Sukant2010 wrote:
Solar energy plants use a number of mirrors to focus sunlight and produce electricity for about ten cents per kilowatt hour. The problem with the wide spread acceptance of solar energy plants is that electricity can be generated from coal for seven cents per kilowatt hour. In a free market system consumers will choose the lowest-cost form of electricity. Consequently, there will not be a market for the electricity produced by solar energy plants.
Which of the following, if true, does most to weaken the conclusion presented above?
A. Electricity plants that rely on coal produce large quantities of pollution that contribute to acid rain.
B. The supply of other forms of renewable energy, such as wind energy from turbines, is more unpredictable than that produced by solar energy plants.
C. Solar energy plants produce their largest amounts of energy during the daytime in the summer, when electricity is most expensive, often costing utilities more than fifteen cents per kilowatt hour to purchase.
D.The solar energy farms must be located in areas of constant, intense sunlight and therefore cannot be constructed in the eastern United States.
E. Many people believe that solar energy will be the most important energy source in decades to come
I was too much confused with the OE of this question.
Please if any expert could explain it.
Thanks in advance!
Step 1 : Type of Question : weaken
Step 2 : What is to be weaken : conclusion
Step 3 : Conclusion ? there will not be a market for the electricity produced by solar energy plants.
Basis of Conclusion :
Cost of Energy from solar Power Plant : ten cents per kilowatt hour
Cost of Energy from coal : seven cents per kilowatt hour
In a free market system consumers will choose the lowest-cost form of electricity.
So people will prefer Coal energy
Option C : Solar energy plants produce their largest amounts of energy during the daytime in the summer, when electricity is most expensive, often costing utilities more than fifteen cents per kilowatt hour to purchase.
During Daytime summer
Cost of Energy from solar Power Plant : ten cents per kilowatt hour
Cost of Energy from any source : more then 15 cents per kilowatt hour
So people will prefer Solar Power plant. IMO C
My Question : Here we have to assume that summers will be for extended period of time. What if summers are for short period of time during the year ... Any prudent customer will compare cost per annum and then decide. Should we make such assumptions?
What is the source ?