Schoolboy Physics Question (Watts/Amps/Volts)

[Angele]

Dragging the discussion back to ground level for a moment, is anyone seeing a drop in PV panel prices as a result of the feed-in tariff initiative?

A colleague of mine has been looking at this from a commercial perspective. I think the conclusion was that a very large order (say a Local Authority fitting panels on every school) should be able to get a good unit price discount. However, even though most new homes in (say) Germany are fitted with green energy measures, we are a long way from seeing the unit prices plumet in the way they have in recent years for laptops, mobile phones, etc.

The feed-in tariff is a set in the right direction, but we are not there yet.

 

[TQA]

Dragging the discussion back to ground level for a moment, is anyone seeing a drop in PV panel prices as a result of the feed-in tariff initiative?

Little if any. It is all the fault of some countries who are giving huge subsidies to people who install solar.

EG $2000 dollars per installed Kw domestic. OR in the USVI 50% of installed cost.

Here is a good source tracking solar prices http://www.solarbuzz.com/moduleprices.htm

 

[pteron]

Hmm!


[snip]

This is a long term "investment" and really only works well if:

a) You think you will stay put for several years; and
b) You don't have a better idea for investing your cash and its just going to be stashed under the matress..

Also, as pointed out by Andrew Fanner, few people have £15k lying around to spend. If you have to borrow the money, and pay interest, then the numbers look even worse.

Hey ho!

Yes, I see your point. My friend installed it and is very pleased with the feed in tariff but he thinks that energy prices will soar and is now almost self sufficient.

 

[Angele]

Yes, I see your point. My friend installed it and is very pleased with the feed in tariff but he thinks that energy prices will soar and is now almost self sufficient.

This is very true. Having your own power station is a good way to insulate yourself from future increases in the cost of electricity.

... actually, there is another benefit too. The feed in tariffs are not paid by the Government, but by the utility companies. They get the money to do this by charging the rest of us a little bit more for our electricity. If everyone went out and fitted a solar panel to their roof and started claiming the feed-in tariffs then our electricity prices would have to sky rocket.

So, fitting your own solar panels is insurance against your neighbours all going out and doing the same!