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0 pointsdheera1mo ago0 comments

The problem with renewables I have is that "what's good for the earth" and capitalism simply don't mix.

Solar was fundamentally supposed to be almost-free electricity. You put a bunch of panels up and free energy from the nearest star. The stark reality though is that the people and institutions in control of solar equipment (this includes manufacturers, tariffs, etc.) reprice their stuff to match the price of the dirty electricity. And then they reprice their stuff again to assume that everyone loves to borrow money. At that point it becomes not worth it at all.

No, I don't want a solar installation to pay for itself in 15 years. I want equipment that gives me free electricity starting next month. If it costs less than a months' worth of electricity and I won't have an electricity bill starting next month, I'm interested. If not, it's outside my budget and planning horizon.

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7 comments · 3 top-level

pingou1mo ago· 2 in thread

How do you explain that solar got 50% less expensive in the last 10 years?

Why would people and institutions in control of solar equipment reprice their stuff to match the price of dirty electricity? You think there is no competition? Or you confuse it with the system that has been put in place where the price of electricity in the grid is set up by the most expensive producer at the time (which does make sense although you can argue against it).

Solar installation should pay for itself in less than 15 years in most cases, half the time according to that article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/10/03/average-u-s-residenti... (and residential solar is much less cost-effective than large-scale solar farms).

dheeraOP1mo ago

> less than 15 years

But can it pay itself in a month or two? That's the bar. I cannot financially plan for even one year later. Too many unknowns.

A really good coffee machine that can do lattes costs maybe $200. If lattes at coffee shops cost $8 including stupid high CA taxes and the stupid puppy face guilt tips, it pays for itself after ~35 lattes including supply costs, or just over a month. That's the bar for pretty much anything.

Figure out how to sell me $500 in solar panels that generates $500 worth of electricity over the next month and make it tax deductible with no income limits. That is how you cover the country in clean energy. FAST. Until politicians can get their act together, slam the hammer and make exactly this happen, we're going to be on dirty electricity for a long time.

That should especially be the bar for clean energy. Clean energy shouldn't be a luxury for the wealthy.

pingou1mo ago

Well first of all TFA is not talking about individuals buying solar or anything, so do we at least agree that renewables make sense for countries/state?

It seems like you have set an impossible bar for renewables so I don't know what to say to you. I do not think you'll be able to put a mini nuclear station, gas or coal one in your garden for less than the monthly electricity fee, so it's unclear to me what you are comparing it to.

The problem with giving money to individuals for their rooftop solar is that rooftop solar is not cost effective compared to large scale solar, if you really care about the planet and money is limited you should maximise the bang for your buck and help solar farms instead. But it's no secret that the current US administration is loudly anti-renewable and not keen on helping either of them.

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MattPalmer10861mo ago· 2 in thread

The break even for home solar is too long for me also. Every now and again I look at it, and even with subsidies it's gonna be about 12 to 15 years before I see any cost saving.

bartvk1mo ago

What if you drive electric?

dheeraOP1mo ago

I drive an electric. It doesn't save money because the car itself is more expensive by exactly as much as you would save over the life of the car. And then the $700/year registration fees because you don't pay the fuel tax. Again, stupid capitalism.

nkmnz1mo ago

Let me translate that four people who don’t speak “capitalism BAD”: Why don’t other people work for free for me? Why don’t Chinese and African miners work for free so I can get free minerals from the earth? Why don’t workers in refineries work for free so that I can get free metals and free silicon of highest purity? Why don’t all the companies that produce solar cells from raw materials, construct modules from the cells, install the modules on roofs, do the electrical wiring, stabilize the grid, provide electrical storage… WHY DON’T THEY WORK FOR FREE EVEN THOUGH I’VE CRITICISED CAPITALISM?

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7 comments · 3 top-level

pingou1mo ago· 2 in thread

How do you explain that solar got 50% less expensive in the last 10 years?

dheeraOP1mo ago

> less than 15 years

But can it pay itself in a month or two? That's the bar. I cannot financially plan for even one year later. Too many unknowns.

That should especially be the bar for clean energy. Clean energy shouldn't be a luxury for the wealthy.

pingou1mo ago

Well first of all TFA is not talking about individuals buying solar or anything, so do we at least agree that renewables make sense for countries/state?

2 more replies

MattPalmer10861mo ago· 2 in thread

The break even for home solar is too long for me also. Every now and again I look at it, and even with subsidies it's gonna be about 12 to 15 years before I see any cost saving.

bartvk1mo ago

What if you drive electric?

dheeraOP1mo ago

nkmnz1mo ago

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