About 15 years ago I was considering going totally solar. At the time the utility companies were not offering these deals where they install some panels on your roof 'for free' and then you pay them a flat amount each month for a contracted period regardless of usage like they do now.
So, back then, I was living in a hot, desert climate. My utility bills were high in the summer and low in the winter.
I had to do my own investigation to find a vendor, an installer, and electrician. I'd have to order the panels from the manufacturer and have it delivered and then installed locally by someone. I researched all the solar panel manufacturers across the country and emailed them with my questions. They asked me for my utility bill usage info and calculated what I would need to convert my home to go completely solar.
At the time, my 3,000 sf house had energy bills as high as $500 per mo in the summer and $200 in the winter. They came back with this info:
20 year lifespan of the panels themselves
3,800 s.f. of solar panels needed (Where to put? Larger than my roof span)
$250,000.00 = solar panels only
$$ = +Add for delivery, + install and + connection to local utility company meters.
So. If I considered the cost of the panels ONLY, and they were only good for 20 years, here's how it would pencil out:
12 months x 20 years = 240 months lifespan. $250,000.00 divided by 240 months = $1,042 per month (not including interest).
It clearly made no sense. So, I didn't do it.
I'm sure the solar products have improved since then, but man! There's gotta be a better way.
After 20 years your panels lose some capability. Not all of it. I am looking at used panels. About 10-20 cents per watt. I can get enough to power my house for a few thousand. The used ones generally are 95-99%. Then I need a big inverter or a micro inverter for each panel. The whole system would cost about 5k plus installation. I can do everything myself except the actual tie to the pole.
The batteries are the expensive part. Lithium ion. Add another 10-30k depending on how much back up I want.
I got bids from 25-30k for grid tie, no batteries with install included.
I can’t imagine where they would get a price of 250k. That’s crazy.
Yeah, I thought so, too. The big problem was powering up two large A/C units, two refrigerators, stove, oven microwave, computers, tvs, lights, washer, dryer, water heater, etc., all maybe running simultaneously or nearly.
I've thought about just getting enough to power the fridges, microwave, hot water heater and computers/phones and a couple of lights in case of emergency.
I need to talk with someone who is better versed on the newest options so I don't make a mistake.
I have just two 325W panels that charge batteries during the day and the excess runs my three office computer systems. When the sun goes, mains electricity takes over (during the night and bad weather). I probably spent the equivalent of $1500. For this I get several hours of power when the mains electricity is offline (as happens frequently on our island). It's for convenience - not saving money.
How much power is required to create a consistent solar panel? How many years does it work? Does it happens to reach a positive return of investment?
Edit: how do you recycle it?
About 15 years ago I was considering going totally solar. At the time the utility companies were not offering these deals where they install some panels on your roof 'for free' and then you pay them a flat amount each month for a contracted period regardless of usage like they do now.
So, back then, I was living in a hot, desert climate. My utility bills were high in the summer and low in the winter.
I had to do my own investigation to find a vendor, an installer, and electrician. I'd have to order the panels from the manufacturer and have it delivered and then installed locally by someone. I researched all the solar panel manufacturers across the country and emailed them with my questions. They asked me for my utility bill usage info and calculated what I would need to convert my home to go completely solar.
At the time, my 3,000 sf house had energy bills as high as $500 per mo in the summer and $200 in the winter. They came back with this info:
20 year lifespan of the panels themselves
3,800 s.f. of solar panels needed (Where to put? Larger than my roof span)
$250,000.00 = solar panels only
$$ = +Add for delivery, + install and + connection to local utility company meters.
So. If I considered the cost of the panels ONLY, and they were only good for 20 years, here's how it would pencil out: 12 months x 20 years = 240 months lifespan. $250,000.00 divided by 240 months = $1,042 per month (not including interest).
It clearly made no sense. So, I didn't do it.
I'm sure the solar products have improved since then, but man! There's gotta be a better way.
After 20 years your panels lose some capability. Not all of it. I am looking at used panels. About 10-20 cents per watt. I can get enough to power my house for a few thousand. The used ones generally are 95-99%. Then I need a big inverter or a micro inverter for each panel. The whole system would cost about 5k plus installation. I can do everything myself except the actual tie to the pole.
The batteries are the expensive part. Lithium ion. Add another 10-30k depending on how much back up I want.
I got bids from 25-30k for grid tie, no batteries with install included.
I can’t imagine where they would get a price of 250k. That’s crazy.
Yeah, I thought so, too. The big problem was powering up two large A/C units, two refrigerators, stove, oven microwave, computers, tvs, lights, washer, dryer, water heater, etc., all maybe running simultaneously or nearly.
I've thought about just getting enough to power the fridges, microwave, hot water heater and computers/phones and a couple of lights in case of emergency.
I need to talk with someone who is better versed on the newest options so I don't make a mistake.
Wind!! /s
I'll have a nice day....
I have just two 325W panels that charge batteries during the day and the excess runs my three office computer systems. When the sun goes, mains electricity takes over (during the night and bad weather). I probably spent the equivalent of $1500. For this I get several hours of power when the mains electricity is offline (as happens frequently on our island). It's for convenience - not saving money.