Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
mattbruenig.com
Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
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Re: Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
#2This was built by a solar company, not the author directly, but the actual parts making up this system are pretty damned cheap. ~$4200 in panels + $2000 inverter plus additional hardware (mounting, cables, fasteners). Then labor costs.
Net output was 10,894 kWh, inline with a 20 year estimate of 193,545 kWh. If we just divide $6200/193545kWh (ignoring additional costs!!) that'd be $0.032/kWh.
One other data-point: daily output averaged to 29.8 kWh, from this 7.56kWh array.
Re: Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
#3> The unsubsidized all-in price for buying and installing the panels was $25,525.43... after counting this $6,636.61 tax credit, the subsidized price was $18,888.82
Looks like a 7 year return on investment after subsidies, 10 years without.
Re: Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
#4Interesting to see a post about this from someone else who I'm assuming is in a northern climate (they say New England).
One of my biggest questions about solar is, what happens when it snows? Do you have to get up on the roof and clean them off by hand? Or do they have built-in defrosters?
Re: Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
#5I am surprised at these power bills, at least in my area the implied "savings" are 2-3 times what my bill is on any given month. Huge house maybe?
Re: Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
#6Interesting to see a post about this from someone else who I'm assuming is in a northern climate (they say New England). One of my biggest questions about solar is, what happens when it snows? Do you have to get up on the roof and clean them off by hand? Or do they have built-in defrosters?
> One of my biggest questions about solar is, what happens when it snows? Do you have to get up on the roof and clean them off by hand? Or do they have built-in defrosters?
Nothing.
In northern climates rooftops usually have more of a pitch to them so snow doesn't accumulate (because you don't want the roof to collapse). The panels, because they are black, will generally collect enough heat to melt the snow in a day or 2 after a snowstorm.
If you want to clean the panels, you risk damaging them. So the common advice is don't do anything and let the sun do the work.
Re: Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
#7I am surprised at these power bills, at least in my area the implied "savings" are 2-3 times what my bill is on any given month. Huge house maybe?
Air conditioning dominates summer electricity uses anywhere that is hot and/or humid.
Re: Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
#8Interesting to see a post about this from someone else who I'm assuming is in a northern climate (they say New England). One of my biggest questions about solar is, what happens when it snows? Do you have to get up on the roof and clean them off by hand? Or do they have built-in defrosters?
Usually if any significant amount of the panel is exposed, they will start to heat up from the sun and defrost the rest. Its a significant reduction in performance, of course, but still worthwhile if utility power is expensive.
Re: Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
#9That's a pretty good return. I paid around $20k for my system (parts and installation) and get ~$1700 a year out of it (I live pretty far north). After tax credits and other state incentives I break even in 7 years. Output is warrantied by the manufacturer for 25 years (there's a schedule, but should still be 85% at 25 years IIRC). It's a great time to get solar if you own your home.
Re: Solar panels reduced my electric bill in 2022
#10Interesting to see a post about this from someone else who I'm assuming is in a northern climate (they say New England). One of my biggest questions about solar is, what happens when it snows? Do you have to get up on the roof and clean them off by hand? Or do they have built-in defrosters?
I've lived in very snowy areas. Snow mostly falls off the roof because of the pitch, or it melts off in the sun. Its pretty much only in the absolute worst storms AND roofs with low pitches you need to get up there and clean them.