Re:The Price of Solar Is Declining to Unprecedented Lows
by jakub_h on Sunday August 28, 2016 @08:47PM
(#12379313)
Or, solar+battery+generator for uninterruped power while still keeping costs low compared to a large battery?
Re:The Price of Solar Is Declining to Unprecedented Lows
by dragontamer on Monday August 29, 2016 @10:08AM
(#12381916)
What does the battery accomplish? I mean, maybe an UPS for your computer if you're running something mission critical? Something that can last for 20 minutes while the generator boots up?
But I don't think most people are running mission-critical programs at home.
Re:The Price of Solar Is Declining to Unprecedented Lows
by jakub_h on Monday August 29, 2016 @11:26AM
(#12382494)
In my home, a single Powerwall battery could cover 90+ percent (or perhaps 95+ percent?) of nights even in an off-grid arrangement. Covering the rare extremes with a $150 generator would be more cost-efficient than using a larger battery, and likewise, covering the usual case with a battery would be more cost-efficient than running all nights inefficiently using our $5/USgal gasoline.
Re:The Price of Solar Is Declining to Unprecedented Lows
by dragontamer on Monday August 29, 2016 @07:27PM
(#12386245)
Why go off-grid when Net-Metering exists?
Re:The Price of Solar Is Declining to Unprecedented Lows
by brightball on Sunday August 28, 2016 @05:42PM
(#12378680)
Y'all have thoroughly convinced me to disregard Powerwalls :)
That still begs the question: why use Solar + Powerwall when Solar + Gas Generator has higher capacity and is cheaper?
> 15 amp 120v window unit
1800 W, which is more than half the capacity of your Powerwall. Not enough electricity left over to run a single-room AC and a dishwasher at night.
Got an electric oven or stovetop? 4000W or so? Yeah, Powerwall just ain't gonna cut it. 3.3kW capacity is just way too small for the typical house.
The answer to backup is frankly Solar + Generator. Battery backup just doesn't have the specs or the price to be practical yet.