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>...Rooftop solar is a "socialist" solution to power. Noncentralized, empowers the end user, undermines large corporations, bypasses government control of power

by opo 3y ago

>...Rooftop solar is a "socialist" solution to power. Noncentralized, empowers the end user, undermines large corporations, bypasses government control of power. Oh wait, that's ACTUALLY almost purely libertarian, but of course it's going to be branded as hippy socialism to undermine it politically. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone outlawing rooftop solar. The problem with rooftop solar is that it is very expensive compared to utility grade solar. >…Rooftop solar photovoltaic installations on residential buildings have the highest unsubsidized levelized costs of energy generation in the United States. If not for federal and state subsidies, rooftop solar PV would come with a price tag between 147 and 221 U.S. dollars per megawatt hour. https://www.statista.com/statistics/493797/estimated-levelized-cost-of-energy-generation-in-the-us-by-technology/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/493797/estimated-leveliz... If we want to subsidize a renewable energy source, why should we subsidize rooftop solar when we could subsidize utility grade solar or wind? Money is fungible and not unlimited - a dollar that goes to subsidize residential rooftop solar is a dollar that would go much, much further if it was used to subsidize utility grade solar or wind. Rooftop solar subsidies are also unusual in that much of the subsidy is often paid by less well-off households to subsidize their wealthier neighbors - sort of a reverse Robinhood scheme.

AtlasBarfed 3y ago
I would like my lunch and eat it too: - I agree grid solar is far cheaper, and it should be aggressively pursued. - but home solar is weirdly expensive, almost regulatory capture-ish. There's no way utilities should be getting panels that cheap but the rooftop stuff is so expensive. IMO rooftop solar is simply another path to reduced carbon that should be equally emphasized: you should get solar power anywhere and everywhere it can be placed. The economics will sort them out as solar panels go through the next cost improvement and technology waves (perovskite+silicon, bigger factories, etc). Rooftop/home solar reduces the grid infrastructure impact of EVs. It aligns with air conditioning / heating peaks on hot days to alleviate brownouts. If you have a disaster that brings down grid power for days, it provides a usable power base for people to survive. If you have home solar + an EV, your household can survive gasoline supply outages in addition to grid power outages. But I'm a quote-Lazard-LCOE all over the place (btw 150$/kwhr is the low end of nuclear power costs), so obviously home solar needs to be improved. I simply don't see how grid can be one-sixth the cost of home solar. The panels are basically the same. The inverter may be a bit more expensive. I don't think that even includes storage. Something stinks.

by opo 3y ago

AtlasBarfed 3y ago

I would like my lunch and eat it too: - I agree grid solar is far cheaper, and it should be aggressively pursued. - but home solar is weirdly expensive, almost regulatory capture-ish. There's no way utilities should be getting panels that cheap but the rooftop stuff is so expensive. IMO rooftop solar is simply another path to reduced carbon that should be equally emphasized: you should get solar power anywhere and everywhere it can be placed. The economics will sort them out as solar panels go through the next cost improvement and technology waves (perovskite+silicon, bigger factories, etc). Rooftop/home solar reduces the grid infrastructure impact of EVs. It aligns with air conditioning / heating peaks on hot days to alleviate brownouts. If you have a disaster that brings down grid power for days, it provides a usable power base for people to survive. If you have home solar + an EV, your household can survive gasoline supply outages in addition to grid power outages. But I'm a quote-Lazard-LCOE all over the place (btw 150$/kwhr is the low end of nuclear power costs), so obviously home solar needs to be improved. I simply don't see how grid can be one-sixth the cost of home solar. The panels are basically the same. The inverter may be a bit more expensive. I don't think that even includes storage. Something stinks.