Solar panel fun

[gjmalcyon]

They finished around 2:30.

My buddy was an early solar adopter (he's on his second set of panels), and made quite a bit of money selling his SRECS (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates) in the New Jersey market, particularly early in his system's life when there were far fewer panels on roofs.

Are SRECS still a source of revenue if you own the panels?

 

[crank]

IDK. I do think there is federal and New York State money available to help pay for the panels and installation.

 

[SFIV1967]

Are you now whole house solar, no more electric bills?

In my opinion that would only work with huge batteries for the evening and the night and some other energy sources for the dark winter months. If there is a lot of snow on the roof (and panels) not so much energy is generated.

Ralf

 

[RBSinTo]

We were considering installing solar panels, but after a lot of research decided that the upcoming Lunar Power technology will make Lunar Panels an even better bargain. At least that's what the door-to-door salesman told us.
RBSinTo

 

[SFIV1967]

...after a lot of research decided that the upcoming Lunar Power technology will make Lunar Panels an even better bargain. At least that's what the door-to-door salesman told us.

What would "Lunar Power" be?
I know that in 2022 Stanford University published a paper that they reached with modified solar cells a tiny amount of additional energy generation at night by exploiting a process known as radiative cooling. But what they achived was a maximum of 50 milliwatts (!) per square meter at night... Means you need 20 square meters on your roof to generate 1 Watt... There is not much one can do with 1 Watt...Also that is what comes out directly of the panel under lab conditions, but that does not mean it is available at the power outlet in the house, there are losses in between.
So any talk about an upcoming Lunar Power technology sounds fishy to me...

Ralf

 

[Brucebubs]

Solar panels and battery - here's my last power bill.

 

[JohnW63]

Out in California, they passed a bill to cut the amount the electric companies would pay solar panel users for extra power by 75%. That means that extra power isn't going to help offset any new customers bills in the dark seasons very much. I did some math before that bill passed and it was going to take many years to pay off the $30K it would take to install enough panels near our house. That didn't include a battery. The roof angle is too steep for panels, I was told.

So, does going solar make sense to me? Not at current costs, I think.

 

[chazmo]

That's crazy that it's not worth it in So Cal, John. Bummer.

 

[twocorgis]

I wish I could have solar, but have failed multiple times. Too many trees in my 'hood, and the relatively flat dormer on my house has sheet type "shingles", that are also unsuitable.

 

[RBSinTo]

What would "Lunar Power" be?
I know that in 2022 Stanford University published a paper that they reached with modified solar cells a tiny amount of additional energy generation at night by exploiting a process known as radiative cooling. But what they achived was a maximum of 50 milliwatts (!) per square meter at night... Means you need 20 square meters on your roof to generate 1 Watt... There is not much one can do with 1 Watt...Also that is what comes out directly of the panel under lab conditions, but that does not mean it is available at the power outlet in the house, there are losses in between.
So any talk about an upcoming Lunar Power technology sounds fishy to me...

Ralf

I...am... truly...speechless.
RBSinTo

 

[fronobulax]

I...am... truly...speechless.
RBSinTo

As has been observed, not every post on LTG that was intended as humor is perceived as humor and what's funny to the original poster might not be funny to other readers.

"door to door salesman" made me think your original post was intended as a joke, but I wasn't certain until you reacted because it was taken seriously.

 

[RBSinTo]

As has been observed, not every post on LTG that was intended as humor is perceived as humor and what's funny to the original poster might not be funny to other readers.

"door to door salesman" made me think your original post was intended as a joke, but I wasn't certain until you reacted because it was taken seriously.

FrannyBollocks explaining humour.
Oh the irony!
RBSinTo

 

[Default]

Well, that was just a few hours, on a cloudless day. Still,

My buddy was an early solar adopter (he's on his second set of panels), and made quite a bit of money selling his SRECS (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates) in the New Jersey market, particularly early in his system's life when there were far fewer panels on roofs.

Are SRECS still a source of revenue if you own the panels?

Yup.

 

[Default]

In my opinion that would only work with huge batteries for the evening and the night and some other energy sources for the dark winter months. If there is a lot of snow on the roof (and panels) not so much energy is generated.

Ralf

Philly does not get much snow, and hasn't in quite a while. We had one freak winter where the polar vortex dipped down and we had snowstorms every two weeks. In another 15-20 years we won't have cold winters. Also, it looks like sodium-sulfate batteries are only 5-10 years away, so that particular issue of battery expense and size is going away. Gas will always be a backup for heating, and since I have a robust electric grid, I'm not worried about down time. Besides, I'll have a big storage battery with four wheels plugged into the house in case of emergencies. According to Chevy, the Ev pickup can power a house for a copy of weeks(!), so any EV should be able to power the house overnight in a pinch.