andrewducker | Interesting Links for 16-08-2022

[In the US] I got a quote for solar a couple of months ago and it was still coming in as a 20-ish year payback, I guess my usage isn't huge or rates are lower here. I was enthusiastic, but it simply does not pencil out. I also got a bid a battery backup for the whole house, but that was high also, despite press about prices coming down. Total cost for both was about double what I expected to pay, and that would be much more than a generator. The presence of trees shading my house in winter, when power is most needed, means that the system will not perform at top efficiency when new and as the trees grow it will get worse (can't remove them, not my trees and the community has rules against it).

Neighbor across the street is much better placed for it, but that initial cost is so high, I'm sure there won't be a lot of it around here. Twenty year payback is a long long time.

Depends what you think might happen with prices (and supply security, if such things concern you). 20 yr "payback" - is that allowing for inflation eating at the capital sum if you have it but DON'T spend it now? Also even if that is priced in, it genuinely could make sense if you have the money now but will not later (e.g. retirement or some such quaint notion). Except most systems won't last 20 yrs, and batteries have as max 10yr lifespan. Else I'd be thinking of solar adding to the property value.

As it is, I know in Denmark, most people are actually scrapping their older solar systems. Denmark now forces you to sell to the grid at wholesale price and buy back at consumer price. Needless to say, the differential is huge.bYou are not allowed to directly use the power you generate. So it makes no sense at all any more on a domestic level (esp if there are any maintenance costs at all).

The co. I work for do a "lease to own" 20 yr deal where they sort everything (including if a battery makes sense or not). Basically, you swap your electricity bill for a (almost certainly fixed interest) loan. I guess most people must save. For me right now it'd have to cost less than ... oooh roughly 15k for a loan to be cheaper than my elec bill. I don't think I can get much for that!

Stopping people from using their own solar panels to power their own needs seems ridiculous. Any idea why Denmark has done that?

No,I don't know. Big business interests, I assume. I could ask my source.

I'd love to know!

"One of the previous right wing government's business friendly policies. Hasn't been changed back however... You can install them any time you like...but you sell the electricity for one quarter what you have to buy it for, and you can't use your own.

It was never advertised. Shocked and upset a lot of folk.

...as they make so little that it doesn't cover the maintenance - so cheaper to take them down."

When asked what a politician would say as to why :

"Probably say something about the fact that power isn't needed in the daytime bla bla bla

...and that they are all for solar power, just in big farms."

The property will appreciate, but the solar panels won't... if I were thinking of selling in 5 years, it might be an easier call, but, modulo an earthquake, the house will do well with or without them. Hydro dominates our local generation on the grid, as I understand it.

We lose power in storms a couple times a year, so a battery backup would be very nice to have, and quieter than a generator. (I hate the roar of my neighbors' generators and would loath having one going right outside.) The local utility is trying to build more robust system by adding connections between outlying areas.

The Denmark policy is nuts. I assume it's about political donations. Denmark is too urbanized and too far north for people to opt off the grid, I guess...

I am in N Germany. We get a bit more sun than the Danes typically, but we're still 54N. Long days in the summer though :-). But every commercial farm/ workshop/factory roof has masses of solar. I assume there were grants / loans. None for domestic in my state.

As in Denmark, wind is our bigger asset. But the locals have issues with that (asshole behaviour from landowners hasn't helped). One can have a 10m tower without planning permission. :-). Not that anyone does. But I might. At least to run a fruit/veg dryer.

My dairy farm neighbours across the road are building a Biogas plant! Wonder if they might sell me some :-).

Interesting Links for 16-08-2022

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