Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

I realize the cost of solar power is expensive and not a technology that everyone could afford but with the future in mind and with the new "Nanotechnology" theory on the horizon, is solar power a concept that would work in Bali?

Would have been nice if I could have read the posting by Gina a little sooner...

G'day Tim,
Both solar and wind technology seem to be pushed as the way of the future. Australia is embracing the concept with leaps and bounds, with both good and bad results. As you mentioned, the technology is very expensive, this is in part due to the influence of fuel companies. They are renowned for buying the rights to any new technology and shelving them. I previously have purchased a disk that guides you through building your own solar panels. What it fails to mention until the end of the program is that a large panel is only capable of generating a small power output, suitable for lighting (l.e.d). Therefore, to make a dent in the power supply needs of a village, the beautiful island would need to be riddled with ugly looking panels. Not a pleasant prospect. Nano tech is many years away from being available at a consumer level, again thanks to the powers that be. Although this is definately the way of the future. Wind generators are equally as intrusive on a landscape, and if you ask the farmers in south Australia, they'll confirm that the constant 'whomp' sound that is emitted keeps them sleepless, and devalues the area's real estate value. I'd suggest that with the amount of swells that hit the region, hydro power is a better fit for Indonesia, or possibly harnessing the volcanic activity somehow.

Solar power is most definitely a viable option/augment to any new housing development in Bali. It is well worth looking into, particularly as the price for this technology gets more affordable.

We started building our new house seven years ago, and if I knew then what I know now, solar energy would have been incorporated into our building plan.

As you pointed out Mileage, fuel companies and lobbyist find a way...your statement about wind power in south Australia was interesting, never thought about the "sound" they might produce and that could become a form of torture after awhile.
Like you say Roy, solar power seems to be in the future. When you started building your new home, especially seven years ago, the technology simply wasn't in place yet and apparently still isn't.
Regards,
Tim

Im thinking of changing my electrical system from 220 to 12 or 24 volts using konverters for the fridge, tv, dvd and the other devices that needs 220v, its not that many actually.
To be able to save the energi is essential and with a batterypack its not that expensive. I lived on a boat in 1986 and we used the same method and it worked ok during the few month of summer that we had.
Today the panels is much cheaper and so is the konverters, the konverters to day is much more economical.
Maybe if you have enough cells you could just keep the 220 system and buy a big batterypack and one hughe converter. Aircon you have to skip, it takes to much energy, the only economicly method for that is to drill a energy hole with a exchanger. If we have any experts out there i would like some advice....

Like you say Roy, solar power seems to be in the future. When you started building your new home, especially seven years ago, the technology simply wasn't in place yet and apparently still isn't.

That is wrong. The viability of solar energy is now! The technology is very much available, and it currently makes more sense than ever.

A very good friend of ours, a retired Swiss scientist, built his house near Ubud five years ago, and utilized solar to achieve 65% of his total electrical energy needs. In fact, his home is very near a Pura Dalem, (temple of the dead) where no Balinese would think of living, however, his solar panels now provide the energy for lighting that temple at night. To say the least, this concept...lighting a temple of the dead at night from energy derived from the sun during the day has elevated him to high regard within his own banjar!

Our own problem was conversion once the structure was built. That could be done, but with major alterations and expense...ergo not feasible.

After reading a bit more on the concept of Nanotechnology, this technology would leave the old solar, giant panels, etc. in the past and have many uses besides just solar energy but as Mileage claims, the benefits are a few years away I suppose.
Saw the pictures of your beautiful home awhile back Roy and "solar panels" of today wouldn't be that enhancing.
Am wondering if DCC has had request for solar power as a contractor...

Milage posted:"the beautiful island would need to be riddled with ugly looking panels. Not a pleasant prospect."...........................................


My comment to that: Solar panels being UGLY is the last thing to worry about. You are making the environment a better place to live for future generations. My husband and I are having solar panels installed on the roof of our house in Calif. as soon as this month. We have wanted to do something for a while now . Yes bali is a great place for solar with all the power outtages.We hope to set a" good example" for the rest of our SUV driving-energy consuming neighbors!By exposing as many solar panels as possible towards the street!

Solar for the future? Are you guys kidding? There are massive buildings here,offices,retail,private homes,gov buildings all run on solar panels(for years now),we in calif get a rebate of 45% off the total cost from the federal gov.




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Hi Gina,
If the technology is so 'now', why don't all the Balinese already have them? We have to keep this in perspective. Could your average Bali family afford financially to rig up a system that sustains them? Secondly, who wants Bali to end up looking like a mirror/California?
If we are talking about power on a mass scale, I stand by my opinion (hydro/thermo power). If we are talking about singular new developments, and you have the money at present, go for it!

Very interesting Balijohn,
Would you say that the Smit system is any more aesthetically pleasing, as claimed?

Hi Gina, If the technology is so 'now', why don't all the Balinese already have them?

Mileage, I think I was the one to say that solar technology is now. As for why the Balinese don't have them, it's a matter of expense, and the understanding of pro-rating the initial installation costs versus electric bills over many years. Also, one should add in the cultural aspects, of which architecture is an important aspect for the Balinese.

For our own house, which is right up there with the coconut trees...three levels high, I don't think that adding solar panels (if the option was viable when we first built) would have been aesthetically unpleasant, as in fact, we can't see much of the that roof from any position within our compound. I guess the helicopter riding tourists along the Ayung River might get a nasty glare from time to time, but that would be essentially it.

Our Swiss friend was brilliant in the aesthetic manner he incorporated solar panels. None are visible as one approaches the house, and they are all placed in a position where they are hardly noticed even as one walks his grounds.

G'day Roy,
I was responding to this comment of Gina's "Solar for the future? Are you guys kidding?"

Your comment "As for why the Balinese don't have them, it's a matter of expense, and the understanding of pro-rating the initial installation costs versus electric bills over many years," was pretty much my response to that.

Anyway, I reckon we're all thinking the same thing, it's a positive, if you can afford it and it doesn't hinder the view.

Call me confused...it won't be the first time, , but in thinking that this string was started by Tim from Washington State, US, his question was more along the line of the feasibility from a western point of view...and for westerners living in Bali.

mileage wrote:Very interesting Balijohn,
Would you say that the Smit system is any more aesthetically pleasing, as claimed?

Well I'd say that it would look better than a whole roof full of plain panels if plants were to be incorporated.

On the matter of cost take a look at the very latest innovation:

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/%20...%20em_59.html
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/%20...%20ation.html

You just never know what's around the corner