Home solar installations however remain just as expensive ):
But every little helps, so this is good news!
this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2023
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I don't know how anyone affords home solar. We got 2 quotes last year to put solar on our 1000sqft roof from solar installers in our area. The first was just over $100k, the second $160k! The second quote was for more than we have remaining on our mortgage - how is anybody doing this?
That’s seems ridiculous: where are you? Are you sure that’s just solar, or would it also include batteries, maybe a “solar roof”, instead of solar on the roof? As far as I know, most of the systems (in us at least) are designed for shingled roofs: do you have tiles or slate, or something?
Where I live in the northeast us, it’s typically $20-30k for solar panels on my roof, only. I don’t need batteries because I’d stay grid-tied and my roof is pretty new. That’s still ridiculously expensive and beyond any reasonable payback but state incentives make it much more reasonable. They claim 4-7 years payback but since I can’t follow their math, it goes into the bin with the rest of advertising hogwash
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DIY solar is apparently a thing. Got exactly this reason.
I would recommend most people at least have professionals install the hardware going directly into and through the roof to avoid leaks. Unless there's nobody reputable you can hire and you are sure what you're doing.
Home repair is often fairly simple and can be done easily with some basic online tutorials, but there's so many people that don't do that and think up terrible solutions off the cuff.
Metal roofs are also an option that go great with solar. There is a style of metal roof panels where you dont drill at all, you just clamp the panels on the ridges.
Roofing is its own ball of wax, but if youre handy or need a new one anyway they are a fine pair.
I paid 24k not counting rebates in 2021 for an 8kw system on the roof of a >2000 sq ft house. I think you need to find some other companies.
Really depends on your area and amount of solar.
For the DIY approach with 20 panels here in belgium, it would be about 7000€. A contractor is estimated at around 9000€.
If you make a whole solar farm it would be of course, much more, but for a single family with <8000VA it is more reasonable.
To get a 100k+ quote your area must have horrible anti-solar installment fees or the company is not legit.
Keep mind that the prices in the article are FOB China (i.e. cover deliver to a ship in a port in China).
Shipping for Shenzhen (most likely port) will be between $1000 and $2000.
Duty tax for photovoltaic panels from China is 0% (I was curious so checked the TARIC database) but VAT gets added on top of it all (both the panels and the shipping) which depends on the country but will be around 20 - 25%
What I've seen generally (not solar panels but years ago I did look into importing LED lamps) is that doing it directly tends to result in it costing as little as 1/4 of the price but, on the other hand as a small purchaser you run certain risks in terms of quality and the manufacturer guarantees actually being possible to uphold (I've imported stuff were the failure rate was 10% and if you have to send stuff back, it's going to cost you).
It's worth considering for a big enough installation.
That said if one goes DYI, looking around in the EU for better prices is well worth it and does not carry anywhere the same risks (but also won't save you as much) as a retail buyer for something that's 7000€ - this kind of stuff is were the single market really makes a difference and might save you a few thousands of euros.
Chiming in from Denmark.
Bought 8.5 kWp, a 10 kW inverter and a 7.5 kWh Battery in August 2022 for 120k DKK.
The price for the same system today is 70k DKK.
That's pretty ridiculous imo. My system in total was around $45k including parts and installation. I got it Feb 2022. It's 17kW system with microinverters for every panel (42 panels). No battery though.
From the top of my head, it's approximately 7 to 1 conversion.
So I totally agree: your prices are pretty ridiculous in the US! 300k DKK for 17kWp of solar?!?
Ridiculous cheap or ridiculous expensive?
I have some limited electrical engineering experience and don't like paying other people to do things that I think I can do myself. How likely do you guys think it would be that I'll end up burning my house down if I try to DIY a small solar installation?
It's actually not that hard. Microinverters have taken a lot of the danger out of it. Every one or two panels has an inverter, they can be individually controlled and tie together with 120 volt AC wiring, so you avoid the issue of 100+ volt DC strings that can't be turned off. And on the physical side, there are now rack systems that install very easily and look good. Designing and installing the system isn't hard. Just look up the documentation from Enphase or someone similar, you just need panels, micro inverters, a combiner panel, and maybe one of their computer management units. There's other manufacturers too but the concept is the same. Installing the solar is the easy part. Getting permits is the hard part. Municipalities throw up a ton of red tape and utilities throw up even more for any sort of grid connected system. So what would be a basic concept that a technician level person could design, ends up being this complicated thing that needs engineering sign-offs and stamped plans that have to be approved by the town and the power company and inspected 18 different ways. This leads a lot of people to do off-grid systems, that is, set up your own solar panels and batteries, and run some portion of your house off at using extension cords rather than hardwired. If you're just putting panels on the ground or on your deck and running extension cords, no need for permits.
Thanks, that's encouraging. So is it the roof construction, grid connectivity, or both that requires permits?
Construction, electrical work, grid connection, sometimes architectural review to ensure the result isn't ugly, etc etc
Start out with DIYSolarForum.com and see what you figure. It's not rocket surgery.
I could have either switched to propane heating or oil heating for around $10,000 or switch to solar electric heating for around $12,000.
Not only was it fairly cheap, it also included a receptacle that sends extra energy back to the grid and I get paid for it.
The only time I have to pay for electricity is in the Winter months and that's because the heat is on the go constantly and we don't line dry in the winter.
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We need more infrastructure to recycle solar panels. ATM according to the independent, only 10% of panels get recycled. Down the road many more panels installed means many more requiring recycling.
Demand is surely at an all time high. This is great for everyone! I need to find space for more panels.
Me who can't see the sky in my small house between big city buildings: 😔
It's interesting how these low low prices are FOB China (FOB is a shipping incoterms code that means the seller takes responsibility and covers the costs all the way until the product is loaded on a ship).
Hoping batteries for electric vehicles come down in price. The fucking $10,000 replacement cost pushes the cars to the brink of naw I’m not gonna fuck with that zone…
I assume you're referring to a battery replacement? In all likelyhood, by the time it needs replacing in 10 to 15 or even 20 years, batteries will be significantly cheaper probably less than a full motor replacement cost of an ice vehicle.
There are 10 year old electric cars now with failing batteries that no one wants. It’s a now problem, and seeing it makes people not want to buy one (including me)
you seem to be missing the point (I'm guessing on purpose) the tech from just 10 years ago is significantly worse than today. an EV today is not comparable to one from 10 years ago. honestly I'm embarrassed by people buying an ice car in 2023 if they can afford an EV.
I’m can’t afford to buy a new car so does me no good. What kind of EV do you drive?
I can't afford one they're insanely expensive. I have a very sad 2010 prius. but when I can afford a new one it will Def be an EV.
Where are all these cars? I don't seem to ever see them for sale
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