Hello,
we are currently considering whether to install a solar power system. I have noticed there are various opinions on this topic, but individual factors also play a role. Apparently, it might not be financially beneficial for us, or I may be overlooking something.
Here is our current situation:
- Quote for a 5 kWp solar system with everything included: just under 10,000€ (approximately $10,000)
-> 500€ (approximately $540) annual depreciation
- Interest on 10,000€ (approximately $10,000): 100€ (approximately $110)
---> 600€ (approximately $650) annual costs
Income:
A 5 kWp system apparently generates about 4,500 kWh.
We currently consume 1,500 kWh annually, but there are only two of us so far.
So, I roughly save 800 kWh x 0.30€ = 240€ (approximately $260) for self-consumption and receive 3,700 kWh x 0.08€ = 300€ (approximately $325) feed-in tariff.
That makes a total income of 540€ (approximately $585).
The hard part to estimate is the share of self-consumption covered by the solar system. Since we are not home during the day and mostly use appliances in the evening, I find the 800 kWh out of 1,500 kWh estimate rather optimistic.
If not all new buildings around us had solar systems, I would not hesitate further, but maybe my reasoning is flawed?
What do the solar system supporters say?
Thanks for your assessment!
we are currently considering whether to install a solar power system. I have noticed there are various opinions on this topic, but individual factors also play a role. Apparently, it might not be financially beneficial for us, or I may be overlooking something.
Here is our current situation:
- Quote for a 5 kWp solar system with everything included: just under 10,000€ (approximately $10,000)
-> 500€ (approximately $540) annual depreciation
- Interest on 10,000€ (approximately $10,000): 100€ (approximately $110)
---> 600€ (approximately $650) annual costs
Income:
A 5 kWp system apparently generates about 4,500 kWh.
We currently consume 1,500 kWh annually, but there are only two of us so far.
So, I roughly save 800 kWh x 0.30€ = 240€ (approximately $260) for self-consumption and receive 3,700 kWh x 0.08€ = 300€ (approximately $325) feed-in tariff.
That makes a total income of 540€ (approximately $585).
The hard part to estimate is the share of self-consumption covered by the solar system. Since we are not home during the day and mostly use appliances in the evening, I find the 800 kWh out of 1,500 kWh estimate rather optimistic.
If not all new buildings around us had solar systems, I would not hesitate further, but maybe my reasoning is flawed?
What do the solar system supporters say?
Thanks for your assessment!
H
hampshire15 May 2021 07:52ypg schrieb:
I always thought solar panels were for hot water?Yes, yes, the terminology can be confusing. Solar thermal systems and photovoltaic systems are different types of solar installations...N
nordanney15 May 2021 09:59Hausbautraum20 schrieb:
But travel, scaffolding?, electrician... costs are the same for 5 kWp as for 10 kWp, and labor hours around Munich are expensive. Fixed additional costs make small systems unprofitable. That’s true. But the provider can also come from a more remote area – in my case, he came from Aue in Saxony ==> travel all the way to the Lower Rhine.
H
hanghaus200015 May 2021 14:29nordanney schrieb:
The overhead costs make small systems unprofitable. That’s true. But the provider can also be from a remote area – in my case, he came from Aue in Saxony ==> traveled all the way to the Lower Rhine. Can you tell me who that is?
H
hanghaus200015 May 2021 14:32hampshire schrieb:
Get a better offer and the invoice will be correct. What is the roof orientation? You achieve higher self-consumption with an east-west system than with a south-facing one.With the same photovoltaic area and tilt angle?
We installed a photovoltaic system with a capacity of 4.55 kWp (by the way, we paid about the same as you did; back then, we weren’t yet part of this forum 🙄 )...
We would definitely do it again. Besides all the rational calculations (which still make sense), the fun factor shouldn’t be underestimated either. I never thought my husband would develop the hobby of "showing everyone the photovoltaic app." 😉
We’re lucky to work from home and happily rush to the dishwasher and washing machine whenever the sun comes out.
But even if you’re away during the day, you can still optimize some things. Many washing machines can be programmed—just set them to “start in 4 hours” when you leave the house in the morning. Or with smart plugs (unfortunately quite expensive), you can control this even more directly. Heat pumps also work well in synergy with this.
Of course, it doesn’t bring you much during the really cold months—there is very little yield in the depths of winter. But the transition periods in spring and autumn shouldn’t be underestimated. You get several months where you’re still heating but also have sunshine during the day. Heat pumps can also be set so that their inverter starts happen more during the day rather than at night—someone once advised me to simply lower the target temperature by 1°C (about 2°F) at night, but I haven’t dared to try that yet.
Then there’s also the standby background consumption: your refrigerator, your freezer, and whatever else might use electricity while you’re away.
In short: We originally calculated a self-consumption rate of 35% (with an air-to-water heat pump). Now we have 53% from January to May, and 55% so far in May, even though the air-to-water heat pump no longer runs continuously because it’s already getting warmer. In January and February, when it was really cold, we were at 70% and 60%, respectively.
So far, we’ve saved almost 1 ton of CO2 and about €250 in electricity costs since the end of January.
I love this system and only regret two things: that we paid so much for it, and that we didn’t get a larger one. I think we’ll invest again during the next high liquidity phase.
We would definitely do it again. Besides all the rational calculations (which still make sense), the fun factor shouldn’t be underestimated either. I never thought my husband would develop the hobby of "showing everyone the photovoltaic app." 😉
We’re lucky to work from home and happily rush to the dishwasher and washing machine whenever the sun comes out.
But even if you’re away during the day, you can still optimize some things. Many washing machines can be programmed—just set them to “start in 4 hours” when you leave the house in the morning. Or with smart plugs (unfortunately quite expensive), you can control this even more directly. Heat pumps also work well in synergy with this.
Of course, it doesn’t bring you much during the really cold months—there is very little yield in the depths of winter. But the transition periods in spring and autumn shouldn’t be underestimated. You get several months where you’re still heating but also have sunshine during the day. Heat pumps can also be set so that their inverter starts happen more during the day rather than at night—someone once advised me to simply lower the target temperature by 1°C (about 2°F) at night, but I haven’t dared to try that yet.
Then there’s also the standby background consumption: your refrigerator, your freezer, and whatever else might use electricity while you’re away.
In short: We originally calculated a self-consumption rate of 35% (with an air-to-water heat pump). Now we have 53% from January to May, and 55% so far in May, even though the air-to-water heat pump no longer runs continuously because it’s already getting warmer. In January and February, when it was really cold, we were at 70% and 60%, respectively.
So far, we’ve saved almost 1 ton of CO2 and about €250 in electricity costs since the end of January.
I love this system and only regret two things: that we paid so much for it, and that we didn’t get a larger one. I think we’ll invest again during the next high liquidity phase.
kati1337 schrieb:
Then there’s the standby background noise, your refrigerator, your freezer, and anything else that might use electricity while you’re away from home.I don’t have solar panels, but my neighbor swears by the SuperFrost function on his Miele freezer: the device cools down at maximum power for 6 hours to prepare for planned storage of non-frozen goods, and if nothing is stored after that, the freezer stays so cold that it practically uses no energy for the next 36 hours. So, on a clear day, just press the turbo button in the morning, and the unit roughly stores 1 kWh of energy. Nice to have 🙂
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