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It can take about 10 years to recoup the initial outlay on a domestic solar installation, and after that you are actually saving money. The people saving the m

by frobozz 11y ago

It can take about 10 years to recoup the initial outlay on a domestic solar installation, and after that you are actually saving money. The people saving the money are the residents of the property, and there is not enough confidence that the presence of solar panels increases the sale price of a property by the amount invested. So, if you are either a landlord or a first-time-buyer looking to trade up in a few years time, you won't invest in a domestic solar installation. Your money will give you a better ROI somewhere else over that period (e.g. buying your next property). Therefore, a political solution is probably desired. Something to reduce that 10-year period; something to encourage landlords to install solar; something to encourage first-time-buyers in particular to install.

Shivetya 11y ago
which is why solar installations need to focus on the industrial scale instead of throwing money at individual home owners, which by the way excludes a significant number of people. There is zero reason to subsidize home owners installing wind or solar energy however you could get better results by subsidizing their purchase of power generated that way.
- ZeroGravitas 11y ago
  There's a few good reasons for residential rooftop solar, particularly in areas where the peak usage and sun coincide (where aircon is used for example). It not only dampens peak demand (the most expensive to serve) it can also delay the need for grid improvements required to deliver the peak demand. Progressive utilities consider it a win-win. I'm surprised landlords haven't jumped at the chance to add solar, they seem like exactly the kind of people who would invest up front for a guaranteed payback. I guess there must be some reason why it's not a standard thing, the difficulty of billing the renter for their electric use separately maybe?

by frobozz 11y ago

Shivetya 11y ago

which is why solar installations need to focus on the industrial scale instead of throwing money at individual home owners, which by the way excludes a significant number of people. There is zero reason to subsidize home owners installing wind or solar energy however you could get better results by subsidizing their purchase of power generated that way.

ZeroGravitas 11y ago
There's a few good reasons for residential rooftop solar, particularly in areas where the peak usage and sun coincide (where aircon is used for example). It not only dampens peak demand (the most expensive to serve) it can also delay the need for grid improvements required to deliver the peak demand. Progressive utilities consider it a win-win. I'm surprised landlords haven't jumped at the chance to add solar, they seem like exactly the kind of people who would invest up front for a guaranteed payback. I guess there must be some reason why it's not a standard thing, the difficulty of billing the renter for their electric use separately maybe?