My wife, who is no stranger to the desire to hug a random tree, has been looking into purchasing Solar Panels to reduce our energy consumption. I'm more of a cut the tree down and burn the wood to warm the house type.
REGARDLESS - was running some numbers on this to try logic in my approach. I figure these units generate on average 1300 kwh /year. I currently pay .088 cents per kwh. This in effect "saves" me $115/year or say $10 dollars a month. the units cost like 3200 up front and $17/month for 15 years.
Is my math wrong? or does or local energy provider honestly believe we can't run the numbers and see that this make no financial sense?
I think the problem with solar panels for energy is that it isn't always worth it. I haven't crunched numbers but I think solar panels are more effective heating water.
Why does the unit cost $17/month after you purchase it? Are you sure that isn't a financing cost over the 15 years if you don't pay the money up front? Or maybe an estimate of what it would cost if you were to spread the purchase price over 15 years?
It's a lease arrangement - you own the equipment after 15 years. No option to purchase the equipment outright. Infact, I don't beleive enmax will allow me to go out an purchase the equipment and plug it into their elecrical panel. you'd need to do something completely isolated. YES 8.8 cents per kwh.
No tax breaks in Alberta (or federally) at this point in time. ON and SK have some pretty attractive incentives, but nothing currently or on the books in AB. this would indeed change the math. the sales guy talked about what ON is doing and how it would change the demand side of doing this.
You should be able to get something like a solar hot water heater for much cheaper: $1000-$3000 total with recommended yearly maintenance (no monthly charge). It should provide you with similar savings on your electricity bill.
I would look into that.
The Following User Says Thank You to blankall For This Useful Post:
I haven't crunched numbers but I think solar panels are more effective heating water.
Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
You should be able to get something like a solar hot water heater for much cheaper: $1000-$3000 total with recommended yearly maintenance (no monthly charge). It should provide you with similar savings on your electricity bill.
I would look into that.
Yup, these are both correct, solar panels are much more effective at heating water than providing electricity. Use them in a place where you use electricity or gas to heat water, and you may just be able to get the savings you are looking for.
In many places in the world they use solar panels to heat their pools. Is very effective and dirt cheap in comparison.
Didn't some smart Calgary teenager recently develop a solar-powered generator or something similar? That was like a few months ago the story came out. Maybe try looking up what she did for some inspiration or direction?
I've looked at that plan that Enmax offers as well. Little info sheet they sent out or something. I think it even said right on the form, don't expect much from this system or something along those lines.
Solar panels need to be far more efficient than they are today to make it worthwhile. Basically all their system is going to do is help pump some power back into the grid.
My wife, who is no stranger to the desire to hug a random tree, has been looking into purchasing Solar Panels to reduce our energy consumption. I'm more of a cut the tree down and burn the wood to warm the house type.
I remember talking to a guy who was doing his phd in solar energy a few years back and he told me that over the lifetime of a panel you can expect about 100-200% more electricity returned than the inputs in creating that panel. Oh, and the average life of a solar panel is 20 years so if you have to lease the product for 15 you're only free and clear for on average 5 years. Not a good deal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame
Didn't some smart Calgary teenager recently develop a solar-powered generator or something similar? That was like a few months ago the story came out. Maybe try looking up what she did for some inspiration or direction?
Don't know where the kid is from but this one made a discovery about solar power while thinking about oak trees a short while ago.
You also need to consider when you're using energy in you home. If someone stays at home to work/raise kids etc, then you could get some good use out of a solar panel, but otherwise you'd need a pretty good sized battery to store all that energy accumulated while you were at work. It's been said a couple times in this thread that using solar to heat water is a pretty decent return on investment and I'd agree. At this point I don't really know what else to use it for.
...Oh, and the average life of a solar panel is 20 years so if you have to lease the product for 15 you're only free and clear for on average 5 years. Not a good deal.
I've heard that they loose less than 5% efficiency (if properly maintained) over 30 years.
I've looked at that plan that Enmax offers as well. Little info sheet they sent out or something. I think it even said right on the form, don't expect much from this system or something along those lines.
I remember this quite clearly - I was super impressed that they said something to the effect of "although you can theoretically break even or earn credit for returning excess energy to the grid, understand that you are doing this for environmental reasons, not to save money"
I've heard that they loose less than 5% efficiency (if properly maintained) over 30 years.
Interesting video, but his solar imprint was set up with 2x4s that haven't ever seen a winter. That's some young lumber he has propping up his panels, I wonder if he'll still be off the grid in winter.
Anyways what does proper maintenance cost per annum? Do you have to get someone to shovel the snow off during the winter? Or does it involve 'solar panel experts'? 'cause that's going to cost more, even if they just shovel the snow off of it in the winter.
Interesting video, but his solar imprint was set up with 2x4s that haven't ever seen a winter. That's some young lumber he has propping up his panels, I wonder if he'll still be off the grid in winter.
Anyways what does proper maintenance cost per annum? Do you have to get someone to shovel the snow off during the winter? Or does it involve 'solar panel experts'? 'cause that's going to cost more, even if they just shovel the snow off of it in the winter.
I always thought that the current running threw the solar panels would generate enough heat to melt any snow that it came in contact with. I have no idea to be honest, but if you do have to brush off any excess snow/ice build up off your solar panels on your roof would really blow...
Solar Panels
