There’s many ways to ensure your pension. You can put money aside or invest in your future. Many invest by paying off the loan in their house, making sure they get to own their bricks. By adding a solar power system to it, you increase the market value. Wouldn’t you like to buy the house which covers its own electricity compared to another which doesn’t? Being self sufficient is many persons goal. Being independent of the market prices, which often are influenced by both the domestic and the global political situation, gives you economic stability. The crisis in Ukraine is just the latest reminder of how connected the energy supply is across countries.
Solar energy is a long-term investment so it’s important to make sure the system can last. And that the return of investment is not only compared to today’s energy prices. It’s difficult for anyone to predict about the future based on the history. Compared to other investments, a solar system immediately gives you return of investment based on your own electricity consumption. Once your system has generated enough power to pay off itself, you got free electricity. It is therefore essential to use quality materials and professionals for your installation as the longer your system last, the more you will earn. So only comparing kilowatt prices between suppliers is not enough. Each year added to the lifetime of your system can be well worth the money spent today.
Is Alternative Energy an Alternative?
Use of the phrase ‘Alternative Energy’
Alternative means a selection which precludes another possibility. The alternative to buying electricity is producing it yourself. But does it need to be like that? No, actually most systems are combined and complementing each other.
The phrase ‘alternative energy’ was probably coined in the 70’s as an answer to the oil crisis and to indicate there was a ‘green world’ out there. There is a better place. For sure there is. Use of solar power definitely is better than burning gas; today there’s no doubt about this. But it’s not so alternative, flower-power and weird to use solar power today than it was.
It has actually become a good reliable and affordable investment for many persons. And maybe you’re one of them?
Grid Parity
Reaching grid parity is one of the objectives of solar power. Grid parity is when you’re able to generate electricity at same or a lower price than what you buy from the grid. In other words, your price per kWh is the same or less than the price the electricity company can deliver to your house. This is the point where subsidies or other kind of governmental support isn’t needed.
These years grid parity is reached for solar power. We are now at a significant milestone. It has become affordable by a straight forward investment.
There are several factors involved in evaluating if grid parity has been reached. Basically there are two sides to consider: Price of the electricity produced. And the price from the electricity company.
The price of the electricity produced comprises of the project cost: materials (panels, inverter, cables, fuses, brackets etc.) and the installation.
But we can’t produce power if there’s no sun or if it’s limited. Luckily, the sun in itself is a very stable energy generator.
And the lifetime of the system is equally important in this calculation. The longer your system lasts, the cheaper your price per kWh. A system which lasts 20-30 years is much less than half the cost of a system which only last 10 years. How much each year in the lifetime is lowering the cost is something we’ll also come back to later on. For now, just note that quality IS important.
Welcome
We’d be happy to hear your comments or additions to what we’re writing.
Communication and clarity is key to the use of solar energy. And we always look for ways to improve. So if you think we can communicate better in anyway, we hope you’ll drop us an e-mail and let us know how we can improve this blog.
We’re trying to run a profitable company which can employ good people, create a fun and an interesting place to work with the best products in a fascinating fast-moving industry. And obviously give a good return of investment for our owners. So we are not all blue-eyed and we can’t avoid that what we’re writing is colored of these objectives. To succeed, we need to constantly make sure we’re the best. Your subscription to this blog or your input is therefore always appreciated. No matter if you’re critical or encouraging. Thank you in advance.
Gershoj Energia 