Subj : Re: This is the result of keeping 60% of the lights OFF and the furnanc
To   : August Abolins
From : Wilfred van Velzen
Date : Fri Feb 26 2021 05:10 pm

Hi August,

On 2021-02-26 10:06:00, you wrote to me:

WvV>> Since I have solar pannels on my roof my net usage (over a
WvV>> year) is almost zero. And my electric bill accordingly.
WvV>> But we also have the "delivery" fee, and taxes for the
WvV>> "connection" to the net.

AA> How do you power your refrigerator?

By having it plugged into a wall outlet! ;-)

What do you mean? My house isn't disconnected from the net. During the day when my solarpannels generate more power than I can consume, the surplus is put into the net. During the night and other hours with less light, I get my power from the net. My energy meter registers both situations seperately. Currently the electricity prices for "taking" and "puting" are equal by law. But that will change in the comming years. Puting electricity into the net won't give you as much money back as taking it from the net will cost you.

AA> Although the Netherlands is further north on the latitude than
AA> my location, your area probably enjoys more sunny days in
AA> general.   There are weeks here when we can get many overcast
AA> days in a row, so a 100% reliance on solar is not possible.
AA> People here have generators to fill in the gaps.

Almost no one has a generator here.

WvV>> Are circumstances (taxes, laws, enough sun light)
WvV>> favorable enough in Cananda, so it is viable to invest in
WvV>> solar pannels?

AA> There was a solar programme about 15 yrs ago that encouraged
AA> people to invest in panel installations on their properties -
AA> extending the financing over the years and get a modest
AA> reduction in the existing electric power bills by feeding back
AA> the supply to the grid.  I don't hear much about how people have
AA> been doing with that, but they scrapped the option to allow
AA> people to install stand-alone independent panels (that could
AA> also follow the movement of the sun) and feed back into the
AA> grid.

AA> Today, the minimum costs to get into solar to obtain near
AA> independency from the power grid is pretty high, now.

I expect to earn my initial investment into the solarpower installation back in 6 to 8 years, with current electricity prices. If the price of electricity goes up, it might be less time. The live expectency of the installation is at least 20 to 25 years. So after the initial years, it's al profit. ;)

AA> The whole idea of a solar powered home intrigues me. I'd love to
AA> have it!

AA> How large is your battery arsenal? Do they reside near the roof
AA> and close to the panel installation?  I hear that proper venting
AA> for the batteries is required.

AA> Some fortunate people use geothermal solutions for their heating
AA> and cooling options here.  I have plenty of surrounding land and
AA> a lake next door upon which I could capitalize for that if I
AA> wanted.  But there again, the entry cost is huge. I'd never get
AA> back the investment of the project for the "savings" in heating
AA> and cooling over the years. I'm too old now.

That is indeed a very expensive solution. Some of our greenhouse customers in the Netherlands have such an installation. I don't know prices, but that would probably run into the millions for such industrial scale installations. But they have done the math, and wouldn't have invested into this, if it wasn't viable...

Bye, Wilfred.

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