EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Improvements > Solar Power
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-01-16, 09:41 PM   #571
where2
DIY Geek
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 401
Thanks: 74
Thanked 83 Times in 73 Posts
Default

My 4.4kW array:
November 2016 = 423kWh
November 2015 = 415kWh (yes, the same as 2014 within 0.3kWh)
November 2014 = 415kWh
November 2013 = 368kWh

November electric bill: 265kWh cost $34.81
November net metered energy: 223kWh

Our electric utility recently petitioned the state Public Service Commission and was awarded a base rate increase expected to cost the average customer an additional $7 per month.

where2 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to where2 For This Useful Post:
Roostre (12-20-16)
Old 12-20-16, 12:37 PM   #572
gasstingy
Journeyman EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Arab, AL
Posts: 491
Thanks: 109
Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts
Default

The end of the solar day on 12/16/16 made exactly four years of being part of the TVA Generations Partners program. I keep pretty good records and maintain a spreadsheet to tell me how I'm doing for those times when someone asks me about its payback.

The system we have is actually two solar arrays. One, a 1050w rated array made up of 6 Sharp 175w panels running through Enphase inverters and the second is a 5760w rated array made up of 24 Sharp 240w panels running through an SMA Sunny Boy 5000 inverter. Both arrays are on adjustable tilt ground mounts. I reset their tilt angles on the Spring & Fall Equinoxes, so twice a year nearest the exact date of the time change, depending on rain.

All that said so you'd know what was making this power. At sundown ending my fourth year, we had generated exactly 39,380 kWh of renewable energy. For the year, 12/17/15 - 12/16/16 we made 10,292 kWh. This was a close second best year. Our best was 2014 @ 10,441 kWh. 2013: 9,176 and 2015: 9,471.

The payback ending year 4 was at 58.172% of my total investment. Don't forget, 30% is the Federal tax credit that comes quickly. The remaining 28.172% took 4 years. For my future guesstimate, based on past performance estimates, I will be financially paid back in just under 10 years. I typically just say 10.5 years is what I expect and hope for. After all, God controls the sunshine, not I.

The real way I feel is that my investment was satisfied the first time I saw my utility meter run backwards. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing quite like generating your own electricity. We are not total electric, we use natural gas for hot water and emergency backup heat. Future plans call for an electric car, and I have high hopes for my reservation to pan out. I am also hoping that a Powerwall or two will be part of that future as well.

So, here's wishing all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year.
gasstingy is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to gasstingy For This Useful Post:
jeff5may (12-21-16), Roostre (12-20-16)
Old 12-20-16, 01:08 PM   #573
Roostre
EcoLearner
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Rocky Mtns
Posts: 113
Thanks: 107
Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts
Default

City Building Department sent my inspection approval to the Power Company yesterday.

Should see my new meter any day!



OOps, sorry pinball!! I glanced at the post and saw "DIY" and assumed it was my thread... using a phone on the internet is not the best...

Last edited by Roostre; 12-21-16 at 02:02 PM.. Reason: apologies
Roostre is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Roostre For This Useful Post:
gasstingy (12-20-16)
Old 12-21-16, 12:44 PM   #574
pinballlooking
Super Moderator
 
pinballlooking's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SC
Posts: 2,923
Thanks: 172
Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts
Default

Here are my last 20 months billing. Basically just the meter fee except my zero out month where they pay me avoided cost a check for $30.33.



It so cool to so another DIY solar array (Roostre) close to getting their meter.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	2016Last_20_Month.JPG
Views:	898
Size:	76.5 KB
ID:	7494  
__________________
Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Solar Install 12.5 Kwh-
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Mini Split installs -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

EV Chevy Volt -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
pinballlooking is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to pinballlooking For This Useful Post:
Roostre (12-21-16)
Old 01-02-17, 10:31 AM   #575
pinballlooking
Super Moderator
 
pinballlooking's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SC
Posts: 2,923
Thanks: 172
Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts
Default

12.5 Kw array we generated 924 Kwh Dec 2016
Last month we used 995 kwh of our banked power.
We have 2,434 kwh still banked for the rest of the winter. (zero out date is March 1)


Dec 2016 =924 Kwh
Dec 2015= 911 Kwh
Dec 2014= 996 Kwh
Dec 2013= 947 Kwh
This was our best solar year so far.



Other solar producers show us your numbers for Nov when you have them.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Years.JPG
Views:	989
Size:	108.1 KB
ID:	7516  
__________________
Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Solar Install 12.5 Kwh-
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Mini Split installs -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

EV Chevy Volt -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Last edited by pinballlooking; 01-04-17 at 02:54 PM..
pinballlooking is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-17, 02:26 PM   #576
where2
DIY Geek
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 401
Thanks: 74
Thanked 83 Times in 73 Posts
Default

My 4.4kW array:
December 2016 = 377kWh
December 2015 = 322kWh
December 2014 = 421kWh
December 2013 = 359kWh

Base rate meter charge: $7.87
December electric bill: 319kWh cost $39.99
December net metered energy: 238kWh
where2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-17, 08:44 AM   #577
pinballlooking
Super Moderator
 
pinballlooking's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SC
Posts: 2,923
Thanks: 172
Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts
Default

Our 12.5Kw solar array just hit 70 MW here this is $7,000 worth of power. It is amazing how much power you can make with the sun.

I set the graph level to lifetime to you can see how many MW each panel has made.

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	70MW.jpg
Views:	831
Size:	57.4 KB
ID:	7553  
__________________
Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Solar Install 12.5 Kwh-
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Mini Split installs -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

EV Chevy Volt -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
pinballlooking is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to pinballlooking For This Useful Post:
creeky (01-18-17), gasstingy (01-18-17)
Old 01-31-17, 07:19 PM   #578
pinballlooking
Super Moderator
 
pinballlooking's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SC
Posts: 2,923
Thanks: 172
Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts
Default

We actually had some rain this month. I am glad we really need it. But it has been our worst Feb solar month so far.
We used 939 KWH banked power.
We still have 1,495 KWH banked and we get zeroed out March 1 so we are good to go.
I will be just using my 1K fish tank heater in the greenhouse this month.

My 12.5 Kw array
Feb 2017 =1,130 Kwh
Feb 2016=1,304 Kwh
Feb 2015=1,321 Kwh
Feb 2014=1,328 Kwh


Other solar producers show us your numbers for Feb when you have them.

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Feb2017.JPG
Views:	781
Size:	56.2 KB
ID:	7588  
__________________
Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Solar Install 12.5 Kwh-
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Mini Split installs -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

EV Chevy Volt -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Last edited by pinballlooking; 02-08-17 at 09:41 PM..
pinballlooking is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to pinballlooking For This Useful Post:
Roostre (01-31-17)
Old 01-31-17, 08:30 PM   #579
Roostre
EcoLearner
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Rocky Mtns
Posts: 113
Thanks: 107
Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts
Default

Our 7.6kW system production was hampered by inversion fog and about 16" of snow that quickly crusted over, becoming almost impossible to 'roof rake' off. It has been below freezing most of the month, so the snow has not melted!! Hoping for a little thaw this week.

January 2017- 134.87kWh.
__________________
2013 Volt Blackbird
2013 Volt Red
(Sold 2012 Leaf)

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Please don't use photobucket... there are a ton of good posts on here that make no sense because the picture is locked by photobucket's paywall.
Roostre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-17, 08:37 PM   #580
pinballlooking
Super Moderator
 
pinballlooking's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SC
Posts: 2,923
Thanks: 172
Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts
Default

Glad to see you post your numbers. But sorry to hear the weather conditions have not been good.

__________________
Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Solar Install 12.5 Kwh-
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Mini Split installs -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

EV Chevy Volt -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
pinballlooking is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design