[Lowfer] The hydro installation

[Bill Ashlock]

Stan,

I'm about to install 5KW of PV panels on the roof in Ellsworth, NH. The return rate from the grid up there is the same as the cost of useage: $.16/KWH. This is a credit against your total useage and you cannot make more than you consume so the trick is to make the numbers match over a full year. In the summer I will be putting in a lot more power than I will consume but in the winter season the reverse will be true. This will be an all-electric house, using a geothermal heat pump, and the numbers show that the net energy consumed over the year will be '0' or less. If I burn some wood the total energy will definitely be less than '0'. The walls are 15" thick with an average 'R' value of the envelope including windows, calculated to be around 50!

Bill

> Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 16:38:09 -0400
> From: stanw1le at verizon.net
> To: lowfer at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] The hydro installation
> 
>   When I had my photovoltaic vision, I could generate AC and turn my 
> meter backwards
> to account for my usage from the grid. Any excess was a credit for 0.05$ 
> per KWHr.
> That was the rate a few years ago.
> 
> The return on investment (ROI) did not meet my expectations, so I did 
> not get the multi KW
> DC to AC inverter. Instead I only charge flooded lead acid batteries and 
> feed 12VDC to the shack.
> 
> If I were to do it again, I would get PV panels with an integral 
> inverter, then feed the grid with AC.
> Forgetting the batteries.
> 
> Stan, W1LE      Cape Cod     FN41sr
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 10/4/2010 2:41 PM, Bill Ashlock wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > Charlie,
> >
> > I was wrong about the $.16/KWH. This is a credit that can only be used to offset electrical usage. AKA 'net metering'. There is another rate paid by the local electric company aside from this that is much lower, but I don't know what that is. Will check.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> 
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