Re: Solar Panels Cost of Ownership

Hey Chris,

  I city... gee... could save millions... it's just a matter of scale.  These are just back of the envelope numbers. 

  Ottawa is at ~50 deg north lat.  That means that on average each m^2 of panel would capture almost 3kWh of total heat in a day (~950 BTU/sq ft/day), and we could only rate your panels at about 650W / m^2 -- these are the thermal numbers.

  If you take the thermal to electric conversion at the PV equivalent of say 15% then you need to know the consumption to compute the area under panel required.

  Google put your temp at -11F this am and that's where our system can best PV hands down.  85% of the total heat we collect is rejected.  We can dump a good portion of that heat into a building for just the cost of the heat exchanger, with very little degradation of electrical output.  It's another term you may know, "CHP" or Combined Heat & Power.

  In the sun belt the thought of using the waste heat almost never comes up... but in the northern climes that warmth can be put to good use.  

  BTW the wind is bringing your -23C air right down my neck today :-O   There's a low to the NE and high to the SW.  Brrr!!!