[Leica] Solar Power

[Aram Langhans]

John.  We do not use the electricity we generate directly.  What we generate 
goes into the power grid.  When we are generating more than we are using, 
our meter turns backwards, giving us a credit with the power company.  When 
we are not generating more than we use, we are getting power from the grid 
just like everyone else.  So, it really does not power anything in specific. 
We are just another power plant on the grid when the sun is shining, and 
just another consumer when it is not.

Here in Washington, the incentives are pretty good.  Until 2020, any 
electricity we generate, excess or not, will earn us 54 cents/KWH that the 
state will pay us at the end of the year, up to $5000, I think.  We should 
generate between $3-4000 a year with our system.  And of course, any we 
generate is deducted from our energy usage each month.  We can bank it for a 
year.  So, during the sunny summer months we will have a fairly large credit 
with the power company, and when late fall and winter comes around it 
may/should be enough to offset our usage.  If there is any credit left in I 
think April, it goes away.  We cannot carry it over to the next year.

With the Federal tax credit of 30%, the state incentive of 54 cents/KWH and 
the reduction of our power bill, the payback period is projected to be about 
4 years.

Aram




-----Original Message----- 
From: John McMaster
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2016 10:58 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] Solar Power

What does it power, beyond heating water? Several countries (NZ and I think 
the UK) have heavily reduced their buy-back costs for surplus energy 
production....

john
________________________________________
From:  Robert Adler <rgacpa at gmail.com>

Enjoy! We installed a few years ago and usually get a few dollars back at
the end of each year. So our electricity costs are zero. What's not to love?
Hope it works as well for you Aram,
Bob

On Sun, Feb 14, 2016 at 8:51 AM, Aram Langhans <leica_r8 at hotmail.com> wrote:

> We have just installed solar panels on the roof of our house.  We are
> excited for what they can do when we eventually get some sun.  Here are a
> few shots from the installation process.
>
> Doing the “I don’t have it, do you?” dance”"
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/2016+Misc/s/solar-7987.jpg.html
> I don’t  have it, do you?  Nope, you must  have it...
>
>
> First row complete:
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/2016+Misc/s/solar-7980.jpg.html
>
> Finishing touches:
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/2016+Misc/s/solar-7990.jpg.html
>
> We did finally get a sunny day or two since the installation:
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/2016+Misc/s/solar-8005.jpg.html
>
> But we are back into the February doldrums again.
>
>
> Comments welcome
>
> Aram
>
> Aram Langhans
> (Semi) Retired Science Teacher
> & Unemployed photographer
>