Solar Power generation in Alberta - Truly competitive now, or soon?

[bjstare]

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This doesn't make any sense to me. They lost 10 panels out of a few thousand and decided to strip the 6 month old roof underneath, sell the panels at a loss and replace with all new panels again? That sounds like a strategy designed to burn as much cash as fast as possible.

Sounds like a government-run approach.

[pheoxs]

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This doesn't make any sense to me. They lost 10 panels out of a few thousand and decided to strip the 6 month old roof underneath, sell the panels at a loss and replace with all new panels again? That sounds like a strategy designed to burn as much cash as fast as possible.

Only way it (sort of) makes sense is if they spec'd the wrong kind of panel and realized thats why they were getting damaged so easy. So they replaced everything with a better / more durable panel?

[Darell_n]

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This doesn't make any sense to me. They lost 10 panels out of a few thousand and decided to strip the 6 month old roof underneath, sell the panels at a loss and replace with all new panels again? That sounds like a strategy designed to burn as much cash as fast as possible.

Not exactly. A handful broke outright, but most apparently had micro fractures and the German manufacturer pulled their 25 year warranty over it. (Skyfire install) Insurance paid for everything. Replacing the entire roof in the middle of winter was definitely questionable as I didn’t see any significant damage there.

[phreezee]

Got my first Enmax bill with microgeneration. You get matching service fee credits for the amount you generate, so it also decreases your fees.
I only produced $65 of electricity @ 0.0689(locked in 5 year rate), but my bill credit was for $182!

My A/Cs were on 24/7 and my electricity bill would have been $337.

[riander5]

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Got my first Enmax bill with microgeneration. You get matching service fee credits for the amount you generate, so it also decreases your fees.
I only produced $65 of electricity @ 0.0689(locked in 5 year rate), but my bill credit was for $182!

My A/Cs were on 24/7 and my electricity bill would have been $337.

Nice! Sorry if you posted - can you repost what your upfront cost was on your install?

[phreezee]

$16,490 with GST for 16 panels for 6.3 kW system.
You only need 5kW system to get the max $5k from the grant, but I added some extra panels for symmetry on my roof.

[riander5]

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$16,490 with GST for 16 panels for 6.3 kW system.
You only need 5kW system to get the max $5k from the grant, but I added some extra panels for symmetry on my roof.

Oh right on, so was your system $16.5 - $5k then?

And you are about $500 in the black this month is seems?

[phreezee]

Yes, it should only take me 6-7 years to get my $11,500 back with the carbon credits offset .
I'm not going to bother with Solar Clubs because I will always use more than I produce.
Keep it simple and set on cruise control with Enmax for me.

[pheoxs]

Mind posting your bill? That's the first I heard of someone not wanting to switch to solar club rates.

[phreezee]

Here you go. My understanding is that if you use more than you produce, it doesn't make any difference since you sell at the same rate you buy.

[pheoxs]

Ohhh, I see. I thought you were still producing more than you used in the summer.

[phreezee]

Yeah, a net zero system for me was $35k for 12kW.
I was only interested in doing the minimum to get the $5k grant.

[ExtraSlow]

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Yeah, a net zero system for me was $35k for 12kW.
I was only interested in doing the minimum to get the $5k grant.

That is likely the best ROI strategy.

[phreezee]

Just found out that Enmax has solar rates that allow you to keep your contract rate after the summer! No need to switch to a Solar Club.

https://www.enmax.com/home/renewable...seasonal-solar

[Darkane]

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Here you go. My understanding is that if you use more than you produce, it doesn't make any difference since you sell at the same rate you buy.

This is very Interesting! How did you get the admin, trans, and distr credited? You’re the first I’ve heard of it.

I think that’s a one month thing as April-May didn’t get credited.

Your April-May generation wasn’t great.

There is more to this, I’m not seeing the 6-7 year pay back.

Can you circle back for next bill and confirm for us the admin, transmission, and distribution fees again? That doesn’t jive the way the grid and utilities charge people.

[JustinL]

Yeah the charge for your energy March to April is a negative number, not a positive microgen number. It's like they refunded you for that amount, not credited you for selling. I agree, wait for the next bill to roll in before you make the calculations. You probably got a new 2 way meter and they had to zero you out or something like that for the old meter, so the -945kwh is the correction.

[ExtraSlow]

Very interested to see this monthly if you don't mind @phreezee . Could be educational for all of us.

[phreezee]

Yeah ok, we'll see next month.

[killramos]

Marth with alternative energy? You don’t say

[AndyL]

Do they use the 4 square math? Asking for a friend