Long payback is bane of solar industry

Journal Article · Mon Nov 05 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Energy User News; (United States)

OSTI ID:5590144

Murnane, T

Solar energy users continue to face long payback periods - from eight years for firms using large amounts of hot water to a 10 to 20 year period for heating, cooling, and other applications. The solar energy industry believes that larger tax incentives, better designs, and increasing prices of conventional energy sources could shorten the payback time if the government will do more to help. DOE demonstration projects could encourage commercialization since all but a few commercial and industrial installations have had either Federal or state funding. Some of the problems inherent in the introduction of a new technology have encouraged some manufacturers to set standards and a code of ethics as a way to combine quality control with competition. Solar hot-water systems are now the most cost-effective and will be the market that is emphasized. The experiences and comments of several firms are noted.

• OSTI ID: 5590144
• Journal Information: Energy User News; (United States), Journal Name: Energy User News; (United States) Vol. 4:45; ISSN EUSND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140300 -- Solar Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
COMMERCIALIZATION
GAS APPLIANCES
HEATERS
HEATING SYSTEMS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INVESTMENT
MANUFACTURERS
MARKET
PAYBACK PERIOD
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
WATER HEATERS