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
hampshire16 May 2021 18:06dhd82 schrieb:
- Provide a meaningful roof coveringdhd82 schrieb:
- The self-consumption rate is not a value relevant for system sizing
- The autonomy rate (if not planned to be 100%) is not a value relevant for system sizingHow do you determine what is relevant? Not everyone is motivated solely by financial factors. For example, for me, there are other important aspects regarding a photovoltaic system:- visual design
- as high self-sufficiency as possible – because even if I pay a green energy provider, the electricity there often comes from brown coal power plants. What I don’t draw from the grid is truly clean.
hampshire schrieb:
How do you determine what is relevant? Not everyone is motivated solely by money.
For example, when it comes to a photovoltaic system, other factors are important to me:
- visual design
- as high a level of self-sufficiency as possible – because even if I pay a green energy provider, the electricity here comes from lignite coal power plants. What I don’t draw from the grid is truly clean.
Therefore, for me, a battery storage system is not just a calculation exercise but also a means to achieve the goal of covering as much of my own electricity needs as possible. I have deliberately not commented on the topic of storage, as the pros and cons have already been debated here multiple times without a consensus.
I think for many system owners, both ecological and economic factors are relevant when considering installing a photovoltaic system. Fortunately, these two requirements do not exclude each other—in fact, they complement one another.
If you read the three points mentioned above from top to bottom, you can see the positive interaction between ecology and economy.
To achieve a high rate of self-consumption, you need to install the smallest possible system.
The larger the system, the less of the generated electricity you will be able to use yourself.
But this is not a problem at all, because others can use your green electricity, which is good for the environment.
So the goal is not to consume as much as possible yourself, but rather to draw as little electricity as possible from the grid. This is a fundamental difference because to minimize grid consumption, you need the largest possible system, which still produces a relatively large amount of electricity even during lean periods.
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