Yay or Nay?
Yes
I find they often play devils advocate!
I quite like them.
Stupid, nasty dumb blasted things....perfect example of the wrong sort of government encouragement.
The right sort?? Massive investment in solar panels...mandatory on all public buildings, on all new buildings and properly subsidised for existing houses.
Simon Blease
Monmouth
Very interesting Wheeze. Aren't solar panels very expensive to make, so that it takes a lifetime to repay the outlay?
http://www.independent.co.uk/environ...ts-917202.html
Whereas wind turbines pay themselves back in about 10-20 years. Are you saying that 10-20 years only works because of government subsidies?
It's complicated and cirtain types of machines most notably the hydraulic ones have many moving parts. The recuperation of outlay will constantly be interrupted by large maintenance bills i should imagine, and hydraulic parts have to be made to a high standard and aren't cheap. Plus then there's the logistical problem of repairing the thing in the water from a rib or craning it onto a barge, all weather permitting of course.
For me solar cells have a long way to go before they're cost effective, but we've been making props and alternators for years so wind is best but unfortunately unsightly.
Luke Appleyard (Wharfedale)- quick on the dissent