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Environment & Energy
In reply to the discussion: Arctic Methane - This Does Not Sound Good... [View all]Bob Wallace
(549 posts)35. Obviously we don't have 300 year data...
But we do have multi-decade performance data on which we can predict. At the observed 0.5% loss per year for older silicon panels we can expect that the array will still be kicking out 78% of its initial power rating after 50 years. 61% after 100 years.
(That's many decades of essentially free electricity.)
And there is no known "solar cliff" over which panels might tumble after a given number of years.
We do have pretty good data that tells us how only it takes a thermal plant to become unusable.
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I was rendered immediately breathless, and was made to sit and meditate deeply
Ghost Dog
Dec 2011
#43
I didn't do well in chemistry class (bad teacher, I claim) but does this make sense
Ghost Dog
Dec 2011
#47
I'm not sure that's technically feasible, we're talking thousands of square kilometers.
joshcryer
Dec 2011
#55
Luckily, I have no kids! My ancestral carbon footprint shrinks to zero by 2040.
aletier_v
Dec 2011
#53
Right, a little over a long time is nothing, a lot over a little time is an issue.
joshcryer
Dec 2011
#59