Oct is done and my 12.5Kw array made 1.348 Mwh that is $134 here.
Last Oct 2014 we made 1,668 KWh

We delivered to the grid 879 KWh
We used from the grid 857 Kwh
We banked 22 KWh
Now we have 3,176 Kwh banked for the winter to heat with.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1447084563


We have had a lot of rain.
This month has been our worst start of a month. When I think about off grid I need to look at this crazy month I would need way too much storage.
We have 44,094 solar powered EV miles on our Volt. That would also make it harder to go off grid. For now I am happy using the grid as my battery.


Other solar guys show us your numbers for Oct.

October 2015, my 4.4kW array generated 452kWh. 2014, same array collected 511kWh in October.

For the calendar month, for both the little array {1050w} and the big array {5760w} we came in at 801 kWh.

November is the first of our awful for solar winter months. After the first 9 days, only 69 kWh :(

I just took my first flight on my new drone phantom 3 advanced. My sweet wife bought this for my birthday a week ago and it just got here yesterday.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1447188298

Hah, that is very cool! Now we need some shots of the greenhouse. :)

Savings are strange to calculate it is a little like compound interest.

If I only take in account electric savings then my array has ½ paid for its self.

But the array has covered charging our Chevy Volt for 44K EV miles.
Gas savings are larger than the electric savings.

I also have natural gas savings because we use mini splits to heat with now.
So my array covers the power to heat with now.

Anyway we are very thank full for the power we have been able to produce and the lifestyle changes it has made on us.

Well said! :thumbup:

Right there with you on being thankful for being able to afford the solar array, energy efficiency improvements as well as a mindset that allows me to, once in a while, think outside of the tiny box I am used to.

We did not have a very good solar month. 955Kwh for a 12.5 Kw array.
We missed the estimate by 145 Kwh and we used about 413 Kwh more than we made.
That will put our banked solar to about 2,763. Kwh
We drove our car more this month. School play practice for my youngest son.
Twelve days of rain did not help at all.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1448979886

This is our last 20 months for our billed usage. The one month we used power was when we were zeroed out and we had company. 110 Kwh or $11 for 20 months is not too bad. We also power our car from this for 45,000 EV miles.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1448979886



Other solar installs show us your numbers.

4.4kW array = 415kWh in November.
However, the yard looks good from all the rain and the fertilizer.

6.81kW arrays, 610 kWh for November, with lots of dreary weather.

I am switching to Duke Energy new net metering program. With the new program I still bank the power until March 1 and they zero me out that day. But I get paid avoided cost for the zeroed out power that is at .06 today. So last year they would sent me a check for a little more than $60.
Before you could only install solar up to the amount you have used in the past under 20K.
Now you can install up to 20K.
They will let me be on this new program until 2025 not to bad.
They have started charging everyone a .42 fee to help pay for solar power rebates that will get taken off my bill. But they keep REC's there is no market for them in this state anyway.

No market for RECs in my state (yet) either, but I presume the recent climate change discussions may eventually lead to a market for RECs, even in places that have not to date had markets. Since Duke Energy has facilities in multiple states, I'm sure they have some incentive to acquire additional RECs as inexpensively as possible to offset their emissions.

Stats for my 4.4kW array:
December 2015: 322kWh generated (December 2013: 359kWh; December 2014: 422kWh)
2015 total: 5856kWh (2014 generated 6388kWh)

12.5 Kw array
December 2015: generated 911Kwh but used 546 more than I made.
This will take my banked power to 2,230 Kwh

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1451656225


For the year we still did well. 18.1MWh beating the estimate of 17.4MWh.
We get zeroed out March 1 so we are doing well for the year.

My average day was 49.6KWh
Last year it was 53.5 not as much rain.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1451656225

Other solar producers show us your numbers.
We know it has rained a lot but solar is all about the averages.

We have hit a milestone today 50 MWh pretty sweet and under 3 years to get there.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1451954161

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1452005279

We saw December production make a grand total of 543 kWh, for the year we made 9,472 and {through 12/16/15} for exactly 3 years, we have a grand total of 29,088 kWh production. This was down 969 kWh from year 2, but up by 296 from year 1.

Gives you an idea about the weather in these parts by merely reading the utility meter every day. :p

29 Mwh is pretty darn good for three years.

12.5 Kw array
Jan 2016: generated 1,290 Kwh but used 1,009 more than I made. (lots of Mini split heating and EV driving) we have used no natural gas to heat with so far.
This will take my banked power to 1,221Kwh
This is that last month to use banked power they zero us out March 1.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1454339951

This is my power bill for the last 22 months. We also power our EV car just under 20k miles a year.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1454340305




Other solar guys show use your numbers.

January 2016 4.4kW array: 343kWh (another wet month during the dry season with El Niño).

Jan 2016; 6.81 kW array; for the billing period mid-Dec to mid-Jan 546 kWh, used 1054. Actual January production 703 kWh.

12.5 KW array 1.24 MW was the estimate,
Feb 2016 1300 KW generated. But used 621 KW more than I made but I had banked 1,237

This is the month we get zeroed out that I will have 661KW extra for the year.

I am going to get a check for the first time for the extra powered that is zeroed out. They will pay me with avoided cost. Last time I checked it was .06 cents that would make it $36.96 check.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1456886150


Other solar producers show us your numbers if you could give us the estimate and what you made.

Neat stuff! I like the fish -vegetation scheme. Post my PV around the 18th.
Rob

4.4kW array=439kWh in February 2016. (440kWh in February 2015)

6.81 kW array = 740 kWh in February.

Thankful for the extra day, worth 38 kWh of that total. :D

I thought this was good. The first 40 solar panels I installed are almost three years old. They have all have made $100 or just over $100 now. They are earning their keep. it is fun to see the number just add up.
They each have made 1.00MWh - 1.03MWh

I have done nothing to the array since I installed it. Just watched the power roll in.

In under three years (system went active 8/1/2013), I've collected everywhere from 705kWh-787kWh out of each of my 20 panels (15.5MWh), and I've only washed 6 of them. I'm at $85 per panel.

where2,

Can you tell me what, "I'm at $85 per panel" means exactly? Part of me thinks you mean it's the amount left that your array has yet to pay back, based on your tax credit and the amount of money you haven't sent to your local utility, etc. If so, it compares phenomonally better that I am doing.


At the average cost of my 175w panels {purchased 4 in 2007 @ $898/ea and 2 in 2008 @ $498/ea} and the average cost of my 240w panels {24 @ $337.00/ea in 2012}, plus the cost of everything else, minus the tax credits & savings on the power bill plus the actual payments received from excess generation.... I'm 51.486% paid back since going active 12/17/12. I'm expecting a total payback time of 10.5 years +/-.

{I do bookkeeping work for a living, so I have a spreadsheet I update 5 days a week with the generated amount in a formula to tell me where I'm at. I was really pumped up when I cleared 50% a short while back!}

We are already past ½ paid for under three years. We are on track for 5 ½ year payback.
I bought everything on sale. The panels were .78 a watt shipped. I am so glad I was able to buy in when we did.

Combined savings are much greater. Because we have not turned on out natural gas heat for two years now. We also cover charging our car for about 18-20 K miles a year.



My power company is now offering rebates for home owners that install solar. But only if you hire someone else to install it for you. They do the same for efficient HVAC rebates and hot water tank rebates.
They usually have their approved vendors list.

A 5 1/2 year payback. I'm envious. I must have dove in a bit earlier than you, plus, when I started, I told my solar guru to only get American made items. Then I hired a contractor friend to set the foundation piers for my little array and another trip out for him to set the 4 steel columns to hold the big array. And I paid to get the design blueprints so I could build the {easily} adjustable rack for the little array.

I did a lot of paying....and a lot of lobbying my very resistant-to-change electric cooperative to allow me to hook all this up to the grid.

Yes you system is much more of a pioneer. That is great without the earlier adopters the panels and equipment would have never came down in price. The prices are even lower now.
We have made 5.3 MWh lifetime of the system.

It is funny shopping for a good deal you have to also consider the cost of not putting solar in sooner. If you miss spring for a better price you probably did not save any money at all. Once you decide to install you have to look at what you could be making by waiting.
Just a different way to look at it.

My system was about $4.5/watt installed for my 3.36kw system and about $3.2/watt after tax credits. I get a .08c/kwh bump that gets paid annually for the first 10 years from my utility by selling them my midwest renewable energy tracking credits through a contract to the utility for that period and I get compensated through net metering on my bill. If there is a $25+ credit on my bill, they mail a check. At my current electric rate yearly average of 11 cents and my 2015 solar production, I'm looking at about 70% payback in the first ten years and about 7 more years until the rest would be 'paid off'. Looking at the costs of permitting and the equipment, it looks like the 2 person solar install plus the electricians brought home most of the cost and not the equipment or permitting. I asked around before I got my system installed and it seems in my area in 2014 when I got my system quote, this was what everybody was changing at the time. Either way, I expect electric costs to rise and we have a strong defense in the Minnesota public utilities commission to protect net metering and fixed monthly costs for solar owners.

Once the 10 years is up, I should be able to add a pole mount in the back yard and add another 2 modules without the utility giving any fuss about it as long as I pull the electrical permit. My inverter warranty covers an additional 690 watts and based on my summer solar experience, on the sunniest summer days I would just barely be touching the 3395 watt clip that my 3000 watt SolarEdge inverter maxes out at during the peak hour of the day. I imagine I might be inclined to add slightly more capacity since whenever it's peaked before the temperature the inverter is reporting is a reasonable margin from the derating figure, warranties don't last forever and I'd be willing to give up the 12 year warranty at the 10 year mark.

MN Renovator, nicely detailed explanation. My TVA contract is at retail plus $0.12 per kWh for the first 10 years. Then I have 10 years at retail. At the present rate, and of course weather permitting, I should be paid back at ~ 10.5 years if the utility rates don't rise again.

OTOH, I plan to add as close to 3190 rated watts of solar as soon as the 10 year retail + contract has run its course. That would bring me to 10 kW nameplate. By then I hope to have an EV that will help drink the extra juice.

I'll also do more home improvements to reduce our energy usage. We're slowly changing from CFL's to LED's and I have a notion to install a radiant barrier in my attic. Can't think of much else to do to lower our consumption, as that is in pretty good shape as-is.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1458579038

We just went over 50k solar powered miles EV miles in our Chevy Volt.
Only one oil change so far. No matter what the cost of gas is this saving really adds up.
You cannot get much cleaner driving maybe a bicycle. I am amazed at what can be done with sun power.

We have not run our natural gas heater in two years. We have not run our 4 ton AC in two years. The Mini splits are just so much more efficient and powered by the sun.

Since adding solar power everything we buy it is like how much power does it use. Is there something that uses less power or less standby power. It has really changed how we shop for powered items.

I know a lot of you were already doing this and the more people that do this the more choices we will have.

I am thankful every day for our solar power and the chance to make a small difference.


I signed up for their new metering program. I still get zeroed out at the March 1 but now get a check for the avoided cost. That cost is 0.049 cents we pay about 0.10 retail.
But it is better than nothing.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1458581945

Ok it is spring now and solar loves the spring sun.
We made 80.9 kWh today 3/21/2016 so far this month 1,230 Kwh so far this month.
It is so nice to get back to the 80 and above Kwh days.
3/22/2016 we made 80.3 kwh today.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1458611190

Have you ever wondered what your load center looks like when the array is producing 11 Kw power. I sure have.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1458757667

The warmer breakers are the 20 amp breakers and they have pre code max out micro inverters on them.

I bet you can guess what breaker the solar array back feeds too.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1458757667

12.5 KW array 1.56 MW was the estimate,
March 2016 1,777 KWh generated. We banked 352 KWh this is a good start of the solar year. :) This is our best March so far.
We are zeroed out on March first.
Yes I did receive my first check for $30.33 from Duke Power.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1459531761

Other solar producers show us your numbers.

4.4kw system generation: March 2016 = 495kWh, March 2015=562kWh, March 2014=554 kWh
March electric bill was $35.81 for 272kWh delivered.
My all electric house sent 311kWh to the grid through my net meter, and used every one of those kWh, plus an additional 272kWh from the grid... (I've never run a kWh balance forward with net metering).

6.81 kW nameplate arrays total. Calendar month production was 859 kWh.

Billing cycle production was 808 kWh. Consumption for the billing cycle was 760. March bill was $41.60.

great read guys!
 

Hey Gents, just wanted to say thanks for putting all of this info up in this thread. Spent a day last week reading through the whole thing start to finish - really cool to see all of your projects come to fruition!

Sadly the part of Ontario, Canada where I live will not allow any more connections for either Net metering or our MicroFit program. I have been trying and applying for over 5 years now only to have them say "there is no capacity on the feeder for a 10kw system". Right....as I've watched over a dozen new houses go up in the area over the past few years I've come to realize what they mean is "there is no capacity on the feeder if someone other than us is producing it"... ;) I like the net-metering idea in general, as it basically means that the energy being created is being used instantly (except for maybe Pinball who can put some in the bank each day...) Here, and I'm guessing most places now, we've all been turned into vampires so as to take advantage of "cheaper" rates at night. It would be nice to be able to do laundry, charge your Volt, or run your A/C when you're actually producing energy....and awake!
So I will continue to hound my provider with applications, and watch here enviously from the sidelines!

Tim

Tim I hope your application gets approved someday. I saw some closeout panels for .54 cents a watt amazing.
I think solar is here to stay. The post is getting long but I love actual solar producers posting their results here so people can see it works at with smaller arrays and larger arrays.