Well, it really depends on the quality of the material the solar panels are made of, and how efficient they are at taking the sun and generating power. If they last five to ten years, you'll be replacing them. I'm not sure how long they last, but I've heard that they don't last as nearly as long as a roof might. That means you're probably losing out on power over time. And of course, you've got to live in an area where you have plenty of sunshine year round.
Then, you have to have something to convert the energy from the solar panel to I think DC, or whatever gets stored in the big car or boat batteries, and then run things off the batteries. Unfortunately, it's not a simple process of sunlight to outlet.
So, over the course of a 40 year period, you could be changing out panels on your roof three to four times. Electricity is still inexpensive enough in our area anyway, that it would take quite a while to pay off through usage what you lay out in set up. I can't remember what it was exactly, but it was something like fifty or so years. Plus, you have to have a whole bunch of solar panels and batteries if you want to offset all of your energy usage, or you 'll need to cut way back on it. Most smaller operations are only supplementing their electricity usage, and here, that primarily only happens during the summer months.
solar sucks. lol. that's my version of what you just said! yeah I knew thee were batteries and stuff to fool with but I thought the panels were supposed to last longer than that, but then I haven't researched it at all either.
After reading what you said, why would anyone want solar?
it sounds terrible! but hopefully the technology is improving rapidly.
Well, I probably should have looked this up. I went off of what I learned from some time ago, which means it could have been years ago.
So, let me update us both.
Okay, so according to this one article, solar panels are now under warranty from 20-25 years, with the potential of them lasting longer, perhaps from 30-40 years. You want to be replacing them when they start operating below 80% efficiency. They apparently usually lose about 0.4% to 0.5% a year.
That's better.
Now, according to some estimates, and this could be mixing apples and oranges, these solar kits can cost up to $25,000 (which I don't know if that includes installation or not).
Based on a 25 year life span and $25,000 for all of itโpanels, converters, batteries, what have you), you're talking about $1,000 a year. If you're creating enough energy with that amount of equipment (that I don't know), then if your monthly average electricity costs are around or near $84, then essentially you're breaking even. Your hope then would be that the solar panels and other equipment last longer, so that you end up with a cost savings.
The problems to work through are still what kind of efficiency of solar panel are you getting for that price, what all, including installation, is included, and then, how much sun do you get throughout the year so you're generating enough electricity.
Plus, what happens to the solar panels when they do get replaced. They don't look all that biodegradable to me, and according to things I just read, they're not really recyclable yet, but they're promising that the technology to do it is coming.
So, basically, you're throwing solar panels away. Or your redneck friends are using them to charge their cell phones and ham radios. :)
Fine and good, but in 25 years or so, if everything even lasts that long, what's technology going to look like?
Are you going to want to buy something else because they're more cost effective and efficient?
So, I was wrong about the potential life of the solar panels, but I'm still not going to run out and buy them. Not here.
hahaha! wow sir Glen are you trying to break your new record for CL? these comments are monsters, or at least they look like it to me. I don't think I'm gettin close to that record this year or ever!
But as far as these solar panels go, yeah it makes no sense to me unless you just have the money and want a way to have juice if the grid goes down.
Because like you said, with the advancing technology are you going to want to keep something for 30 years that is obsolete in 5?
so to replace it you take a huge loss.
you'd just have to be a total greenie to install them for reasons other than financial.
Well, and then overlook the fact that they're probably going to end up in a landfill somewhere. That's just it. The Prius is old enough now where there's probably plenty of them which have stopped working. What's happening to those big old batteries? And how much energy and resources does it take to produce them? And if you are a conservationist, how much pollution?
I don't know. I love the idea of getting off the grid, saving money and making things greener. I just don't think any of this does it yet. And it's certainly not worth doing on a national scale. Not yet.
You're right. You would have to want to do it for reasons of getting off the grid. I think you would have to look at the whole life cycle of the panels and batteries you're using before you could call yourself truly green.
Yeah, it got a little long. I wanted to correct what I'd said and supplement with the information I found.