re: Solar Panels - Yay or Nay

Question:

Do they make electric vehicle chargers that just pull off Solar? Say I bought an EV, could I install a very modest solar panel on the side of my driveway and charge my car with it?

Of course I'd have the regular charger as backup, but I'd be curious about this. Could add to the ROI of an EV that one just uses for daily commute...also could be used to charge my golf cart!

quote:

---

Actually, with 30 years experience in energy, nuclear, fossil fuels, hydro, and renewables, I do. 23% capacity factor for solar, 30% for wind.

---

How do you think CF comes into play? How much energy is a roof without solar panels generating? Zero, or negative in a way since we typically expend more energy removing the heat energy that enters the structure via the roof. CF could be 1% and it could be worth it depending on the cost. So back to your original request that we "do the math" on your buddy's system:

$140/mo payments for 15 years
$30/mo saved on bill

Equals

Your buddy got fricked on either cost, equipment, installation, or something. ~70 years to break even is absolutely not typical, which you should know and you should feel like a damned fool coming in here talking this nonsense.

quote:

---

You need baseload generation. Not intermittent renewables.

---

We need a lot of things. 30 years experience and you still don't know the valid use cases for different energy generation methods? Sad.

quote:

---

Do they make electric vehicle chargers that just pull off Solar? Say I bought an EV, could I install a very modest solar panel on the side of my driveway and charge my car with it?

---

I don't know if they currently make one, but in theory, yes, you could, but I don't think it would be very small or how much it would actually charge per hour.

The one thing people miss with solar is the fact that you actually have to power your inverters. Solar provides a DC voltage. It has to be inverted to an AC volage for your house to use. So, no solar panels alone will not allow you to live off the grid or power, basically, anything.

Using traditional logic they don't make any sense. However, when you consider the current political climate where the US seems hell bent on destroying it's ability to generate power while forcing everyone onto the already overtaxed grid to drive, cook and generate heat (phasing out natural gas), then anyone with a brain can see that there will be brown and blackouts coming very soon.

Getting as many backup forms of power as one can afford makes total sense. I got a 60kw Lipo4 battery bank, 25kw of panels and 4 inverters and a couple dc mini splits for heating/cooling from Signature Solar for what I thought (after shopping around quite a bit) was a reasonable price. I'm going keep riding the grid as long as possible and hope I never have to fully transition to solar, but will be prepared for any eventuality.

Friend of mine has some on his house boat, and that takes care of what he needs. I think he only spent a few hundred bucks though, not thousands. Solar panels can be beneficial depending what you are using the energy for, but most importantly, if you live where you get plenty of year round sunlight.

quote:

---

when you consider the current political climate where the US seems hell bent on destroying it's ability to generate power while forcing everyone onto the already overtaxed grid to drive, cook and generate heat (phasing out natural gas), then anyone with a brain can see that there will be brown and blackouts coming very soon.

---

quote:

---

lol hold up. You got shite for free and are selling shite to people on here you won’t put on your other place because it’s not free. And you wonder why people think you are a scam artist?

---

Lol I’m not selling anyone on anything. Post where I said anything other than people should look into it and not make blanket assumptions.

Yes I get free shite because I’m in the industry. Shocking.

Let me make it clear once again. I don't give a frick what any of you do. Just try to be informed and know the real information rather than an absolutist ignorant prick.

Eta your deflection and lack of ability to argue anything on the merits is noted. You guys are fricking hilarious. If you want to stay ignorant I’m happy to let you stay that way just stop posting false shite.

quote:

---

---

I really want to be wrong. Can you show me where I am?

quote:

---

Eta your deflection and lack of ability to argue anything on the merits is noted. You guys are fricking hilarious. If you want to stay ignorant I’m happy to let you stay that way just stop posting false shite.

---

I'm not posting false shite.

Check with a mortgage lender. They will say the same stuff I have been.

There are many lenders who will not allow solar panels to be included in the value of the home. Of those who do, they will need comparable sales within a short time frame/distance/style WITH panels. That's why many appraisers give them zero value and when they do, it's very little value. Sub 6-7k. Their cost is 40-70k generally on a home.

That lien must be paid if and when the owner goes to sell the home. Plans change and you're not staying in the home for 20+ years? Too bad. Your massive equity gain over the years just got wiped out by the solar panel loan.

quote:

---

There are many lenders who will not allow solar panels to be included in the value of the home.

---

Thats almost exclusively for TPO solar.

quote:

---

Sub 6-7k. Their cost is 40-70k generally on a home.

---

Except the data disagrees with you and shows a $9K bump on an average 225K house. You're also comparing system cost in the upper bounds to below average value to try and make a point. I'm honestly not sure if you don't know or if it's intentional at this point. Like earlier when you tried to compare that average valeu to a 60k system. 60K is a big arse system, that ain't even fitting on a 224k house.

You may be presenting your unique experience with this, and thats fine. Just qualify it as such. The gross overarching statements are ridiculous and i'm shocked that so many of you can't see it.