Solar Panel Question

[Shelbeast]

Has anyone had solar panel install just for your EV? Full home solar panel is still not a break even until 18 years (part gas). Not worth it. I am thinking of just getting one panel to connect to charging only. Has anyone did that? Any pros and cons? Thanks.

RJ

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[Nygman]

I think your cost is in the other equipment not necessarily the solar panels. I looked up putting five MWh on the roof of my garage, for that same reason. Just don't think the savings is there. The cost per kilowatt hour delivered and the amount I use, it would take a very long time to recoup my costs. That's taking into account dumping any excess back into the grid and getting paid for it. I think you need to look into enough to power your whole house in order to make it worth the investment in the equipment.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I think your cost is in the other equipment not necessarily the solar panels. I looked up putting five MWh on the roof of my garage, for that same reason. Just don't think the savings is there. The cost per kilowatt hour delivered and the amount I use, it would take a very long time to recoup my costs. That's taking into account dumping any excess back into the grid and getting paid for it. I think you need to look into enough to power your whole house in order to make it worth the investment in the equipment.

+1.

 

[EVandSolar]

What are your electric rates, and what is the cost per kW your getting for solar estimates? I have about a 7 year ROI with gas heat. $2.30/watt before incentives. $1.61 after.

 

[markboris]

+2. What Nygman said. You will need enough to power the entire house. A couple of panels won't do it and won't be worth it.

 

[Shelbeast]

What are your electric rates, and what is the cost per kW your getting for solar estimates? I have about a 7 year ROI with gas heat. $2.30/watt before incentives. $1.61 after.

I will have to see once I move in May to another state.. I'm sure will be different. I don't understand the ROI for Gas. I thought solar only powers electricity. The solar Co. only asked for electric bill. Its pretty low since I use gas as well on cooking and water.

 

[connoisseurr]

DIY your system. It’s very easy to get trained. Enphase, for example, has an entire online university with hundred of hours of training. I used this to build my own system. I spent roughly 3 weeks training and building my own solution. Spent another 2-3 weeks on preparing permitting and architectural review.

My average was $2.63/watt before incentives, and that’s with 2x 10kW batteries.

 

[Shelbeast]

DIY your system. It’s very easy to get trained. Enphase, for example, has an entire online university with hundred of hours of training. I used this to build my own system. I spent roughly 3 weeks training and building my own solution. Spent another 2-3 weeks on preparing permitting and architectural review.

My average was $2.63/watt before incentives, and that’s with 2x 10kW batteries.

Thanks Conner, I will look into it once I move to LOCO area in May.

 

[EVandSolar]

I will have to see once I move in May to another state.. I'm sure will be different. I don't understand the ROI for Gas. I thought solar only powers electricity. The solar Co. only asked for electric bill. Its pretty low since I use gas as well on cooking and water.

No, what I meant is that even though I have gas heat i.e. not all my energy use is electricity, my ROI is 7 years.

 

[Shelbeast]

No, what I meant is that even though I have gas heat i.e. not all my energy use is electricity, my ROI is 7 years.

Oh ok, thanks. I def. look into again. I read that panel prices are going down. My lowest price I found 18 months ago was 11K-13K package to install and did not have MME yet.

 

[ChuckA]

Has anyone had solar panel install just for your EV? Full home solar panel is still not a break even until 18 years (part gas). Not worth it. I am thinking of just getting one panel to connect to charging only. Has anyone did that? Any pros and cons? Thanks.

RJ

With my solar system I pay for generation with no cash up front. It has positive cash flow from day one. Break even is only a factor if you finance or buy the system. It is usually a long time. My heat is oil and I didn’t switch to electric, no payback.

 

[Shelbeast]

With my solar system I pay for generation with no cash up front. It has positive cash flow from day one. Break even is only a factor if you finance or buy the system. It is usually a long time. My heat is oil and I didn’t switch to electric, no payback.

Thanks, is generation same as rental?

 

[MacherAWD]

I am assuming you had a quote from an installer, not a lease company, but one that you have to buy outright? They are usually very honest, there may be state incentives that lower costs. We have 32 panels in Mass, we bought them at 2 separate times, 24panels in 2013 which had a full ROI in 4.25 years, then we added 8 more panels in 2018 with a 4 year ROI. When we first installed we had no kids, no central AC and no EV, so we thought we were future proofed with a 25% oversized system, but adding 2 kids, AC and EV we needed more!

 

[Shelbeast]

I am assuming you had a quote from an installer, not a lease company, but one that you have to buy outright? They are usually very honest, there may be state incentives that lower costs. We have 32 panels in Mass, we bought them at 2 separate times, 24panels in 2013 which had a full ROI in 4.25 years, then we added 8 more panels in 2018 with a 4 year ROI. When we first installed we had no kids, no central AC and no EV, so we thought we were future proofed with a 25% oversized system, but adding 2 kids, AC and EV we needed more!

Very good to know. Yes, to purchase. Thanks. I went thru Costco first for SunSolar I think, bad service. Then I went thru a website to get multiple quotes, EnergySage. I may go with them again for muli-offers.

 

[connoisseurr]

Thanks Conner, I will look into it once I move to LOCO area in May.

Send me a PM. I can give you some resources and help build out your system.

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