all i want to do is provide enough electricity for 2 fluorescent bulbs i was looking at some 80 watt panels how many of those would i need and what else do i need for storing the electricity for use at nite? and how much would it all cost?
The solar panels are made in China because there are fewer environmental regulations and cheap coal power. It takes a lot of energy to melt silicon and there are toxic waste products. It would be three to five times more expensive to make the panels in the US ( three times is just for reprocessing the toxic wastes ). Solar cell made in China are about $2 a watt, perhaps as low as $ a watt but in truth the claims for $ a watt or less solar panels as in thin film solar panels have much lower efficiency and require perhaps ten times more surface area.
