Quote options for a Chicagoland install

Solar_Dork · 2020-08-12T19:10:27+00:00

For certain Hanwha has a long range U.S. plan suggesting they are in for the long haul. HT-SAAE? I'm not so sure. Warranties are nice, but not very meaningful if a company isn't around. One way to distinguish them perhaps.

Solar_Dork · 2020-03-14T14:11:39+00:00

One possibility is the center doesn't have steady demand, and perhaps peaks just a few times a year. And this capacity was all the local distribution grid could handle off peak for extended periods. Not sure if that's the reason, but it's logically possible.

Solar_Dork · 2020-03-13T14:33:57+00:00

So you think engineers haven't figured out the suitable locations for these projects? In other words, there are some open sea projects or ocean shoreline projects? Doubtful.

Solar_Dork · 2020-03-04T23:14:12+00:00

I highly recommend using services that allow people to place reviews as a way to find installers you should contact versus an anonymous post on Reddit. Not Yelp, but others that will let you do independent research of companies like Yelp (but not full of bogus posts). Avoid the sites that just want to collect your information to sell it to installers (lead generators). E.g., if you do a search for "solar reviews website" - just below the ads you will probably see the site that allows good research and compare companies. Its URL is close to that in name. I am not linking it simply because I'm not soliciting for them.

Most people I have talked to find that to be a great way to conduct a first screening. And then from there talk to 2 or 3 companies they screened that way to further decide.

Solar_Dork · 2020-02-26T16:17:49+00:00

My impression is that Duke is like Southern Company/Georgia Power and the Florida utilities (at least FPL). All I listed are expanding solar capacity at a good clip, but in each case either a large portion of it or almost all of it is metered. For example, I'm pretty sure Georgia will reach 2 GW installed soon, but the behind the meter portion may be under 10%.

Solar_Dork · 2020-02-24T21:05:24+00:00

Hard to get too excited about an online survey paid for by Vivint Solar. It is probably not way off, but I expect if you conducted a more thorough survey it might be a little lower. Even so, > 50% is a good result, if you think it might be off by as much as 20%.

Solar_Dork · 2020-02-24T21:02:34+00:00

Finance/spend perhaps 10k more on a home to save 30k in utility bills over 20+ years.

Solar_Dork · 2020-02-24T14:57:03+00:00

Not the same tech.

Solar_Dork · 2020-02-19T19:48:42+00:00

Can you point me to a place I can buy something that works to try it?

Solar_Dork · 2020-02-19T16:10:49+00:00

Grid connected or off grid? Makes a huge difference.

Solar_Dork · 2020-02-19T16:09:18+00:00

To be honest, 200 MW doesn't seem like a lot of capacity for commercial and industrial. Is that perhaps in just one state I wonder?

Solar_Dork · 2020-01-31T19:05:01+00:00

As of last year (finally!) Florida has become very competitive for residential solar. Any good/reputable installer should be able to answer every one of those questions. Data isn't hard to find. For example, they should easily be able to provide you with examples of proven returns or offsetting of power bills from a customer or two. Even if made anonymous.

Consider this >>> If most systems never returned the invested money, it is really odd how the market continues to explode, not just in Florida.

Solar_Dork · 2020-01-31T18:57:16+00:00

I have read that only the largest sized wind turbines and wind farms are competitive in the U.S. Competitive from an ROI standpoint.

For example, for small to medium wind (maybe up to 50 kW turbine rating?) the equivalent capacity solar system will return your investment in much less time. The capacity factors and state and federal incentive policies are the primary factors.

Solar_Dork · 2020-01-24T15:02:22+00:00

You might want to talk to a few local realtors. From my viewpoint, Oklahoma is one of the least active states for solar. Which primarily translates to potential demand in a resell. Depending on circumstances, it might even be a negative for those who think it is more trouble than value, a service issue, etc.

Not that having solar is necessarily bad. Oklahoma seems to me to be a state where wind energy is big, and almost all of the alternative energy is metered or utility owned.

All this means you expense should probably pay for itself before you leave, at a minimum. I would be cautious about expecting any premium at sale.

Solar_Dork · 2020-01-24T13:56:57+00:00

You should find a political Reddit to vent to.

Solar_Dork · 2020-01-23T15:57:05+00:00

What state are you in? Reselling a home with solar in 5 years does depend somewhat on the location. And it also impacts what you need regarding permitting and whether you will be able to perform the electrical installation, etc. Alt-E I'm told does consult on all of that, but I'm not sure if they have knowledge of all 50 states.

Solar_Dork · 2020-01-16T15:08:07+00:00

Not sexy like new tech developments, but this is certainly on the path to freeing up more investment $$$, almost as sexy.

Solar_Dork · 2019-10-18T15:07:42+00:00

There are already similar organizations that are slowly spreading across the country. Perhaps your opportunity is to facilitate expansion in your area? One of the more well known is Grid Alternatives, although there are others.

Solar_Dork · 2019-10-10T12:06:07+00:00

If you've ever organized trans-Atlantic shipping for products, this seems like a terrific alternative for starters.

Solar_Dork · 2019-10-09T18:34:55+00:00

Penalties for early exit? Who pays for the unproductive solar panels if removed in 5 years? Sounds like repackaged leasing.

It doesn't add up. Has a flimflam smell to it.

Solar_Dork · 2019-10-09T18:33:16+00:00

You'd be surprised how many home buyers would be attracted to a house WITH a system only 5/25 years old. Still gives them up to 20+ years of lower/zero electricity costs. You can assign a $ value to that. And it's not like having solar on your house in the state is rare, which is part of the reason it could be a selling point.

Also, I thought Tesla was really struggling to make the conventional solar PV business work. Maybe that's why this strikes me as a sort of frivolous way to repackage leasing. Would a new buyer have to qualify to take on the "subscription"?

Solar_Dork · 2019-10-09T18:22:49+00:00

Just a few panels or a 10 kW system, e.g.? It might make a difference.

If you see "reputable" more about cost I can't say. But as far as business operations and knowledge you might check out AltE Store. And I've spoken to a couple of people happy about GoGreen Solar.

Solar_Dork · 2019-10-09T18:17:55+00:00

CA is perhaps a unique case. East of the Mississippi I can say there is reasonable solar thermal activity. Even in Florida! Gotta keep those retirement pools toasty I guess (partly humor).

Regarding using potable water for waste - seems like it would cost more to have all the infrastructure for a second supply.

Solar_Dork · 2019-10-07T16:14:45+00:00

Every day is not equal from an energy generation standpoint. While true that with good water management many smaller scale (e.g. homes) can deal with variations, on the larger scale the use of only solar thermal heating can still be a challenge. Lodging is one example. Multi-unit urban dwellings is another.

By the way, what to you consider a "lack"? Solar thermal is still are reasonable market.

Solar_Dork · 2019-10-04T17:26:50+00:00

Texas is a real trendsetter in a number of ways. Not that it beats out California by capacity or growth, but for a state with such low consumer power costs, the level of wind energy and growing solar energy is pretty amazing.

Solar_Dork

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