Is Solar Power really an option for most homeowners?

Question

I see a lot of Solar advocates here and in the media. I looked into it and found it impossible for me because of cost. I looked at a simple 3 Kilowatt, 16 Panel system which is tied to my electric company grid so all I produce just reduces my bill. The cost installed is about $20,000.

I did some research on life of equipment, hours of sunlight, etc., and figure I can only reliably get a max. of about 20 Kilowatt-Hours (KWH) a day 70-80 percent of the time, or about 5000-6000 KWH a year. I assumed a 10 year life of the equipment.

I pay about 10 cents/ KWH for my power, so the system will save me maybe $600/year.

This is rediculous. The system cost me $3000/year (2000 depreciation and 1000 interest @ 5%). The system will never pay itself off. Even if I cut the cost in half, it will not come close to reasonable power costs.

How can anyone promote this as a viable alternative? Maybe it will when power costs on the grid quadruple or more.

Answer 1

For ordinary people like yourself its a waist of money . The price tag is way to high . For guys like me the solar cell is sent from heaven . I build my panels from scrap broken cells and build small wind mills from junk i have a few pics in my blog . For the average guy it is ridiculous to pay that much . Your best off holding off until they come out with a better solution for energy .

Answer 2

It's not a viable alternative yet for homeowners. I've done loads of research on this subject, and most systems would take over 75 years to pay for themselves. These solar companies are not necessarily promoting themselves to save you money, but they are banking on the richer people, those who care about the environment, to invest in this for the greater good.

So no, you are completely right in that you won't save money by installing a solar system on your house. But if you can afford it, it drains less from the grid, which means we have to produce less, and it is a source of renewable energy. I'm sure in a few years we will see major advancements in this technology that will make it cheap enough for the common homeowner to purchase, but in the meantime we have to rely on those who can afford it to do so.

The less people rely on the grid, the less oil we need to buy from foreign countries, the less coal we mine, and the less internal drilling we need to do. If you look at all the other benefits of these systems besides cost, and what they help and prevent, it is undeniably beneficial for our country and the environment as a whole. This is why solar energy has been promoted so much.

On another note, the people I know who have purchased solar did not buy a full system to power their house. They usually tie their system into the grid, so they take electricity from both when they need it, but when they don't need they are actually supplying power to the grid. This is why so many states will give you tax breaks for installing solar. Overall these tax breaks might not allow them to break even, but like I said, they are not doing it for only monetary reasons. Did you look at the tax breaks and stipends that your state gives you for these systems? I could become financially acceptable...

Answer 3

I feel youre question is valid, solar panel life expectancy is 20-25 years and cost a small fortune, never mentioned is pollution in the manufacturing process. there may be a better alternative very soon:

http://www.befreetech.com/feinfo.htm

all they ask is a commitment to go to a demonstration of this proposed device next year. (on the Christian plan option) it looks viable/promising.
IF they put a unit at your place, you get free power, they own and maintain it, and only want the money for the surplus electricity upped to the grid. worth looking at.

btw, big energy and their politician buddies, world bank inclusive... do NOT want this to happen, it interferes with business (rape) as usual.

Answer 4

I know some people in Kansas that were able to put a windmill on their home. The kit they used was about the size of old fashioned TV antenna. They often actually put electricity back into the power grid and get paid for it. I don't know if that is an option in your area though and I'm not sure how much it cost to get the kit.

Answer 5

It does make sense for some people, but as you point out, not most, yet.

Part of the economics depends on whether you can sell your excess back to the power company, and what the tax incentives are.

Your analysis is a little on the negative side for most situations though, and your 10 year life of the equipment low.But you have a point. Solar needs to get cheaper before it's a good alternative for most people. Which is why it's not used more now.

Answer 6

I agree. But most people who buy such systems do so with rebates and government subsidies. They only pay about 10% or 20% of the full cost out of their own pockets.

And who pays the rest? You and me of course. That money has to come from somewhere.

We can only hope that the infusion of money will pay for the developments needed to reduce the real cost.

Answer 7

No... solar power requires too much expensive equipment to be a viable choice.

Power made by solar panels can cost over $0.60 per kwh
Areas where electricity is produced by conventional means... the power is under $0.15 per kwh (even where its overpriced)

So you just about have to be stupid to put in the panels

Answer 8

I just snuck a line out from my neighbor's house. I use his electricity. Now THAT's efficiency!!!

Why pay when you can just take the electricicals from some unknowing dim-wit?

Oh...and by the way...Yahoo! user informed is a crack smoker. You can't get "free electricity". There will ALWAYS be a cost and some sort of fuel will have to be burned to produce the electricity or the item that makes electricity (panels, turbines etc). Nothing is free. Please go back and take physics again. I think you missed some of it the first time.

Answer 9

Yeh. U R right. U-SEE such hi-tech solutions are for the rich. My solution: I have looked into and adopted for the past 3 years, a simple solution to save electrical energy for home owners. U-SEE, most of us, home users, during day time, prefer to shut our doors and windows for various reasons like security, pollution, noise etc and conveniently switch on electric bulbs (CO2 producers) for better lighting and living inside homes but when the sun is shining outside. This is what I call as misuse of costly electricity being generated by over-exploitation of natural resources like fossil fuel, coal, etc.
U-SEE, this is where the home owners can come to the rescue of the world by "bringing home the sunshine" for their lighting purpose and the saved energy can off set the load on air conditioners, etc.
I am an Environmentalist honoured by the World Bank for my Innovative proposal U-SEE (Unlimited Savings of Electrical Energy) for Grassroots initiatives for preservation of natural resources in May 2007. Please visit the website created for my innovative initiative by World Bank: http://dmblog.worldbank.org/mirrors-can-bring-light-rural-homes and let me have your valuable comments at [e-mail]. U-SEE, this innovative proposal is like a child's play and can be adopted the world over to stop burning bulbs during day time and save the world from global warming and reduce usage of natural resources. The saved electricity can offset that much of load for productive purpose
U-SEE the savings: ONE 40 watt bulb burning for 6 hours during day time clocks 7.2 units in 30 days. If this one bulb is switched off by half the world's population and get free light by "bringing home the sunshine through U-SEE method", the resultant saving would be.... ???? Your guess is my guess. U-SEE can help some of the natural resources for our children and grand children who will bless us?
Please circulate this and let the world adopt U-SEE and reap the benefits of free lighting and save the world.

Answer 10

Create Home Solar Power - http://SolarPower.duebq.com/?NQA