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It's not about efficiency of scale. It has to do with electrical power itself. Electricity is generated whether it is consumed or not. It's only more efficient to generate power and distribute it to many consumers simultaneously so there is a steady load. When I run my generator, it burns a minimum amount of fuel constantly even when there is no electrical load. The bigger the generator, the more fuel it uses even under a no load situation. A typical 20K generator burns about 2 gallons of propane under 0 to 1/2 load. At full load, it will burn up to 4 gallons per hour. I will typically start my generator and let it run for 30 minutes and shut it down. This is long enough to charge my well, refrigerator, and heating system for several hours.
Unfortunately, the "green" industry is good at half truths. They forget about the true cost of energy. Also solar panels do not work when the power grid goes down. People who own them were not told that little secret.
I agree that electric motors are more efficient than petrol motors. But considering how the electricity is generated needs to considered. If your power is hydroelectric, then great! That's as good as it gets.
I can't understand how electric vehicles are more cost efficient than gas, based on the cost per mile. When you look at the cost of heating, electric is way more expensive than oil or natural gas. Wouldn't generating heat with electricity be about as efficient you can get?
Light a fire 100% conversion to heat energy.
Controlled explosion, 20% conversion to mechanical energy.
Makes sense. Got it.
You are correct that electric heating is 100% energy efficient in the sense that all the incoming electric energy is converted to heat. However, most electricity is produced from coal, gas, or oil generators that convert only about 30% of the fuel's energy into electricity. Because of generation and transmission losses, electric heat is more expensive than natural gas, propane, and oil.
If the electric source is hydro-electric, then what you really have is solar energy. Don't forget hydro-electric starts with the sun evaporating water.
It is 100% efficient if you only consider the conversion of electrical energy to heat. When you consider the cost and/or the generating and distributing efficiencies I don't think it even comes close to natural gas.
When you consider the cost and/or the generating and distributing efficiencies I don't think it even comes close to natural gas.
Electric heating doesn't beat oil, either. Which makes me wonder how it is that electric vehicles are more "fuel" efficient on the cost per mile.
Also solar panels do not work when the power grid goes down.
Why
The power grid acts as the load for the solar panels. When it goes off line, the solar panels have nowhere to send their power, so they shut down too. Of course, the design of your particular installation could be changed to work using the proper inverters and/or batteries, but that would raise the cost of your already expensive system.
Like Tesla power wall.
Also solar panels do not work when the power grid goes down. People who own them were not told that little secret.
Sure they do if your inverters support it. It's just that most people's systems aren't set up that way.
I agree that electric motors are more efficient than petrol motors. But considering how the electricity is generated needs to considered. If your power is hydroelectric, then great! That's as good as it gets.
It's even better cost-wise when you have solar. You're literally charging for free since that power is a sunk cost.
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