4 ms·

> Utility scale solar can be built outright for the 30% subsidy offered on domestic solar. What does that even mean ? I have a ton of sunlight all throughout t

> Utility scale solar can be built outright for the 30% subsidy offered on domestic solar. What does that even mean ? I have a ton of sunlight all throughout the year (almost). What do I do to harness it ?

parineum 4y ago
Buy some property in the middle of nowhere and just put a bunch of panels on the ground.
laurencerowe 4y ago
> What does that even mean ? So in 2021 solar construction costs averaged $2.94/W for residential and $0.77/W for utility scale solar. https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/how-does-utility-scale-solar-work https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/how-does-utility-scale-sol... So if you installed a 10kW residential system it might cost $29,400 which would make you eligible for a 30% federal tax credit at a cost to the government of $8,820. However if the government instead spent that $8,820 on utility scale solar it could pay outright for the construction of 11.5kW of solar generation capacity. > I have a ton of sunlight all throughout the year (almost). What do I do to harness it ? So as an individual it might make sense for you to take advantage of the government subsidy and have them help pay for a residential system for you! It just makes no sense at a societal level to spend money on small expensive systems when we could instead be spending it on large cheap systems.
- gofreddygo 4y ago
  I get your point now. Panels cost 4 times as much when installed individually instead of at a community scale. I agree the economy of scale here is just too good to be wasted away like this. As a consumer though, I see two practical choices (1) keep paying PG&E their increasing cost for electricity or (2) eat that initial high cost of solar install and keep outgoing cost constant for a decade. And some impractical ones like convince a bunch of people to setup a grid at community scale or do a DIY solar install to keep the install cost low.
ElevenLathe 4y ago
They're saying don't bother. The same panels can be installed more cheaply in a utility scale solar farm, and the sunlight hitting your roof is not itself a valuable commodity.

parineum 4y ago

Buy some property in the middle of nowhere and just put a bunch of panels on the ground.

laurencerowe 4y ago

> What does that even mean ? So in 2021 solar construction costs averaged $2.94/W for residential and $0.77/W for utility scale solar. https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/how-does-utility-scale-solar-work https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/how-does-utility-scale-sol... So if you installed a 10kW residential system it might cost $29,400 which would make you eligible for a 30% federal tax credit at a cost to the government of $8,820. However if the government instead spent that $8,820 on utility scale solar it could pay outright for the construction of 11.5kW of solar generation capacity. > I have a ton of sunlight all throughout the year (almost). What do I do to harness it ? So as an individual it might make sense for you to take advantage of the government subsidy and have them help pay for a residential system for you! It just makes no sense at a societal level to spend money on small expensive systems when we could instead be spending it on large cheap systems.

gofreddygo 4y ago
I get your point now. Panels cost 4 times as much when installed individually instead of at a community scale. I agree the economy of scale here is just too good to be wasted away like this. As a consumer though, I see two practical choices (1) keep paying PG&E their increasing cost for electricity or (2) eat that initial high cost of solar install and keep outgoing cost constant for a decade. And some impractical ones like convince a bunch of people to setup a grid at community scale or do a DIY solar install to keep the install cost low.

ElevenLathe 4y ago

They're saying don't bother. The same panels can be installed more cheaply in a utility scale solar farm, and the sunlight hitting your roof is not itself a valuable commodity.