Is Solar Worth it? Anyone in Austin Area get it installed? (heat pump, storage)

[Need4Camaro]

PEC doesn’t seem to encourage going solar. While they won’t condemn it. It probably makes more sense to do it under AE.

From what I have been told, the energy companies mandate that the solar systems stop generating during a power outage unless you have a battery backup incase there is work undergoing the utility lines so a worker doesn’t get zapped by someone’s solar system while he expects there to be no voltage.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

I went with solar, although for ulterior purposes than saving money on energy. I wanted redundancy and I installed battery backups as well. That stated, I will recognize that it is not a solution for everyone. Staying on the grid is cheaper in the short and mid-term.

Usually solar companies try to match your energy usage and bill but offset aprox 80 - 90% of your energy for what you pay for your normal usage month to month. Offsetting 100% + backups will cost considerably more than staying on the grid. Long-term it is hazy because there is no telling where the prices of utilities and energy will go. It will definitely rise, but rise enough to offset the cost of a Solar System for say 30 years? I'm unsure. My system will cost me in the ball-park of $80k for Solar + Battery Backups sufficient enough to remain off-grid for a decent period of time. I intend to pay that off within a year however and while it will set me back for a short time, it will not hinder me from selling if I decide to sell in the future...although I would be surprised if I reaped the entire ROI for the system upon selling if I chose to.

If however I was not in position to pay it off quickly, I wouldn't recommend doing it. The grid is cheaper, and the cost for redundancy is very steep. A Natural Gas Generator is much more affordable.

just be aware the solar panels decay by 1%/year. They are generally considered to have a 25 year lifespan.

Also batteries need to be replaced much more frequently.

You will lose about 50% of the cost of a solar system when you sell.

[riaelise]

in curious - what is the kWh for Austin these days (after the hike)?

We've been dealing with high electric bills (from .8 to .14 per kWh) and high gas bills (nat gas is now 1.24 per unit, up from .57 two years ago..yikes)

[karpo1]

Originally Posted by Austin97

just be aware the solar panels decay by 1%/year. They are generally considered to have a 25 year lifespan.

Also batteries need to be replaced much more frequently.

Newer LiFePo4 batteries have >3000 cycles empty to full and much more when not totally drained daily, expected life 10-20years. I do not think it is financially sensible to run 100% solar + batteries, but would be interested on setup that would be enough to cover blackouts of few days. Having one room with A/C (heatpump) and freezer/fridge with lights operational for 5days would give peace of mind.

Such system would not break a bank and would reduce bit electricity costs as well. Maybe 3kW solar array, with 20kW battery would achieve it with cost below 10k plus install.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by karpo1

Newer LiFePo4 batteries have >3000 cycles empty to full and much more when not totally drained daily, expected life 10-20years. I do not think it is financially sensible to run 100% solar + batteries, but would be interested on setup that would be enough to cover blackouts of few days. Having one room with A/C (heatpump) and freezer/fridge with lights operational for 5days would give peace of mind.

Such system would not break a bank and would reduce bit electricity costs as well. Maybe 3kW solar array, with 20kW battery would achieve it with cost below 10k plus install.

Even that is asking alot out of a solar system / battery setup. You would need multiple batteries to accomplish that. The single battery setup is good for sustaining you for a few hours, maybe 8 at the very most.. ..but to have days of power, definitely need more than one battery. You also have to have more panels than your current usage to charge them, which is why it gets very expensive.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by karpo1

Newer LiFePo4 batteries have >3000 cycles empty to full and much more when not totally drained daily, expected life 10-20years. I do not think it is financially sensible to run 100% solar + batteries, but would be interested on setup that would be enough to cover blackouts of few days. Having one room with A/C (heatpump) and freezer/fridge with lights operational for 5days would give peace of mind.

Such system would not break a bank and would reduce bit electricity costs as well. Maybe 3kW solar array, with 20kW battery would achieve it with cost below 10k plus install.

the most cost efficient way is probably to buy a ford f150 electric truck with the max battery. The larger battery is about 130kwh, about 10 tesla powerwalls which are about 10K each.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by karpo1

Newer LiFePo4 batteries have >3000 cycles empty to full and much more when not totally drained daily, expected life 10-20years. I do not think it is financially sensible to run 100% solar + batteries, but would be interested on setup that would be enough to cover blackouts of few days. Having one room with A/C (heatpump) and freezer/fridge with lights operational for 5days would give peace of mind.

Such system would not break a bank and would reduce bit electricity costs as well. Maybe 3kW solar array, with 20kW battery would achieve it with cost below 10k plus install.

you can get the same effect with 2kw gas generator that will cost about 1K or less. I ran my furnace, refrigerator and lights off my 2kw honda eu2000 during the snowpocalypse.

The thing sips gas.

After the snowpocalypse I added a 13kw propane generator that can power my house via a direct connection to the circuit breaker. box. The generator was about 1300 and the interlock install was about 1500 (should only cost 800).

[karpo1]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Even that is asking alot out of a solar system / battery setup. You would need multiple batteries to accomplish that. The single battery setup is good for sustaining you for a few hours, maybe 8 at the very most.. ..but to have days of power, definitely need more than one battery. You also have to have more panels than your current usage to charge them, which is why it gets very expensive.

Server rack batteries are 5.12kWh, need is four. Rack would take 6 in total, $1499 each.
https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-lifep...ery-48v-100ah/

Setup would be to avoid evacuation in hot summer without electricity and help with cooling to reduce bills a bit.

[karpo1]

Originally Posted by Austin97

you can get the same effect with 2kw gas generator that will cost about 1K or less. I ran my furnace, refrigerator and lights off my 2kw honda eu2000 during the snowpocalypse.

The thing sips gas.

After the snowpocalypse I added a 13kw propane generator that can power my house via a direct connection to the circuit breaker. box. The generator was about 1300 and the interlock install was about 1500 (should only cost 800).

That is correct, but makes noise and needs gas to store or keeping full tank in car. Propane/natural gas generator is probably best compromise

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by karpo1

Server rack batteries are 5.12kWh, need is four. Rack would take 6 in total, $1499 each.
https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-lifep...ery-48v-100ah/

Setup would be to avoid evacuation in hot summer without electricity and help with cooling to reduce bills a bit.

I'm no electrical engineer but those batteries appear only to output approximately 51 volts and store 5.12kWh per battery.. ..A Tesla Powerwall can output up to 240 volts and stores about 13.5kWh of energy..

If its possible to connect those batteries in series to increase voltage to atleast 120V (which most household appliances, including your fridge require - Washer/Dryer/HVAC = 240V) then it would theoretically take about 3 batteries to match 1 Tesla Powerwall in terms of power availability.. which alone isn't enough to backup a home for several days. I could also be wrong about the power availability as hooking up in series doesn't seem to increase capacity, but only voltage.. If that is the case then energy storage would be less than half of a Powerwall.

Either way though I would be surprised if they were capable of keeping a HVAC system running for any meaningful length of time.