report Abuse Please notice they are installing these on estates, not on cottages where they would be worth so much more to people who have less money. (Or as it says in fine print, the rich get richer and the poor get screwed.) [Edited by: Sody33 at 9/8/2010 1:37:43 AM EST]
AKmailman Champion Author Alaska Posts:3,293 Points:1,098,520 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:28:19 PM Ignore AKmailman Report Abuse another off topic article
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:21,163 Points:2,638,520 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:27:43 PM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse the pricer on the panels has really come down, but.....the price of the controllers, inverters, and batterys has really gone up...greed strikes again...!!!
AuburnTim Champion Author Indiana Posts:5,696 Points:1,283,980 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:23:40 PM Ignore AuburnTim Report Abuse At the current rate the middle class is more becoming the lower class prices will never be low enough to help those who really need it. To bad they don't make them here and employ the people who really need work and get the prices lower. Washington sure isn't helping!!!!
UseLessGasFolks Champion Author Iowa Posts:3,093 Points:835,930 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:23:28 PM Ignore UseLessGasFolks Report Abuse I think we need to attack on all fronts in the quest for renewable, clean energy.
250FORD Champion Author Minnesota Posts:8,265 Points:1,303,335 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:18:25 PM Ignore 250FORD Report Abuse If the price keeps dropping all my south facing roof area will be covered.
comprof Champion Author Houston Posts:4,373 Points:895,100 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:12:32 PM Ignore comprof Report Abuse I wish I could afford solar panels too. What bothers me is that all of these products are being manufactured overseas. How is that helping the jobs market?
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:6,004 Points:1,446,120 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:09:37 PM Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse I wish Obama would buy me some solar panels.
TXGasPriceSpy Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:5,316 Points:1,008,505 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 11:03:54 PM Ignore TXGasPriceSpy Report Abuse Wish I could afford solar panels.
Jeeputtputt Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,388 Points:340,670 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:56:52 PM Ignore Jeeputtputt Report Abuse Once it is affordable, we'll jump on it.
Z51Corvette Champion Author Austin Posts:6,151 Points:1,223,565 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:49:18 PM Ignore Z51Corvette Report Abuse Cost factors still aren't there... but getting closer, for sure!
billy44bo Champion Author Mobile Posts:5,183 Points:1,042,060 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:47:44 PM Ignore billy44bo Report Abuse threewheeler hot the mark again on this one
kcboy Champion Author Utah Posts:2,422 Points:1,190,230 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:41:59 PM Ignore kcboy Report Abuse I agree with threewheeler.
threewheeler Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,377 Points:318,330 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:40:21 PM Ignore threewheeler Report Abuse Solar power is great but not practical for most of us poor folks.
NotmeuQc Champion Author Montreal Posts:3,300 Points:666,895 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:39:13 PM Ignore NotmeuQc Report Abuse Solar is the way to go.
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:6,383 Points:1,509,670 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:38:10 PM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse The more manufacturers work on various sources of energy, the less expensive it will be which in return will benefit the customer and the environment.
camel1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:6,040 Points:1,814,465 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:32:29 PM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse Maybe solar will become more affordable as prices decline. Now it seems to be a long time to recover the investment.
1cheapgasin Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:3,140 Points:743,515 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:30:45 PM Ignore 1cheapgasin Report Abuse Not as good as it sounds!!!!!!
leemun Champion Author Utah Posts:3,019 Points:579,765 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:27:25 PM Ignore leemun Report Abuse Hope it becomes reasonably priced in my lifetime, but will the power companies allow it? This article is about Singapore, not the U.S.
Bruno44 Champion Author Texas Posts:4,851 Points:1,323,975 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:26:40 PM Ignore Bruno44 Report Abuse Count the cost.
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:4,832 Points:757,825 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:21:38 PM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse Installing solar panels cost money and to get money you must have a job, something this country is lacking in.
JBL2 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:2,106 Points:768,780 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:20:22 PM Ignore JBL2 Report Abuse In the lab they bhave come up with solar "panels" that really are on a film, can be bent or rolled up, very cheap to install and will even generate from ambient light: they don't need direct sun to work. Eventually this will become reasonable in cost.
rxman1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:6,991 Points:1,395,220 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:20:14 PM Ignore rxman1 Report Abuse I am looking forward to reasonably priced solar panels.
NavyStore Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,768 Points:1,657,940 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:15:51 PM Ignore NavyStore Report Abuse Prices are coming down - don't you idiots read the real news? Oh, never mind... you only watch Fox Republican Channel.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:3,535 Points:388,610 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:13:00 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Will work almost anywhere.
Bus561 Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,071 Points:2,752,030 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:12:37 PM Ignore Bus561 Report Abuse It will work in the US, but only when the prices come down from their astronomical highs as they are now.
CobraLeader Champion Author New Jersey Posts:267,902 Points:1,200,750 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:10:01 PM Ignore CobraLeader Report Abuse ... Don't think it will work in the U.S. ...
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:8,152 Points:1,391,370 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:07:27 PM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse Singapore?
Blue_Cruzer Champion Author Lexington Posts:5,147 Points:1,201,650 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 10:06:43 PM Ignore Blue_Cruzer Report Abuse Might work in Singapore, but I doubt it would here.
MRED3 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,623 Points:803,160 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:59:00 PM Ignore MRED3 Report Abuse OK
paulg72 Champion Author Boston Posts:1,558 Points:542,625 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:54:49 PM Ignore paulg72 Report Abuse Gee I can imagine the electric bills are going to be going sky high next
SBlouch Champion Author San Antonio Posts:6,885 Points:1,470,780 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:51:44 PM Ignore SBlouch Report Abuse The next vehicle I buy will be a hybrid. Have solar panels for heating water for over 16 years.
janctx Champion Author Lubbock Posts:2,715 Points:882,880 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:50:24 PM Ignore janctx Report Abuse im with ya aggietim
signwiz Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,395 Points:1,348,330 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:49:36 PM Ignore signwiz Report Abuse Well, maybe our government can buy me solar panels and install them at my "estate"? Dream on.
zeddieiv Champion Author Columbia Posts:5,651 Points:1,490,920 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:48:45 PM Ignore zeddieiv Report Abuse "Hybrid" sells
DosEquis26 Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,758 Points:1,541,590 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:43:48 PM Ignore DosEquis26 Report Abuse what's this got to do with the price of gasoline?
aggietim Sophomore Author Fort Worth Posts:147 Points:334,840 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:40:29 PM Ignore aggietim Report Abuse I agree with you Tigerpaw46. Heck, I'd even pay to have them installed if someone gave them to me.
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:5,149 Points:963,855 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:37:59 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse I WISH SOMEONE WOULD BUY THEM FOR ME AND PAY TO HAVE THEM INSTALLED.
Chris46 Champion Author Dayton Posts:17,123 Points:1,672,420 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:28:23 PM Ignore Chris46 Report Abuse I only see this working in the sunbelt. Even then, its too $$$ for the average homeowner. Get the price down, without the average homeowner buying it. Easier said than done.
RedRam2005 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:5,691 Points:1,056,685 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:28:02 PM Ignore RedRam2005 Report Abuse Government controlled economies can require anything they want.
EVBuddy Champion Author Nevada Posts:14,328 Points:2,566,590 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:20:12 PM Ignore EVBuddy Report Abuse Schools and some office buildings have done this for years.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:7,201 Points:1,170,135 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:15:30 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Residential estates? Must be a translation problem. All our states should update their building codes to require at least passive solar water heating in all new construction. If Israel and most European countries can do this, what is the problem in the USA?
Lukus Champion Author Halifax Posts:6,021 Points:1,215,535 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 9:06:08 PM Ignore Lukus Report Abuse Solar is the power source of the future.