Solar power systems for the home

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

What's better for peak solar production months (ie. May-Aug), a solar club or Enmax's solar program? And if you go on either would you then lose your 5 year Enmax rate heading into winter?

If you have an existing cheap fixed rate with Enmax it is my understanding that the best option would be to stay with Enmax. You can go on their solar rate for the summer at $0.30 and go back to your fixed rate for the winter which is probably around $0.06. If you switch to a solar club you'll end up around $0.12 for the winter and $0.30 for summer.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I was just informed today that you can switch from your fixed Enmax plan to the summer rates and go back to the original plan without any issues. It is pretty much the only reason I am thinking about solar. Not sure it would make financial sense for me otherwise.

[Igotnothing]

I've had a few quotes for solar, the latest being from Firefly Solar. Is anyone familiar with them?

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Igotnothing

I've had a few quotes for solar, the latest being from Firefly Solar. Is anyone familiar with them?

Believe they are a re-seller of Kuby.
In the process of getting roof re-done and then solar myself, best quotes that I received were from SolarYYC & Skyfire which are also two of the largest and most reputable.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

We were quoted a very large system (46 panels for 18.77kwh), as apparently my family guzzle electricity (which I can confirm, as it appears my kids don't understand there is an off direction to all switches). My question is whether there are additional reliability concerns with that many panels? Would it be basically the same odds of a given panel failing, but with more panels, there would be a greater overall risk of a problem?

Much appreciating this conversation. Learning a lot about this stuff.

[Igotnothing]

Originally Posted by Torture

Believe they are a re-seller of Kuby.
In the process of getting roof re-done and then solar myself, best quotes that I received were from SolarYYC & Skyfire which are also two of the largest and most reputable.

Ya, they mentioned that, and Kuby seems reputable, for as much faith as you ever put into google reviews. I guess some of the worry I have is fly by night companies, you give them upfront money and they disappear, or in 4 years they are out of business and you're warranty is no good.

Perhaps I'll reach out to SolarYYC and Skyfire, see what their prices come in at.

Thanks for the info.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

We were quoted a very large system (46 panels for 18.77kwh), as apparently my family guzzle electricity (which I can confirm, as it appears my kids don't understand there is an off direction to all switches). My question is whether there are additional reliability concerns with that many panels? Would it be basically the same odds of a given panel failing, but with more panels, there would be a greater overall risk of a problem?

Much appreciating this conversation. Learning a lot about this stuff.

You could probably save a bunch of money and need fewer panels if you bought a kill-a-watt meter and see what is using excess power. I had a sound system in my garage that was using 50W turned off, and our upstairs TV is rarely used, so simply using a power bar switch that saved a bunch too. I think I went form 700kWh a month to 600 with those 2 things. You may have more low hanging fruit than you think, it's not just light switches!

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

You could probably save a bunch of money and need fewer panels if you bought a kill-a-watt meter and see what is using excess power. I had a sound system in my garage that was using 50W turned off, and our upstairs TV is rarely used, so simply using a power bar switch that saved a bunch too. I think I went form 700kWh a month to 600 with those 2 things. You may have more low hanging fruit than you think, it's not just light switches!

We had an energy audit done and we don't have the results, but for sure it isn't just light switches. Our builder used electric hot water heaters, which I am guessing is a huge problem. Otherwise, I guess the high usage at least allows for a big system and potentially a better return if the summer solar clubs remain. In my mind that is the biggest risk. If we are generating plenty of excess power in the summer, sold at a premium, then it all makes much more sense.

[photon]

Firefly came to my door so getting a quote from them to compare to the other quote I got from Zeno. But I suspect it'll be similar, my half east half west roof doesn't do me any favours, it's like I need twice the panels.

[AC]

If anybody is going to start with SolarYYC use me as a referral please, there's a $400 kickback. We can pass it down the chain going forward.

SolarYYC was good to work with regardless, they made it a surprisingly smooth process given the many moving parts.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

We had an energy audit done and we don't have the results, but for sure it isn't just light switches. Our builder used electric hot water heaters, which I am guessing is a huge problem. Otherwise, I guess the high usage at least allows for a big system and potentially a better return if the summer solar clubs remain. In my mind that is the biggest risk. If we are generating plenty of excess power in the summer, sold at a premium, then it all makes much more sense.

My only concern would be panel positioning on a system that large and how many panels are going to be in sub optimal positions. If most of those 46 panels are south facing it would make good sense but if you start dealing with other exposures it might alter generation capacity quite a bit and then your cost/benefit can vary quite a bit.

[Calgary14]

Originally Posted by photon

Firefly came to my door so getting a quote from them to compare to the other quote I got from Zeno. But I suspect it'll be similar, my half east half west roof doesn't do me any favours, it's like I need twice the panels.

Interesting a solar company is doing door to door. When I got quotes on my system not one company came out to take a look, they used google street maps and heat images to determine the correct panel placement and all quotes were given electronically only

[photon]

He didn't go up on the roof or anything so I think they're doing the quote the same way. Though Zeno did come to my house to discuss it and Firefly wants to come present it as well. I guess that makes sense to explain things and try and sell the system.

[photon]

The Firefly guy was here and the system size and cost were about the same as Zeno. I liked their presentation and that they're a reseller of Kuby is kinda nice as Kuby has been around for a while.

[photon]

I guess one unknown I can't really decide when weighing going with the solar panels is potential future change in cost.

Solar panels will likely come down in cost in the future somewhat, and I don't have a good idea of how much of today's cost is partly due to supply chain issues.

Is it a case where waiting would almost always be offset by the savings of doing it now (assuming that the interest free loan would be available, which isn't a given)?

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by photon

He didn't go up on the roof or anything so I think they're doing the quote the same way. Though Zeno did come to my house to discuss it and Firefly wants to come present it as well. I guess that makes sense to explain things and try and sell the system.

The hell. Zeno (and YYC Solar) sent me like a novel of a PDF to send them a bajillion photos and all the information so that they could give me a quote.

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by photon

Is it a case where waiting would almost always be offset by the savings of doing it now (assuming that the interest free loan would be available, which isn't a given)?

If you wait, there's always the risk of the current favorable net-metering schemes no longer being available. California dealing with a glut of mid-day solar power recently changed:

The main impact of NEM 3.0 is that it reduces compensation for excess power sent to the electric grid. Many states offer a credit equal to the retail electricity rate for exported solar production: this is known as one-to-one net metering, in which you're credited at the same rate for solar exports as what you'd pay to use electricity from the grid. In NEM 3.0, the CPUC established a new rate for crediting solar exports, shifting the structure from net metering to net billing, which is much lower in value – and by lower, we mean…lower. NEM 3.0 is based on "avoided cost" rates, meaning what your utility pays for any electricity you send to the grid is no longer based on your typical electricity rates, like a traditional net metering credit, but rather calculated separately. The exact rate varies depending on the hour of the day, day of the week (i.e., weekday vs. weekend), and month you export the energy: in fact, there are 576 possible export rates in total! On average, the avoided energy costs rates come out to about 25 percent of retail electricity rates during those same hours, meaning the value of net metering credits has decreased by about 75 percent under NEM 3.0.

[DoubleK]

^^^

Yes and that's exactly how it should be.

[photon]

Originally Posted by sketchyt

The hell. Zeno (and YYC Solar) sent me like a novel of a PDF to send them a bajillion photos and all the information so that they could give me a quote.

Unless I'm remembering wrong.. I only remember taking a picture of my panel.

Originally Posted by accord1999

If you wait, there's always the risk of the current favorable net-metering schemes no longer being available. California dealing with a glut of mid-day solar power recently changed:

Couldn't that happen regardless? Even if I got a system today couldn't they start giving me a lot less in a few years?

I would assume California is a lot further along the percentage of homes with solar curve compared to Alberta too.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by photon

Couldn't that happen regardless? Even if I got a system today couldn't they start giving me a lot less in a few years?



I would assume California is a lot further along the percentage of homes with solar curve compared to Alberta too.

Yes to everything you said, but the new regime in California is about as 'bad' as it should get.

Net metering on a volume basis is dumb, price has to be a factor in the equation.