3 ms·

Something strange is going on with their figures that I don't understand. In Australia I got a 5kW system installed for AUD8000 before rebate (AUD3500 after reb

Something strange is going on with their figures that I don't understand. In Australia I got a 5kW system installed for AUD8000 before rebate (AUD3500 after rebate). So that's USD6000 for 5kW, or about $1.20 per W installed. I think the "5kW" I'm talking here refers to kW of AC current at peak generation - whenever I walk past I tend to see about 4.5 kW give or take any time between 9am and 4pm. My system is neither the flashiest nor the cheapest components. How can it be $3 per W installed in USA but only $1.20 per W in expensive Australia? Am I missing something?

m0zg 5y ago
In the US any subsidies tend to just increase the overall cost to what the market will bear anyway (hence $60K/yr for college, for example), which is why you see such a huge slice of the pie (for residential) going to whoever is selling and installing the system. Also, this is probably not the cheapest system available, nor the cheapest labor available. But you could pay even more where market bears more, such as where I live - tons of FAANG people with too much money on hand. Unfortunately for them, there's no meaningful sun exposure for 6 months in any given year, so solar is utterly dumb here, unlike in Australia.