[mythtv-users] [Slightly OT] solar power for all our gadgets
Yan Seiner
yan at seiner.com
Mon Mar 9 14:53:10 UTC 2009
Jeff Walther wrote:
> Anyway, this topic kind of chaps me because I frequently hear the media
> non-critically hyping how wonderful it is to have solar panels, and the
> fact is that anyone who can do simple math (and doesn't live somewhere
> with really expensive electricity) can see that they make no economic
> sense whatsoever.
>
Alas, the ability to do simple math and a PV analysis is sorely lacking
in the US... Witness the current housing meltdown.
I did the same analysis. It costs about $10K/1KW for solar. With
state and federal subsidies, the break-even over 20 years is about
$0.15/KWh, and the life of the equipment is 20 years. This assumes no
maintenance.
Part of the reason is that it is a specialty market. If more people did
it it would be cheaper, but more people won't do it until the price
comes down. I sort of wish our current administration would follow up
on the proposal to buy back solar-generated energy at $0.15/KWh. Then
you'd see a lot of systems go in and the price would come down.
--Yan
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