We Have Ways Of Keeping You Warm - Even When The Sun Don't Shine!

"...Every time a renewables advocate holds Germany up as a shining beacon, they set back the credibility of the environmental movement. 

It’s unsupported by reality and I think even gives ammunition to the enemy. We have to stop praising Germany’s Energiesheiße and figure out better ways to implement renewables..."

"Should Other Nations Follow Germany..."

“...Between the northern latitude, the grey weather, and the Alps blocking much of the diffused morning sunlight from the south, Germany is a terrible place for solar power. 

When you put the US side-by-side on the same scale, you realize that Germany has the same solar power potential as dismal Alaska, even worse than rain-soaked Seattle...”

"...the simplest proof can be seen in the capacity factor, which is the percent of the nameplate capacity that is actually generated over the course of a year.

The existence of night time means solar capacity factors must be less than 50%, and when you add clouds, dawn, dusk, dust, and non-optimal installations, 18% is the average capacity factor for panels in the continental US. In contrast, Germany’s total solar capacity factor in 2011 was under 9%!.."

"...So why does Germany have 16 times as much nameplate panel capacity per capita as the US?....I don’t think the German people are that much more pro-environment than the rest of the world....Germany’s solar power boom is being driven entirely by political distortions..." 

The economics of German solar have only made sense [until] now because they tax the hell out of all types of energy....and then use the proceeds to subsidize solar panels....When you strip away the well-intentioned facade of environmentalism, this is little more than a forced cash transfer scheme. It’s taking from utilities....and from everyone who doesn’t have rooftop panels, and shovelling it into the pockets of everyone who owns or installs panels. Which means it’s....a regressive tax on the poor.