ᐅ Photovoltaic Systems: What Has Been Your Experience?

Created on: 9 May 2018 15:26
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Bien-Zenker
Living off the grid. Never paying for electricity and rent again. This is the dream of many of our homebuilding families. We always recommend including a photovoltaic system. Clean electricity is definitely a great benefit—especially when it is self-generated.

Of course, adding a photovoltaic system increases the overall budget for your home construction project. In the long run, it pays off. But is that really the case?

What has been your experience? Are you truly living energy self-sufficient?
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munger71
11 May 2018 08:42
How much more does the KfW40 standard cost you compared to a "normal" build? It's not free, right?
KingSong11 May 2018 08:43
munger71 schrieb:
OK. But to be fair, you first need to deduct the actual cost of building to KfW40+ standard, which produces 2 residential units. The free battery storage is basically financed through the extra costs of meeting the KfW40+ requirements... so it’s a bit of an optimistic calculation.
That’s fine though. My better half didn’t want such a system in the basement, but that’s a different story. Which battery storage are you considering? Tesla is interesting in terms of cost.

That’s certainly a valid point, but if, like us, the two units are fixed as well as the KfW40 standard, I’d be foolish not to take the battery storage included for free...

@Mastermind, our future basic fee will be €9.60 per month
KingSong11 May 2018 08:49
What is considered "normal"? We don’t have gas here, so it’s a heat pump... We wanted ventilation anyway, and the exterior walls and roof meet the KfW40 standard... Only the thicker perimeter insulation was missing...
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munger71
12 May 2018 08:35
Normally, the 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance applies; KfW40+ is not without reason. A heat pump and controlled ventilation alone do not make a KfW40 standard. You need additional insulation on the foundation slab, basement, facade, roof, windows, and also an expert assessment, airtightness testing... none of this comes for free.
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miho
14 May 2018 14:01
Mastermind1 schrieb:
Keep dreaming. Go to the photovoltaic forum and read every post where someone got a battery for free... None of the calculations ended up showing it as actually free...

Energy storage is often viewed critically there due to its typical lack of cost efficiency, but under your specific conditions with KfW40+ it might have a significantly less negative impact than usual. It could even be slightly positive. You should have it calculated precisely.

Ultimately, the cost-efficiency heavily depends on the price of the system. You need a reliable provider who can offer competitive prices. Whether that is the case with a complete home builder, I cannot say. The mentioned 1100 - 1300 €/kWp (without VAT and storage) is at least a good benchmark.
KingSong14 May 2018 14:42
With our photovoltaic system provider, I pay 922 €/kWp without VAT and storage. I think this is a good offer, but it also required quite a bit of negotiation.