Solar Panels - Are They Worth It or No?

[take8easy]

I am planning on building a new house (as soon the supply chains get better) and I have been thinking of getting solar panels installed this time.
My research has given me some information but I prefer hearing it from someone who has some experience with them

Any suggestions, ideas? Anyone tried them? Are they worth it? Are they really that economical? (Repeat? Recommended? )

Thanks in advance.

 

[Chuckerbie]

I am planning on building a new house (as soon the supply chains get better) and I have been thinking of getting solar panels installed this time.
My research has given me some information but I prefer hearing it from someone who has some experience with them

Any suggestions, ideas? Anyone tried them? Are they worth it? Are they really that economical? (Repeat? Recommended? )

Thanks in advance.

Are you wanting to generate electricity or heat? A lot will depend how far north you are. The more money you lay out for most mechanical systems the more it will pay you back in the long run.

 

[Wakeup]

I have a few friends that have them in lower mainland area and often they are feeding power back to bc hydro . The cost is high 30-50K, so slow payback, usually coupled with a heat pump.

 

[take8easy]

Are you wanting to generate electricity or heat? A lot will depend how far north you are. The more money you lay out for most mechanical systems the more it will pay you back in the long run.

I honestly don't know yet. It all depends on the initial investment and the return. I know for sure that it is a long run thing.

 

[luvsdaty]

On paper, it sounds good. Solar panels, heat pump = free heating and cooling. Hydro was paying for surplus electricity but I'm not sure if they're still doing that?

 

[80watts]

One thing to look out for is the type of solar panel. Industry is coming out with better more efficient models.
The formula is (price of solar panel system) compared to electricity cost compared to the life cycle of solar panels. This info is not usually given. for eg. do the panels last 20 year (and how is the efficiency after 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. When do you have to replace the solar panels and at what cost. Will you get a solar hot water heater?

Another key thing is storage space and how much electricity you can store with current technology. There are different types of storage systems (hydro, deep cycle batteries, Lithium-ion batteries. All have advantages and disadvantages.

Keep in mind that for your house: Normal house hold items: Fridge, stove, washer, dryer, dishwasher, heat (electric), floor warming devices (water or electrical), heat pumps, air conditioning, thermal well (used with certain heat pumps), lights (today 24 Volt systems using LEDs might be better than 120 volt system (current tech-), electrical outlets separate from lighting circuits, hot water heater (gas or electric).
Additional circuits: Workshop equipment 120V or 240 v. Most houses have 200 amp service, but how much of that will be in the workshop?
Additional electrical requirements: Car charger for electric cars X (how many e cars).

So you need to take in your future electrical load into account, if you plan on a workshop and electric car plus normal household load.

Also if installing solar, will it be on the house roof or off to side. How its installed on house roof. The latitude you are at determines the proper angle the solar panel have to be installed at. This is usually different from roof angles. roof angle depend on climate and weather conditions.

Solar panels should not be installed on the north side of roofs... eg look at a tree, moss grows on the north side of trees, usually meaning no sunlight....South side preferred, because the sun travels thru the south from east to west....sun exposure.

Another thing to look at is hydrogen making. Say e car are not going electric, but are going to hydrogen instead. Could you produce your own hydrogen for you hydrogen fuel cell on your car/truck.

Try looking on utube for people that live off grid and use solar power. (take into account alot are US programs and hence the money is in US).

 

[nscamper]

Having some experience with this, I feel very confident sayings it's not economically worth your while in the Vancouver area. It's worth it to make a green statement and show your commitment to the environment if that's important to you, but you won't see any money back from it for at least 25 years. You'd be better off taking that money and investing it in useful upgrades to your house.

If you do go ahead, we've found it better to use a system with individual inverters (one per panel) than one large inverter. Maintenance, troubleshooting, not to mention the wealth of info available of per-panel performance makes individual inverters really interesting.

 

[PuntMeister]

Having some experience with this, I feel very confident sayings it's not economically worth your while in the Vancouver area. It's worth it to make a green statement and show your commitment to the environment if that's important to you, but you won't see any money back from it for at least 25 years. You'd be better off taking that money and investing it in useful upgrades to your house.

If you do go ahead, we've found it better to use a system with individual inverters (one per panel) than one large inverter. Maintenance, troubleshooting, not to mention the wealth of info available of per-panel performance makes individual inverters really interesting.

If the OP has a south-facing roof with unobstructed sun path, there is a good chance the payback can be much faster, like 10-14 yrs. In a lot of cases, homeowners are already paying Step 2 rates for some of their hydro bill, which is about $0.14/kWh. Guess what, add a heat pump and and EV to your electrical demand you are likely going to pay most of that juice at Step 2 rates. But if you solar-up, you can bring that back to Step 1 rates, or about $0.09/kWh. So solar can help you avoid a 50% increase on your electric vehicle “Juice Bill”, just by getting you into the step 1 range. I don’t know about you, but there aren’t many options to get that sort of savings at the gas pump.

Even with the peak EV and heat pump loads, larger systems will still sell energy back to the grid during summer months (automatically as long as your home has a net-meter, and all newer meters should have this capability).

Plus, you can get $5,000 back on your cap-ex through the Canada Greener Homes grant. You do have to do the energy audit before and after a solar install, but that can knock 25% off the cost, further reducing payback. Link:

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/canada-greener-homes-grant/23441


Most solar and roofing contractors will prepare a free analysis and quote for you, check your sun exposure and house / roof on google earth, look at your energy consumption from your hydro bill, and figure out the cost and payback for you based on a well-established federally mandated technical process. Some bigger contractors will even offer a lease program to reduce the capital outlay (pay it down with your savings).

To me, this is not just a statement, it is preparing us for an oil-reduced future, and the technology is there now. Microinverters combine a few panels together and feed your main breaker box through a big-ass circuit breaker. No big inverters or batteries needed. Add a 240V setup for your EV charger while you’re at it. It’s here. Get prepared for an electrifying future.

-Punt.

 

[masterblaster]

There is large solar panel installation near Brooks AB. So far as I know it has not made any money since being installed a few years back. Pretty much a boondoggle.

 

[80watts]

Most systems take 15 to 20 years to pay off the investments. But with cheaper and cheaper solar panel coming to market, you have to get out your calculator to see what time it costs to pay back the investment. I would like a system that take 5 years to pay off and works for 20....

 

[take8easy]

Most systems take 15 to 20 years to pay off the investments. But with cheaper and cheaper solar panel coming to market, you have to get out your calculator to see what time it costs to pay back the investment. I would like a system that take 5 years to pay off and works for 20....

I agree, the major deterrent for me is the time it takes to pay off my investment. I mean 15-20 years is a very very long time and by the time the cost is recovered, it is time to replace the roof again. I like being environmentally friendly, but just any ordinary Joe, it has to make financial sense.

 

[PuntMeister]

I agree, the major deterrent for me is the time it takes to pay off my investment. I mean 15-20 years is a very very long time and by the time the cost is recovered, it is time to replace the roof again. I like being environmentally friendly, but just any ordinary Joe, it has to make financial sense.

You may be using outdated information.

If anyone is seriously interested in going Solar, get a free quote, and they will do a propper payback analysis for you. Stop guessing based on past costs of equipment and energy—you may be doing a dis-service to yourself, the public, and our planet. Then factor in if you plan to get a heat pump or EV and the very real step cost impact coming your way. Ten - Twelve years payback is possible now if you have the right location and get the grants. .

Canada green homes grant also just announced a ten-year interest free loan program, so factor that into your payback considerations.

A new roof should last 50yrs minimum. Products and practices are much better than they used to be. Check the roofing guarantees.

Get some real data people.