3 ms·
Maintenance and installation costs already eclipse the panel costs. For any assembly you evaluate, you have to answer two questions: Will this require more com
by Tuna-Fish 10y ago
Maintenance and installation costs already eclipse the panel costs. For any assembly you evaluate, you have to answer two questions:
Will this require more complex installation than flat panels?
Will this require more lifetime maintenance than flat panels?
If the answer to either question is a yes, it doesn't matter how good your system is in any other measure, you will lose against simple flat panels in total cost per electricity produced for any small-scale installation.
- jacquesm 10y agoCorrect. I found this out the hard way with my two leafs of 2x4 panels tracking the sun in two axis. By the time the system was up and running I could have had more power and less headaches by installing 24 panels statically on the roof. It would have looked better too.
- walrus01 10y agoTracking systems with moving parts are expensive and complicated. With good quality 320W panels at $0.45/watt now in pallet quantities, going with a low cost fixed mounting system (whether ground or roof) makes much more economic sense. Considering the wind loading that a two axis tracking system which can hold 6x280W panels must endure, no wonder they cost a lot.