Earlier quoted context omitted.
Surely it only needs to be signed off if you intend to sell the property with them or sell excess back to the grid. If youre just using the batteries how is anyone going to know?
If your house burns down for any reason, not necessarily the DYI batteries, the insurance company will know anyway.
What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
131–140 of 368 posts
Re: What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
#132> The batteries can fill up on the off-peak rate overnight at £0.07/kWh, and then export it during the peak rate for £0.15/kWh, meaning any excess solar production or battery capacity can be exported for a reasonable amount. Honestly I didn't know this was allowed. I recently got a heat pump and am on a time-of-use tariff ( https://octopus.energy/smart/cosy-octopus/ ) and have been thinking about pulling the plug on…
Re: What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
#133> Having our full costs returned in ~11 years is definitely something we're happy with Except that after 11 years the equipment will have broken down or become obsolete, at which point you have to start over. > we've also had protection against several power outages in our area along the way, which is a very nice bonus. This seems to be the real benefit of the setup.
If my calculations are correct, that setup probably lasts at least 30 years. This is not a cell phone battery and panels do not degrade that fast.
Re: What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
Almost all simulations I've done across 3 countries with 3 different payback models for selling back to grid (one of the three doesn’t allow selling back almost anything above your consumption), I could never make investing in Solar not being a gamble. You really need to gamble on odds of replacing equipment being very low for it to make sense. And in practice most people I anecdotally know that run it, after 5-7 yea…
Having done 2 solar installs, one over 10 years and one 6 years, both going strong. Nothing else needed, it just sits there and produces. So, from my experience, that's not the case. Maybe the people you know keep tweaking because they're enthusiasts like you have with cars.
Re: What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
#135It's wild how overpriced Tesla Powerwalls are. 16 kWh battery with all of the UL supported listings etc = $3300 [0] 13.5 kWh Tesla Powerwall is $12k~$15k You would get your return way back quicker. [0] - https://www.ruixubattery.com/product-page/lithi2-16-battery-... EDIT: As others have pointed out, powerwalls have inverters built in so it's not totally apples to apples. You can get a beefy inverter for $5k and it's…
That's not really apples-to-apples comparison. The Tesla batteries are AC coupled so they work with an (AC coupled) microinverter array. For a DC coupled battery you have to have a hybrid inverter and DC couple the batteries. Your point that they are overpriced still stands though.
Re: What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
#136Earlier quoted context omitted.
You're comparing the cost of a battery with a full system. That 16 kWh battery requires a ~$3000 inverter to go along with it.
Well, the math still maths, right? I am writing this off grid, using about 15kwh of batteries and a $1200 (6kw) inverter. My entire system puls panels and racking those panels, plus wiring some un-powered shacks was about $10k, though I did the work myself (which would probably hae been another 3-5k if I could have found someone to do it.
Yo. If you can find an electrician to stop by my house and turn a light switch off for less than 1000$, please inform me. I got a quote for 25k$ to install a system that size, and that price. City code has me by the balls: I can't modify my main panel without inspection, the inspector won't show up without a licensed electrician, and electrician wants the labor. I pointed out that we're talking 8 hours of labor — call it 2500$, lawyer money — and he was like "what's your choice". I'm in Texas.
Re: What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
#137The grid needs to be up 24/7. And while peak usage is just that, the grid capacity still needs to support peak usage.
This can theoretically be done using batteries but not for an extended amount of time. To say we can have batteries for 2 weeks of normal consumption is highly improbable.
The metals do build those batteries do not exist. Or put in a worse way, the mines do not exist.
An off the cuff calculation of costs and the massive amount of batteries required in the context of Sweden can be found (you need to translate) here: https://www.tn.se/naringsliv/40181/utrakning-60-globen-batte...
In other words, 60 full scale Globen arenas of batteries to replace current Swedish nuclear production.
So for small houses these investments can make sense currently. But from a larger perspective it's not that interesting.
Re: What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
#138> Having our full costs returned in ~11 years is definitely something we're happy with Except that after 11 years the equipment will have broken down or become obsolete, at which point you have to start over. > we've also had protection against several power outages in our area along the way, which is a very nice bonus. This seems to be the real benefit of the setup.
What breaks in 11 years? Solar panels and batteries both last longer than that. As for your other point of becoming obsolete, why care about chasing latest fads for home appliances.
I particularly love when they are telling me that my 11 year old Prius' batteries will only last 5 years before they are junk.
Re: What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
#139The most realistic residential installation I've seen was firmly on the ground at a ~2 acre property. The panels were much larger and heavier (i.e., capable) than what you'd typically find on a roof. It's much easier to build and maintain a solar array when you don't need a ladder/crane to move things around.
I think that it's great that we want to participate in making things better, but not every situation makes sense. When you factor in all of the downstream consequences of sub-optimal, fly-by-night installs, it starts to look like a net negative on the environment. I'm not trying to claim that all rooftop solar projects are bad, but most of the residential ones I've seen make absolutely zero economic sense.
Large scale wind and solar projects are the best way forward. You get so much more bang for buck. I'd consider investing in these projects or their upstream suppliers and owners if you want to get involved financially in making the environment a better place.
Re: What a year of solar and batteries saved us in 2025
#140Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is factually inaccurate. Solar PV panels will continue to produce power at 80-90% of rated output after 25 years, and battery storage will still have 80-90% capacity. I'm sure you can understand that as long as the system is storing and producing power at these levels, its value is not zero.
Can you point out what part of what I said is factually inaccurate?