[LMagic007]

Originally Posted by Wobs

So you only listen to people who have an interest in promoting the technology? You're not interested in discussing factors that the salesman isn't mentioning. The real world isn't seeing a huge expansion yet, as its early days.

Is this how you make a purchase? Don't you ever ask advice on issues that may affect a major purchase?

I've shown you differing points of view on the older versions of the technology. Issues that these people aren't going to bring up. The issue of energy consumption on plant is an important one for example, and one must question how much energy the plants will actually supply. You claim its been sorted, but we should ask how much does it affect supply.

The amount of back up energy that it is able to create is also an important issue. Many planned systems cite 13hrs. Great for many instances, but there will be instances where it won't be enough, and one will find that the system cannot supply such a sizeable proportion of energy demand than hoped.

These are just examples that could be found (I'm sure they'll be more), and I fail to see how not discussing them is helpful.

If any of that is unreasonable, please explain why.

I won't be wasting my time going over old arguments. I have already acknowledged limitations, as with all technologies. That does not change anything. Many technologies succeed, even with their perceived limitations.

In a nutshell though and at risk of you tossing up more red herrings to be disposed of, more collectors, more storage, higher capacity factor per rated output capacity => higher cost, yet more affordable in the face of more expensive fossil fuels and the long term projections of such. Volume scale production, maximum manufacturing automation => lower cost. The technology works and it's been proven. It largely comes down to money and the money balance is swinging in favor of renewable energy of many forms and in this case solar.

Yes it's early days, but this is a global trend, like it or hate it. I don't have time to waste debating finer points, when the overall thrust is what's most important. Solar Thermal and PV are expected to grow strongly over the next decade and I suspect well beyond that. No matter what you toss up, that will remain my overriding view. The show stoppers just aren't there, especially for the longer term.

The information is out there for all to see and make up their own minds.