Solar panels

[yesmaybe]

BTW, I saw that CA Utilities are angling to get what they pay for solar cut to just generation instead of the full net metering. If that happened here that would cripple the ROI for solar given how much they charge for distribution.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

BTW, I saw that CA Utilities are angling to get what they pay for solar cut to just generation instead of the full net metering. If that happened here that would cripple the ROI for solar given how much they charge for distribution.

I would just invest in a battery (if I already owned panels). If you have sufficient panels to generate all the power you need during the day and a little extra to charge the battery then your house will run on the battery at night and you won't have to worry about the meter running forward.

[matrix5k]

Originally Posted by MikePRU

I would just invest in a battery (if I already owned panels). If you have sufficient panels to generate all the power you need during the day and a little extra to charge the battery then your house will run on the battery at night and you won't have to worry about the meter running forward.

I heard batteries have a 10 year lifespan. Is it still worth 17k for one?

[simplexsimon]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

I heard batteries have a 10 year lifespan. Is it still worth 17k for one?

I think it’s up to the individual. Batteries are only useful during blackouts which I get maybe once a year for a few hours...definitely needed if you have equipment like medical devices that require power. The net cost over a 5 year period with the smart program is more like $5-6k based on the calculations I did earlier this year. I was also told that it requires extra permitting in my town, which would have slowed down the whole process. I also believe that there’s some more room for improvement in battery technology. Based on these factors I decided against it.

Solar panels on the other hand I calculate about a 4-5 year break even which seemed like a no brainer.

[johngolf]

The main issues with solar panels is not the panels/technology but the "sales practices/contracts" of many of those selling such, especially the ownership of the panels.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

I heard batteries have a 10 year lifespan. Is it still worth 17k for one?

The Tesla Powerwalls are $11,500 just for the parts (installation extra), and that's for the 13.5kWh setup. 13.5kWh isn't much - 5,000 Watts for less than 3 hours. There are other brands of course. I'd look for one that uses LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries instead of NMC lithium ion batteries - should last longer, be more thermally stable, and less expensive.

[matrix5k]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

The Tesla Powerwalls are $11,500 just for the parts (installation extra), and that's for the 13.5kWh setup. 13.5kWh isn't much - 5,000 Watts for less than 3 hours. There are other brands of course. I'd look for one that uses LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries instead of NMC lithium ion batteries - should last longer, be more thermally stable, and less expensive.

The quotes I got for a 10kwh system were all in the 43k+ range. Batteries were all 17k regardless of brand. So yeah. With that much money, I'd get a better return on an investment property.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

The quotes I got for a 10kwh system were all in the 43k+ range. Batteries were all 17k regardless of brand. So yeah. With that much money, I'd get a better return on an investment property.

An EV battery pack is in that same price range - upper teens, but that's for ~ 70kWh, much more capacity. Apparently the market for home storage batteries will bear these heavy prices.

[OutdoorLover]

Lots of good info here from this episode of the "BS & Beer" show podcast - BS stands for building science in this case ;-).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjIr6y_yYo0