BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Does the private sector create wealth anymore?

Wayne.B

On Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:55:06 -0500, wrote:

The current solar cell situation is just an extension of that.

I am still being courted by a solar outfit that wants to sell me a
2300 watt system for about $20,000. With all the rebates and tax
credits that gets cut by almost 2/3ds but they also say that 2300
watts only ends up being about 11 kwh a day. That is about a buck and
a half a day. Under perfect conditions that pays me back in 10-11
years assuming the money is free, nothing ever breaks and the cells
don't degrade in performance. Unfortunately they also say the cells
may be operating at 50-60% by that time. One decent hurricane and you
are wiped out.
I do give them credit for their honesty but it probably talked me out
of doing it.

As you point out, it just doesn't make sense yet for people who are
"on grid" at half way reasonable rates. At an installed system cost
of $1/watt I'll be the first to sign up however.