Posted by sam1967@hetnet.nl on September 24, 2003, 1:39 pm
What is the cost of solar power per kw/hour ?
Posted by Fred B. McGalliard on September 24, 2003, 4:48 pm
as I recall you can find cells for about $3/watt.
You get around 5 hours/day and around 300 days a year (there is some down
time even in LA). For about 1.5 KWH/year. And the cells can survive for
30-60 or more years. so this is around 75 KWH for $3. About 4 cents per KWH.
This assumes that you do not dump any of it but put it all somewhere useful.
This requires that it be a part of a grid system, perhaps one with large
storage capacity somewhere. For a personal or small business system you have
to provide local storage, as in batteries, and the cost of the batteries can
dominate the long term cost of this solar power.
> What is the cost of solar power per kw/hour ?
Posted by Joe Fischer on September 24, 2003, 10:52 pm
On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 20:48:00 GMT, "Fred B. McGalliard"
>as I recall you can find cells for about $3/watt.
>You get around 5 hours/day and around 300 days a year (there is some down
>time even in LA). For about 1.5 KWH/year. And the cells can survive for
>30-60 or more years. so this is around 75 KWH for $3. About 4 cents per KWH.
>This assumes that you do not dump any of it but put it all somewhere useful.
>This requires that it be a part of a grid system, perhaps one with large
>storage capacity somewhere. For a personal or small business system you have
>to provide local storage, as in batteries, and the cost of the batteries can
>dominate the long term cost of this solar power.
With all the power outages it seems most people would
like to have a battery backup system for emergency lighting
and to keep the fridge going anyway, so I can't consider
the battery storage part or the inverter to be part of the
cost of solar.
I consider a battery system and inverter far better
than a gasoline generator system, which was the old way
to have emergency power.
And the appearance of 110 volt LED standard base
light bulbs may make a big difference in the outlook.
Joe Fischer
Posted by Kitep on September 28, 2003, 3:17 am
> time even in LA). For about 1.5 KWH/year. And the cells can survive for
> 30-60 or more years. so this is around 75 KWH for $3. About 4 cents per
KWH.
Is 30-60 years a realistic number?
Don't cells decrease in output as they age?
Posted by William P.N. Smith on September 28, 2003, 8:28 am
>> time even in LA). For about 1.5 KWH/year. And the cells can survive for
>> 30-60 or more years.
>Is 30-60 years a realistic number?
That indeed is the 64K$ question. While modern panels come with
20-year warranties, no modern panels have been in service for 20 years
or more, so we don't really know(*) how long they'll last.
(*) Engineering analysis and accellerated lifetime testing can only do
so much. You pays your money and you takes your chances. For
purposes of financial modelling you should probably pick a number
around 20 years, but be prepared to be off by a factor of (say) two.
--
William Smith w<underscore>smith@compusmiths.com
ComputerSmiths Consulting, Inc. www.compusmiths.com
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