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Started By
Message
re: Solar Panels, how'd they work with Ida?
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:30 am to GeauxGutsy
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:30 am to GeauxGutsy
quote:
Just so happens the only benefit I’m after is back up.
Then a generator is your best option.
ETA I'll lay out my decision process for why I did each.
Houston with a Cummins 25kW generator - House has poor irradiance. Almost no southern facing roofs. Large trees in neighboring property. Has new and appropriately sized NG supply from a reliable source. House has generally reliable grid power.
West Texas with 45kW array and 4 Tesla PW2s - Property has plenty of space to put an array with no shade issues. Can position to optimize production. Global horizontal irradiance in favorable. No NG supply, would have to use propane that needs to be delivered. Would rather use propane to power stoves and other appliances. Favorable net metering agreement. Grid is unreliable due to being very remote and a 3 mile supply line from distribution network.
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 10:36 am
2
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:34 am to biglego
quote:
My neighbor has solar panels and says he can’t use them when the power is down bc the energy that flows from the panels to the power company endangers line workers. Which is dumb if true.
It gets complicated but what you say can very well be correct.
Many times the inverters (what changes DC to AC) for the solar panels has to synchronize to the 60Hz frequency provided by the grid. When that frequency isn't present and it has nothing to sync to, the inverter shuts down.
More expensive inverters capable of running in "island mode" can create their own 60Hz frequency and don't need the utility connection. These require some type of automatic transfer switch to disconnect them from the utility after a power outage. Then when the utility comes back, the ATS synchronizes the inverter signal to the utility before closing. This prevents any injuries to workers upline. This would be uncommon in residential (unless you also have battery storage) but can be done.
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 10:39 am
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:34 am to billjamin
quote:
In La, Tx or other low cost energy markets, no.
Not to be argumentative, but you live in Houston and I assume the avg price for panels for the avg home is around 25K. I don’t see any upside at the present time for solar. Please enlighten me as I like the solar concept, I just don’t see the ROI benefit.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:36 am to GeauxGutsy
If we are being completely honest about this, the best situation is a battery power bank supplied with solar with a back up small generator. You could run your generator when solar isn't supplying the need. But then at the same time most likely drastically reduce your fuel needs.
To a certain extent and those without a care of money that just want the convenience, that would be the ideal situation.
ETA: I had a buddy that had solar supplying the grid in Vegas and he was damn near break even on the cost. He spent money in the summer, broke even in like May and September, and then made money in the winter to make up for the summer. Given this was vegas with clear skies and little bad weather.
To a certain extent and those without a care of money that just want the convenience, that would be the ideal situation.
ETA: I had a buddy that had solar supplying the grid in Vegas and he was damn near break even on the cost. He spent money in the summer, broke even in like May and September, and then made money in the winter to make up for the summer. Given this was vegas with clear skies and little bad weather.
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 10:39 am
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:40 am to baldona
quote:
If we are being completely honest about this, the best situation is a battery power bank supplied with solar with a back up small generator. You could run your generator when solar isn't supplying the need. But then at the same time most likely drastically reduce your fuel needs.
To a certain extent and those without a care of money that just want the convenience, that would be the ideal situation.
You could use a much smaller generator in that setup too because it wouldn't need to be sized to cover max loads like fridges and AC units. The generator and batteries would both provide power during peak draw like the AC running and then when the AC is off, the generator goes directly to battery charging.
that could be a really nice setup with low operating costs if done right.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:42 am to baldona
quote:
ETA: I had a buddy that had solar supplying the grid in Vegas and he was damn near break even on the cost. He spent money in the summer, broke even in like May and September, and then made money in the winter to make up for the summer. Given this was vegas with clear skies and little bad weather.
This really depends on the utility and the rates. There are situations where the utility buys power from you at 10% of the cost you are buying from them.
Then comes net metering but even then, the best you can really do is break even because any surplus you produce is not likely to get bought at the same price you pay.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:42 am to GeauxGutsy
quote:
Not to be argumentative, but you live in Houston and I assume the avg price for panels for the avg home is around 25K. I don’t see any upside at the present time for solar. Please enlighten me as I like the solar concept, I just don’t see the ROI benefit.
I do live in Houston and I wouldn't put them on my Houston house for quite a few reasons. See my ETA above. One i didn't add because it was only an outlying factor was the cheap energy I get here.
The solar work I do is all over the place. So, it's highly specific to the region. Cheap flat rate power, no its not a great idea unless you want to virtue signal to your neighbors. But in other areas it can be not only beneficial but save you a lot of money.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:48 am to BitBuster
Just put a wind turbine in your back yard. Just imagine how fast that sucker would spin in Hurricane winds.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:49 am to notsince98
quote:
This really depends on the utility and the rates. There are situations where the utility buys power from you at 10% of the cost you are buying from them.
Yep, my energy cost is anywhere from $0.25-0.41/kWh, but SoCal Edison only buys it back for $.019/kWh. It's 100% worth it out here though. August was hotter than hell and I only used 22kWh from the grid, the rest was solar. Outside of a few states, I don't see how it is worth it for the upfront cost.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:49 am to billjamin
quote:
ETA I'll lay out my decision process for why I did each. Houston with a Cummins 25kW generator - House has poor irradiance. Almost no southern facing roofs. Large trees in neighboring property. Has new and appropriately sized NG supply from a reliable source. House has generally reliable grid power. West Texas with 45kW array and 4 Tesla PW2s - Property has plenty of space to put an array with no shade issues. Can position to optimize production. Global horizontal irradiance in favorable. No NG supply, would have to use propane that needs to be delivered. Would rather use propane to power stoves and other appliances. Favorable net metering agreement. Grid is unreliable due to being very remote and a 3 mile supply line from distribution network.
Gotcha. Nice setup and obviously ROI is not the concern on your place in W Texas.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:51 am to whoisnickdoobs
quote:
Just put a wind turbine in your back yard. Just imagine how fast that sucker would spin in Hurricane winds.
They would look like this after
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 10:52 am
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:53 am to billjamin
I was being sarcastic.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:54 am to Packer
quote:
Yep, my energy cost is anywhere from $0.25-0.41/kWh, but SoCal Edison only buys it back for $.019/kWh. It's 100% worth it out here though. August was hotter than hell and I only used 22kWh from the grid, the rest was solar. Outside of a few states, I don't see how it is worth it for the upfront cost.
Are you getting any of the TOU shite from SCE?
We were doing some cool programing on the solar + storage units to really bend them over on that by isolating rom the grid when the high pricing went into effect then dumping the batteries right before it ended and they had to pay higher NEM credits.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:56 am to The Quiet One
quote:
Third, you better have plenty of batteries to store power.
How many batteries and what type would you need? Cost?
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:58 am to billjamin
quote:
Are you getting any of the TOU shite from SCE?
Yep, the higher rates are between 4-9pm on weekdays in the summer. My peak generating times are when power is the cheapest.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 11:01 am to Packer
quote:
Yep, the higher rates are between 4-9pm on weekdays in the summer. My peak generating times are when power is the cheapest.
You should look at throwing a battery on to frick them. It's not cheap but might money out for you.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 11:02 am to moneyg
quote:
How many batteries and what type would you need? Cost?
quote:
I'll use the PW2 as my example, but there are others. The first one is 10k, every one after that is 6500. To run your A/c you'll need 2 at a minimum to handle the surge load. Sizing is really important here.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 11:08 am to biglego
tell your neighbor to get the appropriate disconnect switch and use it
Posted on 9/1/21 at 11:16 am to arcalades
quote:
tell your neighbor to get the appropriate disconnect switch and use it
How's the inverter going to turn on?
Posted on 9/1/21 at 11:19 am to billjamin
Billjamin you are just the man I need to talk to. Been looking at a sunrun system + 2 LG battery backup as an alternative to a whole home NG generac backup. It's a 60 year old home so the 25 year lease commitment is scary. My main concern is if the system can truly sustain days or weeks running the whole house off grid, plus charging the batteries to get me through the night during hurricane season. The sun run rep says the panels + battery will supply ~76% of my homes energy needs but he hasn't been able to tell me if that 24% that I still need from the grid is every night or during certain times of the year. I have a 5 ton AC that I'm told soaks up 8500 watts to run.
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