ᐅ Photovoltaic System: Costs and Savings Potential – Experiences?
Created on: 16 Jan 2020 10:50
H
Hans-MaulwurfH
Hans-Maulwurf16 Jan 2020 10:50Hello everyone,
Since I have no prior experience, I would like to get some general information.
Our new building will be heated using an air-to-water heat pump.
What would generally and overall be the advantages, potential savings, and costs of installing a photovoltaic system on the roof? Is it worthwhile or not?
Since I have no prior experience, I would like to get some general information.
Our new building will be heated using an air-to-water heat pump.
What would generally and overall be the advantages, potential savings, and costs of installing a photovoltaic system on the roof? Is it worthwhile or not?
A brief note on air-to-water heat pumps and photovoltaic systems.
Your air-to-water heat pump consumes the most electricity from November to March. However, during these months, the photovoltaic system produces very little energy.
In March 2019, we installed our photovoltaic system with a capacity of 9.920 kWp on the roof, oriented east-west.
Here are some figures I can share with you:
- Annual yield: 8,999 kWh
- Annual consumption: 7,102 kWh
- Grid electricity purchased: 4,789 kWh
- Self-consumption: 2,312 kWh
The total cost of the system was just under 15,000 EURO gross.
Your air-to-water heat pump consumes the most electricity from November to March. However, during these months, the photovoltaic system produces very little energy.
In March 2019, we installed our photovoltaic system with a capacity of 9.920 kWp on the roof, oriented east-west.
Here are some figures I can share with you:
- Annual yield: 8,999 kWh
- Annual consumption: 7,102 kWh
- Grid electricity purchased: 4,789 kWh
- Self-consumption: 2,312 kWh
The total cost of the system was just under 15,000 EURO gross.
Keep in mind that currently (at least until mid-year) you receive about 10 cents/kWh from the grid operator for the electricity you feed into the grid. This is guaranteed for 20 years.
In the example from @Baufie, that would be 6687 kWh of fed-in electricity per year --> €668.70 per year. Over 20 years, that amounts to €13,375. On top of that is the self-consumed electricity that you don’t have to purchase from an energy supplier. With an electricity price of around 30 cents, subtracting the lost feed-in tariff, that results in a savings of 20 cents. For 2312 kWh of self-consumed electricity, that’s €462.40 per year. Over 20 years --> €9,248. Together, this sums up to €22,622 over 20 years. Therefore: It’s worth it!
In the example from @Baufie, that would be 6687 kWh of fed-in electricity per year --> €668.70 per year. Over 20 years, that amounts to €13,375. On top of that is the self-consumed electricity that you don’t have to purchase from an energy supplier. With an electricity price of around 30 cents, subtracting the lost feed-in tariff, that results in a savings of 20 cents. For 2312 kWh of self-consumed electricity, that’s €462.40 per year. Over 20 years --> €9,248. Together, this sums up to €22,622 over 20 years. Therefore: It’s worth it!
Wow, @seth0487, sorry, but please be a bit more careful!
I am a strong supporter of photovoltaic systems and recently had a 24.5 kWp system installed on my roof, but it’s important to stay realistic!
Firstly, current projections suggest that feed-in tariffs might already end as early as April, not just mid-year. Secondly, you should mention to anyone new to photovoltaics that they need to pay taxes on their profits and “savings”! This isn’t accounted for in your calculations.
Personally, at the moment, without clear political decisions on the future, I wouldn’t just go ahead and install a photovoltaic system. I would wait until more is certain. However, it’s a good idea to prepare for it now! A photovoltaic system might still make sense in the future. Perhaps one with storage could be more suitable. Or maybe the focus will need to shift to completely different solutions.
Regards
Specki
I am a strong supporter of photovoltaic systems and recently had a 24.5 kWp system installed on my roof, but it’s important to stay realistic!
Firstly, current projections suggest that feed-in tariffs might already end as early as April, not just mid-year. Secondly, you should mention to anyone new to photovoltaics that they need to pay taxes on their profits and “savings”! This isn’t accounted for in your calculations.
Personally, at the moment, without clear political decisions on the future, I wouldn’t just go ahead and install a photovoltaic system. I would wait until more is certain. However, it’s a good idea to prepare for it now! A photovoltaic system might still make sense in the future. Perhaps one with storage could be more suitable. Or maybe the focus will need to shift to completely different solutions.
Regards
Specki
seth0487 schrieb:
Keep in mind that currently (at least until mid-year) you still receive about 10 cents/kWh from the grid operator for the electricity fed back into the grid. And this is guaranteed for 20 years.
In the example from @Baufie, that would be 6,687 kWh of exported electricity per year --> €668.70 per year. Over 20 years, that amounts to €13,375. On top of that comes the electricity used personally, which does not need to be purchased from the electricity supplier. With an electricity price of approximately 30 cents, that results in a savings of 20 cents after deducting the missed feed-in tariff. For 2,312 kWh of self-used electricity, that equals €462.40 per year. Over 20 years, that is €9,248. Altogether, that makes €22,622 over 20 years. In other words: it pays off! I also think it’s not quite that simple when it comes to the calculations...
If the feed-in tariff were to be discontinued, it would inevitably be necessary to install a battery storage system. Otherwise, you would have to put a system without storage under 5 kWp (kilowatt peak) on the roof. If the tariff disappears, module sales will collapse, causing prices to fall.
As @Specki writes, planning a system now doesn't really make sense. But who really believes that the government will put the feed-in tariff on hold? I don’t.
If you want to know whether you can run your air-to-water heat pump with photovoltaic power, I can give you a clear no. On cloudy days (so when it’s gray), my 8.76 kWp system only produces a meager 250 watts. That’s not even enough to power the refrigerator. You typically see these conditions from mid-November to the end of January, which is exactly when the air-to-water heat pump consumes the most electricity.
As @Specki writes, planning a system now doesn't really make sense. But who really believes that the government will put the feed-in tariff on hold? I don’t.
If you want to know whether you can run your air-to-water heat pump with photovoltaic power, I can give you a clear no. On cloudy days (so when it’s gray), my 8.76 kWp system only produces a meager 250 watts. That’s not even enough to power the refrigerator. You typically see these conditions from mid-November to the end of January, which is exactly when the air-to-water heat pump consumes the most electricity.
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