'It's the right thing to do'

Gateway News ^ | 10/13/2011 | Kaye Bird

[Sopater]

Let's see...

12 panels at $18,000 each

12 x $18,000 = $222,000

$400 per year return on their investment

$222,000 / $400 = 555

Wow, it pays for itself in just 555 years.

Brilliant.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

With federal and state credits and refunds for installation of solar power, up to 80% of the costs, it takes far fewer years to pay for itself.

We got an estimate for installing solar. It was 56 panels and a bunch of running wire because of our out buildings, etc. Total estimate: $75k. Based on our annual usage and the 80% tax credits/refunds, our system would be paid for in 5 years.

[Little Ray]

What sort of battery setup are you going to use to store power for night time?

[Sopater]

...our system would be paid for in 5 years.

You'll be done paying for it in 5 years. American taxpayers will be paying for quite some time.

[WL-law]

I read the article to mean that the array of panels cost 18K in the aggregate, not 18K/panel.

[RansomOttawa]

I understood the story to say the entire array cost $18,500. So it would actually pay for itself in about 46 years. Still a bit steep, I'd say, but not quite as cloud-cuckoo-land ridiculous.

[Eldon Tyrell]

5-8 years is fairly common calculation. 80% is the key. DEpends on the State. You are spot on. One thing to be careful of is calculated energy capture vs actual. I hope you are in AZ or Socal. There are online calculators to check your supliers promises.

One thing you probably skipped - cost of $ - but at 4% mortgage rate - even that is so low as to not count for much. (3% after tax deduction).

Painful to read this reporting though - I think he said the panels “created energy” about three times. Then the inverters “utilized” energy. But whatever.

Obvously you know what you are doing - the next step - if you have something to use it for - is CNG for vehicles. You should get about 1/2 of gasoline cost. +/- - without tax effects. might get a kickback for the compressor.

[The Free Engineer]

It was all 12 panels for $18K.

So it’s ONLY 44 years.

[Nervous Tick]

>> 12 panels at $18,000 each

Nah, your assumption is incorrect; it’s $18K for the whole system.

So it pays for itself in $18000/$400 = “only” 45 years.

heh heh

[Sopater]

OK, so 46 years. If I bought such an array now, I could have a “last payment party” in my lifetime, assuming I live to be 92. I guess that is better. Not quite as “cloud-cuckoo-land ridiculous”. ;-)

[Nervous Tick]

Dang, you beat me by over a minute.

Oh well, I bet you used a calculator.

Just like a constipated mathematician, I worked mine out with a pencil.

[Eldon Tyrell]

Most of the folks here don’t know what they are talking about - including the author.

It is $18K for 3KW - PRIOR TO government tax rebates.

As the dumb blonde pointed out - these can reach 80% - though I think that is a tad high. But let’s let her have 80%. Means it really costs about $3600. At savings of $400./yr = 9 year payback.

Interest rate is so low that I can ALMOST skip it - but in this case - avg balance first 5 years approx $6K - let’s guestimate. So 5 years x 4% x $6K = another $1200 in interest/cost of $ - so 3 more years.

So - payback period - with no change in energy cost = approx 12 years for 3KW system.

Issue is - system is small relative to Dumb Blonde’s system. She is getting more panels for her wiring and inverter costs.

In the right location, and the right tax situation - it makes great sense. Panels should have 80% output for 20 years.

12 year payback - not my cup of tea. 7 year payback - with energy expense upside and option of 13 year production? Inflation protected energy costs? Starts to look like an energy annuity/hedge. Plus - if utilities start charging different rates at peak hours = usual solar high output time - all trends are positive.

[IamConservative]

the next step - if you have something to use it for - is CNG for vehicles.

I have seriously considered putting CNG on my diesel pickup. On a diesel, you fumigate the intake with CNG and offset up to 60% of your fuel. If I get out in the middle of nowhere and run out of CNG, it goes back to burning 100% diesel.

[woofie]

Im think it says the total cost was $18,000

[woofie]

Solar is big here in New Mexico ....has been for years. I have solar swimming pool heat ....the problem I see is the equipment does not hold up that long

but thats true of damn near everything

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"What sort of battery setup are you going to use to store power for night time?"

None. We would still be on the electrical power grid. For times when the power grid is down, we'd have a relatively small generator to feed the solar system so that it would still think that the grid was up and we would have full power.

[MileHi]

As the dumb blonde pointed out - these can reach 80% - though I think that is a tad high. But let’s let her have 80%. Means it really costs about $3600. At savings of $400./yr = 9 year payback.

Just because the government shifts the cost to your neighbors and your children doesn't mean the cost isn't there.

They paybacks always calc out to 30 - 40 years, longer than the system will last. Epic Fail any way you slice it.

[Little Ray]

If you’re in a sunny spot, you should consider an earthship home. Uses solar and/or wind, plus batteries. Uses propane for cooking and to supplement the fridge/freezer. The temperature is moderated by the house’s facing, the angle of the front windows, and insulation. Water is capture from the rainfall. Cisterns run about 3000 gallons.
Saw a bunch of them in New Mexico and I was pretty impressed. If they were only a little close to some hot springs...

[TheOldLady]

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