Solar panel waste may not be nearly as bad as we once thought

Re:Solar panel waste may not be nearly as bad as we once tho... by lazide on Sunday November 13, 2022 @04:01PM (#33587299)

One correction - a typical coal burning power plant is approximately 33% efficient at converting fuel to energy [https://www.energy.gov/fecm/transformative-power-systems], and combined cycled natural gas power plants are 45-57% efficient. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/natural-gas...]

Direct ICE vehicles are between 11-27% efficient. [https://sciendo.com/pdf/10.2478/rtuect-2020-0041]

So even a inefficient coal plant is about 50% more efficient than a very efficient normal ICE car, and combined cycle natural gas IS 2x more efficient than a very efficient normal ICE car - and about 5x more efficient than a non-efficient ICE car.

Lots of cross comparisons can be made, but on overage, even with transmission losses, charging losses, etc. it would be very unusual for an EV + power plant combo to be less efficient end to end than directly fueling a traditional ICE vehicle. If it was, it would likely just be a few percent.

CapEx is a real concern here of course, and logistics.

But opex and energy efficiency are solidly in the EV camp.

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Re:Solar panel waste may not be nearly as bad as we once tho... by ilyt on Monday November 14, 2022 @05:39PM (#33602379)

That's why I talked about hybrids - ICEs have slim efficiency area, add breaking lossess and you get to that number. But put it in a hybrid and you can run it at near-max efficiency most of the time and don't waste that much in breaking.

Hell, Formula engines get to 50% but those don't exactly need to care about emission equipment

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