Researchers found that PV systems could produce electricity at a lower price than the grid in 344 cities.Good news for air quality and climate. China has been relying on coal-fired plants (72% in 2016).
Two anecdotes. I have a friend that teaches for six-weeks in Beijing on occasion. I once said to him that it must be a great experience. He answered that it was terrible, the pollution was so bad. I have another acquaintance that is Chinese, now living in the US. He's been here about 20 years. I asked him if he thought ever of returning to China. He shook his head and pointed upward. I asked him what he meant, and he said, "blue sky."
China is not alone in this in the developing world. Electrification is a big deal, and cost is a major consideration.
There's a school building in the UK erected around 1960 (St George's School, Cheshire) which is heated just by solar. It's very simple: the south face of the building is just glass, and the walls and floors are thick concrete which absorbs heat on sunny days and releases it on cold days. Amazing that works even in Winter.
ReplyDelete