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‘If 1.5m Germans have them there must be something in it’: how balcony solar is taking off
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2024
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Hard pass. I don’t trust it will work in 6 years. So, it’s not really an investment.
Average solar panels are warrantied to give 100% power for 25 years. After that, they still work but at roughly an 80% rate, with a small fall off each year.
A 6 year payoff is an excellent investment. I'd gladly hang something with zero negatives on a balcony that just made me money for the rest of my life.
They don't drop from 100% to 80% year 26. It's a gradual but accelerating slide, with 80% still warranted at the end of the timeframe.
That doesn't make PV a bad investment; overselling it puts people in the sceptic camp, though, which is what we're seeing in this thread.
Its a general estimate of viability, yes. I did point out that panels drop off a bit every year, but it looks like that wasn't clear if you feel like it needs a correction.
Every comment in here when I posted was skeptical about solar, with no stated reason. I added some general data about actual panels. If you want to add more up to date info, please do.
To be clear, I'm only wanting to clarify because I already live off solar. As such, I find it important to provide the correct information about expected panel longevity in general ... getting into the weeds about things like panel type and brand tend to make people's eyes glaze over while already skeptics, which doesn't sell a lot of people on the virtues.
The important takeaway is, yes, this is mature tech that continues to evolve. There's going to be loss each year, as there will be with LFP, so both can de viewed as depreciating assets when ignoring the cost savings accrued over time; however, price trends with both technologies suggest (thus far) that picking up an extra 25% of capacity in 20 years is not only doable but will actually lower the lifetime kWh cost of the system.
The real ongoing cost by then is going to be a few inverters.
If it replaced my need for a grid, I would.
It won't, but the above replaces about 30% of power costs for life for these residents, and pays off in 6 years.
Thats still very good.
The investment is the number of less people that will die in the climate catastrophe. Stop looking at just the $$. That's insane.
If you think this is going to help climate change at all, then you have been seriously made led by corporations trying to sell you shitty solar panels. insane is that you think a solar panel will have any microscopic impact.
1.5 m Germans using them definitely has an impact. It doesn't solve the climate crisis on its own obviously but you can say that about any and all measures combating climate change
There is no impact. The technology just isn’t there yet. Mostly because it’s being held back by oil companies.
So, on one hand, if it becomes a profitable business, maybe it will get more support.
But on the other hand, this is just filling landfills with more junk that is designed to sell, not be a solution.
you've been having a minor meltdown throughout this thread to anybody who asks you basic follow-up questions. take three days off and stop it
Okay, I need a citation on that. How does big oil control solar panel technology?
Solar panels have been out for a long time, they definitely last more than 6 years. You can easily look this up.
The warranties are usually 25 years at this point.
Maybe do some research instead of using your feelings to make every decision, you'll get a better result.
I don't think it really matters how long the warranty is, when the manufacturer is EGHIGXXJKNB from Amazon.
Then maybe don't buy from EGHIGXXJKNB?
Do you expect a fridge to work in six years? Seems you're applying an unreasonable standard to solar in a vacuum.
Yes, I expect household appliances to last at least a decade. My current fridge is from 2004, and whilst it will probably need replacing soon, 20 years is not an unreasonable run.