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If we can get balcony solar in the US that will be a huge game changer.

by dhosek 6mo ago

deleted 6mo ago
[deleted]
engineer_22 6mo ago
Subtropical latitudes in continental US markets, you're looking at like $2/yr/sq ft of value for the power output. I'd want solar panels for like $5/sq ft installed, expecting 10 years of life. It's going to cost $1000 minimum to install, so the panels need to cost $2/sq ft x 300 sq ft to make this worth it. $1000 to install 300 sq ft + inverter and electrical panel upgrades seems light but might be reasonable we'll go with it. Larger than a balcony, but maybe in the realm of possibility for a roof. Right now solar panels cost what? $10 per square foot? Have they reached the physical limit of economic production/storage/transportation at $10 per sq ft or can it go lower? (Let's not get into battery micro-storage economics).
- wing-_-nuts 6mo ago
  When you consider your other option is a whole house generator which sits idle 99.99% of the time, requires regular maintenance, vs the fact that a solar / battery setup is providing resiliency AND lowering your power bill every month, it seems like solar / bat is a no brainer. Your money, your choices, but I know which one I'm doing when I get a single family home.
  - engineer_22 6mo ago
    False dilemma. There are other options.
    - wing-_-nuts 6mo ago
      Such as? I've looked into the options, you can either get a whole house generator, which suffers from all the issues I described, or get a solar setup. I suppose if you lived by a stream you might be able to hook up a microturbine for hydro but that's very situational. Cost is not the highest deciding factor for me. The resiliency renewables grant you would be worth it even at a premium
fred_is_fred 6mo ago
It's legal in a few states already including Colorado and Utah - with more coming.
driverdan 6mo ago
Unless it's not allowed in your lease nothing is stopping you, go for it.

If we can get balcony solar in the US that will be a huge game changer.

by dhosek 6mo ago

If we can get balcony solar in the US that will be a huge game changer.

deleted 6mo ago

[deleted]

engineer_22 6mo ago

Subtropical latitudes in continental US markets, you're looking at like $2/yr/sq ft of value for the power output. I'd want solar panels for like $5/sq ft installed, expecting 10 years of life. It's going to cost $1000 minimum to install, so the panels need to cost $2/sq ft x 300 sq ft to make this worth it. $1000 to install 300 sq ft + inverter and electrical panel upgrades seems light but might be reasonable we'll go with it. Larger than a balcony, but maybe in the realm of possibility for a roof. Right now solar panels cost what? $10 per square foot? Have they reached the physical limit of economic production/storage/transportation at $10 per sq ft or can it go lower? (Let's not get into battery micro-storage economics).

wing-_-nuts 6mo ago
When you consider your other option is a whole house generator which sits idle 99.99% of the time, requires regular maintenance, vs the fact that a solar / battery setup is providing resiliency AND lowering your power bill every month, it seems like solar / bat is a no brainer. Your money, your choices, but I know which one I'm doing when I get a single family home.
- engineer_22 6mo ago
  False dilemma. There are other options.
  - wing-_-nuts 6mo ago
    Such as? I've looked into the options, you can either get a whole house generator, which suffers from all the issues I described, or get a solar setup. I suppose if you lived by a stream you might be able to hook up a microturbine for hydro but that's very situational. Cost is not the highest deciding factor for me. The resiliency renewables grant you would be worth it even at a premium

fred_is_fred 6mo ago

It's legal in a few states already including Colorado and Utah - with more coming.

driverdan 6mo ago

Unless it's not allowed in your lease nothing is stopping you, go for it.