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Anyone using solar to power their home or business?
- Thread starter SqueeGee
- Start date
BrianKE
New Member
I looked into this at one point for my home and unless you are an electrician you will more than likely need someone to install (or at least hook it up to the house wiring).
However I think you will find the ROI on this type of investment very low based on your location. I am in Ohio and the number of sun days makes this a very long term investment. One option that I found but haven't moved forward with is a vertical cylinder windmill. My house sits next to an open field and always has a good amount of wind. This is not the traditional windmill with large blades but rather similar to a squirrel cage found in your furnace. These come is a huge range of sizes and can be mounted just about anywhere with wind. With the solar panels you need to mount them somewhere that faces south (again based on your geographic location) to get the best use of them.
Check out http://www.wepower.us/ for an example of the squirrel cage design.
HTH
However I think you will find the ROI on this type of investment very low based on your location. I am in Ohio and the number of sun days makes this a very long term investment. One option that I found but haven't moved forward with is a vertical cylinder windmill. My house sits next to an open field and always has a good amount of wind. This is not the traditional windmill with large blades but rather similar to a squirrel cage found in your furnace. These come is a huge range of sizes and can be mounted just about anywhere with wind. With the solar panels you need to mount them somewhere that faces south (again based on your geographic location) to get the best use of them.
Check out http://www.wepower.us/ for an example of the squirrel cage design.
HTH
Steve G.
New Member
I've been thinking of trying this for supplemental heat in our shop. We have a flat rubber roof, so i think it would work well there...
https://sites.google.com/site/glenssolarheater/
https://sites.google.com/site/glenssolarheater/
Here's an interesting read about home applications of solar panels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_tie_inverter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_tie_inverter
Pat Whatley
New Member
Brian beat me to it. Everyone I've talked to is really moving toward a windmill, either traditional or vertical, to generate their own power.
The beauty of generating your own power is that any excess power can be fed back into the power grid. I don't know if it's the same everywhere but here the power company is REQUIRED to buy the power from you.
The beauty of generating your own power is that any excess power can be fed back into the power grid. I don't know if it's the same everywhere but here the power company is REQUIRED to buy the power from you.
geb
New Member
here's another link to check out, http://www.power-save1200.com/, good topic.
There are some really good state and federal incentives available that will significantly shorten the time to recoup the initial investment. In Virginia, the Dept. of Mines, Minerals and Energy took reservations for rebates on solar PV and wind systems. We were approved for up to a 20kW system with the rebate amount being equal to $2/kW for the first 10kW and $1.75/kW for the next 10kW.
I *think* we can get a 10kW system installed for about $50,000. We would then get $20,000 back from the state rebate and a 30% federal tax credit of $16,665. This brings the net out of pocket expense to $13,335. Depending on the market for Solar Renewable Energy Credits and how many we produce, we could then recoup an additional $2500 - $3000 per year.
Lastly, and really the smallest initial cost benefit, our energy bill would go down by a couple hundred bucks a month.
I've been looking into this for about 3 months now and will be meeting with a guy locally who recently installed a 6kW system at his house for $30,000. He's had no power at all for a year now.
I think that our country in primed for some big energy cost increases. Right now we're getting some "carrots" in the form of incentives to become more efficient but I'm afraid we're going to start getting the "stick" in the form of much higher rates soon.
jiarby
New Member
For now buying electricity is far cheaper, but I agree that may not always be the case
be sure to consider the cost of maintenance...
How much will replacement panels cost??
In 3-5 years (when much more efficient systems are being mfg'd) will your system be upgradable? For how much?
How well does it work when buried in snow?
how long have you ever seen a battery last in anything?? 6kv of batteries is a crapload, and they will need replacing 2-3x over the life of the panel. There won't be subsidies at battery replacing time.
Take any ROI stats with a grain of salt, especially when fed to you by the folks pushing solar. They are not unbiased.
REALLY watch out for leased systems.
BTW/////
That 50k invested can make you a couple hundred bucks a month, which you can then use to pay your electric bill. But in 10 years you'll still have your $50k!! Just don't buy ENRON!
be sure to consider the cost of maintenance...
How much will replacement panels cost??
In 3-5 years (when much more efficient systems are being mfg'd) will your system be upgradable? For how much?
How well does it work when buried in snow?
how long have you ever seen a battery last in anything?? 6kv of batteries is a crapload, and they will need replacing 2-3x over the life of the panel. There won't be subsidies at battery replacing time.
Take any ROI stats with a grain of salt, especially when fed to you by the folks pushing solar. They are not unbiased.
REALLY watch out for leased systems.
BTW/////
That 50k invested can make you a couple hundred bucks a month, which you can then use to pay your electric bill. But in 10 years you'll still have your $50k!! Just don't buy ENRON!
BrianKE
New Member
Good point! When I looked into this a few years ago there were few if any incentives to installing any alternative energy sources except for being "green" or "off the grid".
Arlo Kalon 2.0
New Member
On a related note... I just read a story today about a wall coating that's supposed to be available by 2012. The coating illuminates on the wall and has a dimmer switch. It said it can be solar powered as well. Supposed to eliminate the need for light bulbs in a room. Sounds cool to me.
animenick65
New Member
Replacement panels? Most good solar systems are rated to last 20 years. Keep in mind guys, that as time goes on, laws change and the way renewable energy is handled in this country will change. Currently, the amount of electricity in the grid is controlled by power plant output, which can be controlled. If even half the houses in the US were on solar or wind power, there would be no way to control what is put back into the system. You can imagine the problems that could create. Don't think they will buy electricity from you forever. Keep in mind storage options as well. Some of which are still on the drawing table.
First, the chicken pasties still crack me up.
With a grid tied system, there are no batteries because you do not store energy. If you make more energy than you use, then your meter runs backwards (google net metering). It's not my intention to sell energy back to the power company. My ultimate goal would be to size the system such that in a year's time, I generate as much as I use and thus have no power bill.
The guy who I'm going to meet with who put in a 6kW system explained that during the summer, he generates way more power than he uses and builds up a credit with the power company. During the winter, it's reversed and he uses up the credit. He compared it to roll over minutes on a cell phone plan. The roll over period with our electric cooperative is one year.
jiarby
New Member
I dont know too much about solar systems... but like carbon offset credits I think swapping elect credits will end up being a scam, or at least not quite what it sounded like on the brochure.... They hold all the cards. YOU pay for the infrastructure, YOU maintain it, but THEY tell you when you get a credit, what it is worth, and when/how you can redeem it.
I was suggesting replacement panels because I think they are bound to break now & then... "rated to last" and "warranty" are two different things. AND, I believe that in 5 years your system will be obsolete as newer photovoltaic technology comes around. Why keep a 15% efficient panel when a 40-50% is around. The panel may last 20 years but the technology wont.
AND
A 20yr warranty is only as good as the business behind it. What was the guy installing your solar panel doing for a living 5 years ago?
I am just saying to consider all the possibilities, not just the rosiest possible one.
The fact is your out $50k of hard money. In 6 years you MAY break even. In that same time you may have doubled your $50k by investing it. Don't forget the lost opportunity cost of the hard cash that could have been working for you but is now buying your installer a nice new Ford F350 Dually.
BTW...
Will your homeowners policy also insure the panels from damage/loss? Will your insurance rates go up?
I was suggesting replacement panels because I think they are bound to break now & then... "rated to last" and "warranty" are two different things. AND, I believe that in 5 years your system will be obsolete as newer photovoltaic technology comes around. Why keep a 15% efficient panel when a 40-50% is around. The panel may last 20 years but the technology wont.
AND
A 20yr warranty is only as good as the business behind it. What was the guy installing your solar panel doing for a living 5 years ago?
I am just saying to consider all the possibilities, not just the rosiest possible one.
The fact is your out $50k of hard money. In 6 years you MAY break even. In that same time you may have doubled your $50k by investing it. Don't forget the lost opportunity cost of the hard cash that could have been working for you but is now buying your installer a nice new Ford F350 Dually.
BTW...
Will your homeowners policy also insure the panels from damage/loss? Will your insurance rates go up?
Dice
New Member
I would wait. There is a company that is working on printable solar panels.
Nano Solar, http://www.nanosolar.com
They have just completed their new production facility and I think they will be producing low cost panels very soon. At Least half the cost of the current ones.
Nano Solar, http://www.nanosolar.com
They have just completed their new production facility and I think they will be producing low cost panels very soon. At Least half the cost of the current ones.