@ksarocky, well, let's be honest: All infrastructure gets some form of government subsidy. In the case of "green energy" sources, it's really about the generation efficiency. And there, the efficiency doesn't come close to coal and gas fired plants or nuke plants. So no reasonable ROI even factoring out the subsidies.
You've missed the point. Alternative Energy doesn't have any return on investment, because all forms are dependant on government subsidy. The only thing an investor cares about is, how long will our government continue pouring borrowed money into the Green toilet, and can I exit with a profit? It's easy to calculate the true cost of Solar Energy, for example: wholesale prices of Chinese panels are advertised widely on the web. Installation costs typically double that, and government mandates force local utilities to pay over-market prices for the energy generated. Bottom line is, Solar Power costs about 4x the conventional power that it supplements. When the panels wear out in 25 years, they will have paid back only a fraction of their cost. If solar panels cost zero, they'd barely be worth the trouble to install. There's a similar cost structure to wind generation. It's all about politically-motivated giveaways, and borrowed money is NOT a renewable resource.
It is a known fact that the ROI for an investment in alternate energy has to be taken with a long term view. Whether it is Solar or Wind energy, it takes years to get positive returns from your investments. But the indirect benefits of savings on the consumption of fossil fuels, clean environment and less dependence on oil & gas are the intangible ROI that should be weighed in favor of alternate energy investments
Nice analysis and at the end, it is true, at least for my experience; anyway, if I may...I'll do my best for watching "Phineas & Fearb" toon and learning from their inventions just a bit more about (joke)
I think it's more a matter of leadership, the maturity to consider views outside the status quo, and act on them if necessary. Reminds me of a cartoon I saw recently, with a newspaper seller holding up a paper with headlines: "Politicians Agree!"
@stochastic excursion: if we could elaborate just a little more the item you have reported, do you believe it is a matter of education? The morepeople are informedand the morethese doubtsshould disappear
@Mr.Roques: thanks for this additional topic to discuss; I have experienced a mixed scenario, depending on the country. Personally I believe both players involved in given migration to alternative energy, would receive tax breaks benefit. This approach from Governments, for instance, could also encourage corporations and end users in considering that adoption.
Whatever their virtues in the fact that they are ubiquitous, the usual suspects in renewable energy sources, solar, wind, hydro and geothermal; lack either the abundance or power density to approach fossil fuels as a substitute energy source.
Renowned engineering innovator Buckminster Fuller had remarkable views on the place occupied by fossil fuels in the scheme of things. He compared the energy made available to mankind in the form of fossil fuels with the nutriment provided to a chick that enables it to break out of its eggshell. There's just enough to get it out of its shell, and after that, it's hunt and peck.
Whether or not you agree with Buckminster Fuller's worldview, the problems seen, when forcing renewable energy into the same business model as coal and oil, are inescapable.--but I don't think it's necessary to despair that we will be back in the 19th century when, sooner or (probably) later, we run out of gas. Soler batteries power calculators and engineering marvels along these lines are bound to make our way of life worthwhile.
There are two aspects to alternative energy ROI... one is from the suppliers point of view, and the other for companies that implement alternative energy at their own industries. Do both benefit from tax breaks?
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