The roof is Off Limits for any panels right now. (We just had it re-shingled).
And I don't want to try to pipe hot water from way out in the backyard.
Plus, I've had solar thermal hotwater before, (1980s) and it turned out
to be a PITA when the components started to corrode and leak.
I'm just about sold on PVHW, due to it's low number of moving parts and things that can go wrong.
The PV panels aren't going to generate power to replace AC power used in the house.
Their DC will be used to directly heat hot water, in place of heating that same water with oil heat..
So, I'm not comparing the kWh output of PV to what NStar is charging for power these days.
I'm comparing the PV BTUs going into the hotwater,
to the cost of heating hotwater with $3 per-gallon oil..
To fill my 275 gallon oil tank with $3 per-gallon oil, costs $825.00
If oil goes up to $5, it's going to be $1,375.00 for a fill up..
If I stay under $1,000 for my PV and loads, I think break-even would
occur pretty fast at $3 per gallon..
Of course, it could go down.. One never knows.
