Residential Solar

[Orestes Munn]

Anyone done it?

We have a proposal from a company who say we can install for very little if we sell them our SRECS and take advantage of about 6000 bucks in federal and state credits and grants. Appears our SRECS are particularly valuable, since we are on a District feeder line and their credits are more generous than Maryland's.

They guarantee we will produce 90% of the predicted 76% of our annual power requirement or pay the difference and offer 20-25 year service and hardware coverage. I hear the mini-inverters fail a lot, so good service is key.

Anything else in particular to watch out for?

[BeauV]

Any guarantee or warranty is only as good as the solvency of the company. Are they a stable well funded company??

[LarryHoward]

SRECs are not in anyway assured. Until this latest legislative session, MD SRECs were essentially worthless. Now, with a renewable goal higher than in state power production, we can pay higher power bills to out of state suppliers.

Look hard at the contract. Who pays when renewables grow and SRECs crash in value as they did over the last 5 years?

[Orestes Munn]

SRECs are not in anyway assured. Until this latest legislative session, MD SRECs were essentially worthless. Now, with a renewable goal higher than in state power production, we can pay higher power bills to out of state suppliers.

Look hard at the contract. Who pays when renewables grow and SRECs crash in value as they did over the last 5 years?

One of the options is to sell them our 4.69 DC SRECS at 1800 per credit to defray installation cost. The offer is good for a month and I am inclined to take it.

[Orestes Munn]

Any guarantee or warranty is only as good as the solvency of the company. Are they a stable well funded company??

They are one of the biggest operators and have been around for a while. That said, their reviews are mediocre on service.

[TheOffice]

I'd check out Solar City (if this is not the outfit you are talking to). Combine the panels with the lithium pack and you are pretty much self sufficient.

We have a wood roof, so they won't touch us.

Does this outfit do boats?

[Orestes Munn]

I'd check out Solar City (if this is not the outfit you are talking to). Combine the panels with the lithium pack and you are pretty much self sufficient.

We have a wood roof, so they won't touch us.

Does this outfit do boats?

Wood roof, as in cedar shakes? Not Solar City. They seem to have even worse reviews. I have a good electrician who did the installation on the boat.

[TheOffice]

Yup, cedar shakes.

First I need the bimini, then the panels.

[Rob McAlpine]

Would you do it without subsidies and tax credits?

What is the net cash flow payout period, with and without subsidies?

[Orestes Munn]

Would you do it without subsidies and tax credits?

What is the net cash flow payout period, with and without subsidies?

Hayull no!

...but that doesn't mean I mind subsidizing solar conversion as a common good. Public transit hasn't been commercially viable since the 1950s and never will be again, but it still makes life better for everyone, even rich people.

According to this particular company's proposal, with subsidies, we break even in four years, even at our tiny consumption level.

[Orestes Munn]

Still undecided about this. We dumped the first company, who were clearly interested only in cashing in on installing hardware and buying up SRECs and found another, privately held, outfit with much higher up-front costs, but who use top quality stuff and are serious about servicing it.

Here's their proposed payback schedule, rating our SRECs at 350/kw instead of the 450, which they are currently paying. They also low-balled the production estimate. Clearly not a huge economic benefit, though.

Untitled.jpg

[Soñadora]

love the concept of residential solar (or wind, for that matter).

But here's how I want it: zero up-front costs and an immediate reduction in my bill. I know that might sound ridiculous, but that's what it will take for existing construction. It's a no-brainer for new construction.

[Orestes Munn]

love the concept of residential solar (or wind, for that matter).

But here's how I want it: zero up-front costs and an immediate reduction in my bill. I know that might sound ridiculous, but that's what it will take for existing construction. It's a no-brainer for new construction.

I think you can have that if you lease the gear...or lease your roof to the company or however those deals work.

[Olaf Hart]

OM, is that for a panel plus battery system?

[Orestes Munn]

OM, is that for a panel plus battery system?

No battery. Panels and a SolarEdge optimizer-inverter system. However, there is economic "storage," in that one gets cash credit for excess power pushed to the grid.