Solar Power around the KC area ***MEGATHREAD!!!!***

[Mephistopheles Janx]

Wondering if anyone here had any first hand experience in getting solar panels installed onto their home, cost, upkeep, value (are you now independent of the energy co or supplemented by), and if there is anyone you would recommend here locally for that kind of work.

I have a beautifully pitched metal roof that looks east and west with nothing to keep the sun from pounding away at the panels on the roof other than clouds. I'd like a system with a battery bank that can handle about 1,500 kWh per month but can draw from the pole if needed.

TIA!

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Damn. I'd probably go solar if I could land a return like that.

Yeah. Projected break-even point is about 6.5 years assuming 3.2% inflation on energy costs.

The city also gives us retail prices on the credits we get from feeding the grid rather than wholesale, so that's a really nice incentive to defray costs. The only thing I needed was an additional rider on our homeowners' policy due to the size of the system

I plan on getting an EV in about a year or two, so I had a 60 amp circuit put in the garage when the house was built. I'm hoping that the system will take care of most of my charging burden.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Yeah, note that that post is from a year ago. Seems like the market has definitely shifted away from leases and toward purchases (albeit usually with a loan).

Well that was very interesting and exhausting I must say. Just a little over $50k, with an extremely knowledgable and helpful couple of guys from a company that has been in business since 2015 in our area with a significant number of installations.

It's quite a head scratcher at our age, as even without financing (don't want) we are looking at roughly a 20 year pay back, as we would not be using any of the federal tax credits (retired). I don't plan on living that long and so far we have not uncovered any local or regional incentives.

Also, the footprint of the panels is about double the size I had envisioned, as is the price. I was wanting a ground installation instead of roof.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Well that was very interesting and exhausting I must say. Just a little over $50k, with an extremely knowledgable and helpful couple of guys from a company that has been in business since 2015 in our area with a significant number of installations.

It's quite a head scratcher at our age, as even without financing (don't want) we are looking at roughly a 20 year pay back, as we would not be using any of the federal tax credits (retired). I don't plan on living that long and so far we have not uncovered any local or regional incentives.

Also, the footprint of the panels is about double the size I had envisioned, as is the price. I was wanting a ground installation instead of roof.

Gotcha. I hadn't thought about the age/income component of it, but you're absolutely right that the ROI may be pretty questionable in your situation. No harm in looking into it and walking away, though!

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Gotcha. I hadn't thought about the age/income component of it, but you're absolutely right that the ROI may be pretty questionable in your situation. No harm in looking into it and walking away, though!

Yeah, our property is ideal for it, but not our situation. It was interesting and even the Mrs. looked through this thread and all the information provided.

[Lzen]

Just wanted to chime in on this again. I feel like this was a great decision. This is a screen shot of my solar panel app. After 1 year, I've produced slightly more than I've used. That's a 27 panel system, mind you. After the 30% tax incentive, it was about $24-25k but it will pay dividends long after I pay it off.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Just wanted to chime in on this again. I feel like this was a great decision. This is a screen shot of my solar panel app. After 1 year, I've produced slightly more than I've used. That's a 27 panel system, mind you. After the 30% tax incentive, it was about $24-25k but it will pay dividends long after I pay it off.

I am looking at this now as well, but I've heard that in 10-15 years you will need to replace the batteries at 10k or more a piece?

[KobesPilot]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

I am looking at this now as well, but I've heard that in 10-15 years you will need to replace the batteries at 10k or more a piece?

The replacement of storage batteries for a Solar panel system would depend on many factors. What type of batteries do they have? Lead acid last the shortest time 4–8 years and Lithium last the longest 10 plus years. Also nickle Iron last about 10 years and then can be replenished for about 10 or maybe again for a total of 30 years.

Also how are they maintained? How deep of a cycle and how often do they cycle? So for example a lead acid string gets discharged to 40% Depth of Charge in the 1st year it could be the last year for them. They should only get discharged to 50% or less. The fewer deep cycles the better. A Lithium battery can discharge to 20% depth of charge.

Are the batteries housed in a temperature controller area or do they get frozen in winter and baked in Summer. Extreme temperatures shorten the life of all types of batteries. So treat them well and they will last a long time. discharge them to often or too deep and keep them in extreme temperatures and they will only last 1 year.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

I am looking at this now as well, but I've heard that in 10-15 years you will need to replace the batteries at 10k or more a piece?

The potentially missing point here is, why do you need batteries? Unless you're talking about an off grid cabin or something, most people don't. It's a little complicated, but you basically use the rest of the power grid as your "battery" instead (search for "net metering" to learn more).

You do need a battery if you're otherwise trying to eliminate power outages, but that's really it.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by DaFace

The potentially missing point here is, why do you need batteries? Unless you're talking about an off grid cabin or something, most people don't. It's a little complicated, but you basically use the rest of the power grid as your "battery" instead (search for "net metering" to learn more).

You do need a battery if you're otherwise trying to eliminate power outages, but that's really it.

You can also get a load controller that will allow you to distribute solar from your panels to the desired breakers in your home if the grid fails. Obvious caveat is it only works during daytime hours, but you don't absolutely need a battery.

https://enphase.com/store/accessorie...oad-controller

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You can also get a load controller that will allow you to distribute solar from your panels to the desired breakers in your home if the grid fails. Obvious caveat is it only works during daytime hours, but you don't absolutely need a battery.

https://enphase.com/store/accessorie...oad-controller

Except in Kansas where I live. The solar companies told me that you could not do them off grid in Kansas. Not sure how that's even legal but that's what they said.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

I am looking at this now as well, but I've heard that in 10-15 years you will need to replace the batteries at 10k or more a piece?

My system does not have batteries. When my system produces more power than we use, it banks that as credit with Evergy, our power company. My bill the last few months has been around $10-$15. The solar companies told me that the power company would still charge about $15 per month just to be connected to the grid.