If I recall the article I read a few years back correctly, conventional
glass covered solar panels require more energy to make than they will ever
produce in their entire lives. Anyone have any data?


http://jupiter.clarion.edu/~jpearce/.../netenergy.pdf


ABSTRACT
A number of detailed studies on the energy requirements on the three types of
photovoltaic (PV) materials, which make up the majority of the active solar
market: single crystal,polycrystalline, and amorphous silicon were reviewed.
It was found that modern PV cells based on these silicon technologies pay for
themselves in terms of energy in a few years (1-5 years). They thus generate
enough energy over their lifetimes to reproduce themselves many times (6-31
reproductions)depending on what type of material, balance of system, and the
geographic location of the system. It was found that regardless of material,
built-in PV systems are a superior ecological choice to centralized PV
plants. Finally, the results indicate that efficiency plays a secondary role
to embodied energy in theoverall net energy production of modern solar cells.



Interesting, but this study readily admits in both paragraphs under
"Introduction" that total LCA (life cycle analysis) for the
gathering/mining of the raw materials, transportation of all materials,
entire production of the cells, glass panels, metal frames, batteries,
wiring, electronics, and disposal/recycling of all components is too
difficult and that each individual system would have to be quantified
independently.

Thus, their conclusions above are based only on "Net Energy Analysis"
(the study of only the PV cells themselves).

I would like to believe there is a solution to the energy problem. Not
sure yet if PV is it.

Thanks for the info and research. It was interesting.

Mike