Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Renewable energy

interesting read - thank you!

I just did the math, and for my business it was a no brainer decision.

Investment: $300,000 to purchase a 1.5kw rated Solar PV system (360 panels)

Investment Tax Credit: 30% making my net cost $210,000.

The system was designed to provide 95% of our annual power requirements. Prior to going solar, my monthly electricity bills varied from $3500 to $5500 per month. Since going solar my monthly bill has been $56 (taxes and fees to support Net Metering). The system will pay for itself in 5 years, and I then have 20 years left under warranty from the manufacturer. Free power vs the inevitable utility rates increases.

I would expect a little more than 1.5kW for that sort of investment Edwin. More like 150kW

Take your point though.

Thanks for the links very interesting, Solar has gone from $106 per watt down to 38 cents. Looking at the graph it seems to still be consistently improving and has done or 40 years. I see much higher prices like $3 per watt but I think that is installed systems rather than just the solar panels. I guess Solar panels will keep reducing in costs but the other components and the labour to fit a system will go up. I expect maybe the price for a system will plateau and maybe they already have, or bigger systems will get installed for the same price.


I agree, mine in Australia also worked out to a paying for itself in 5 years. I assume you mean a 150kw system seeing each panel is about 430 watts?

Yes, make that 151.36 Kw if I must be accurate.

In the UK the price of electricity is pegged at the least economical supplier. so we pay over the odds. BG pat me 8p /kWh for the solar power I generate & sell t on at 25p or so

Forgive me for being pedantic but my question was about renewables that weren't subsidised in any way.

Forgive me too as, actually, I didn't read it that way. You mentioned subsidies but didn't state you were only interested in renewables that weren't subsidised.

For those of us in the UK that jumped on board the Feed In Tariff when it was its highest rate we receive about £2400 per year with the usual inflation increases tax free.

the maths were Panels purchase £12000 then a £2000 per year return over 25 years = £50,000 without the inflationary increases

Quite a good deal from the UK government, and then there is the free electric, for the first 10 years the mechanical meter went backwards so that helped too!

Best investment I ever made.