I've long dreamed of getting solar panels to power our home. I think home based solar is an important part of solving our climate and energy problems, and I also like the idea of having quiet, instant backup power when there is an outage.
Recently I dug deeper and got a detailed proposal from a solar power system installer.
As in all things, there are pros and cons.
PROS
- Financial savings are possible over the long term (i.e. several years), especially if incentives such as rebates or tax deductions/credits are available.
- Backup power source, but only if the system includes a storage battery (which add to the cost).
- Warm fuzzies may accrue from making a tiny contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Impress and inspire friends, neighbors and passersby, thus motivating others to install them.
CONS
- Up front cost is significant. Financing options might be available, but we are debt free and plan to stay that way. I personally would not even consider it if I wasn't in a position to pay for it up front. Financing the project could also complicate the sale of a house should that become necessary.
- Complicates roof maintenance. If panels are installed on a shingle roof, then the panels will have to be temporarily removed when it's time to replace the shingles. This will add to the cost of the roof work.
- Risk of selecting a bad contractor. As with any major home project, there is a risk of getting scammed, or of the work being delayed or performed poorly, or failure to correct problems that occur after installation. The company I spoke to was based nearby (Raleigh), had been in business for many years, and performed the installation in-house, all of which increased my confidence.
I had originally envisioned installing the solar panels on a ground mounted frame rather than on the roof. However, the company I spoke to does not recommend (or even offer) that type of installation. Digging post holes and burying cables can lead to expensive complications. Our house, built in 2008, has a shingle roof which ideally will last another ten years or so. I think the ideal scenario is for the shingles and panels to be installed around the same time. The company did offer the option of installing the panels on a shop or carport, but we don't have one that's suitable.
Sizing the system (i.e. number/wattage of panels and battery size) is crucial, and I favored a smaller system that, during an outage, would power lights, electronics, refrigerator and fans, but not necessarily the water heater and HVAC.
The long-term financial payoff was intriguing, but our house is small and relatively well-insulated, so our electricity cost is quite manageable.
I was all about the warm fuzzies, but I have other ways to get them, like being careful stewards of the water, soil, trees, flowers and wildlife on our forestland.
In the end, my highest priority was having backup power during an extended outage. We've experienced that twice (Hurricane Fran in 1996 and an ice storm around 2004), although I'll note that my research suggests our risk of extended outages is low.
We do have other means of managing such an event (as I've discussed in other posts), including:
- Battery powered lanterns
- Camp stove with a good supply of fuel
- Fireplace and firewood
- Emergency water supply (our water comes from a well)
- Gas generator with a professionally installed transfer switch (i.e. we can plug the generator into breaker box and run power through the house wiring)
Of course, the generator is our most robust power source, and our only option to keep the refrigerator running. But a generator has limitations, namely:
- Gas is perishable - I keep several gallons of ethanol-free gas on hand, but it's a chore to rotate out the old and replace with fresh.
- Power outages happen at inconvenient times - I'm not keen about going out to the shed during an ice storm, windstorm, thunderstorm, etc. to gas up the generator, crank it, and drag the long heavy power cable to the house, especially at night.
- Generators are noisy
- Generators need maintenance
- Gas supply chains are fragile - While we keep a supply on hand, replenishment could be problematic during an extended outage (such as occurred after Hurrican Helene in western NC).
Ultimately I decided that given our low risk and existing backup supplies and preparations, a small do-it-yourself solar system would suit us.
Several years ago I built such a system, consisting of two 100-watt panels, a charge controller, and a self-contained battery/inverter. Of course since that time battery technology has improved dramatically.
Thus, I upgraded our system with a modern battery powered "generator" and two more 100-watt solar panels. The panels are permanently installed on a frame but wired to a connection inside the house (completely separate from the home electrical system).
My hope is that this system would provide enough power to run our small chest freezer, which would dramatically improve our power outage preparedness. Not only could we maintain frozen food, we could also produce ice to maintain refrigerated foods. I have yet to test how long we could run our freezer on this system.
Another reasonable (and less complicated) approach is to buy a battery powered generator with portable solar panels that can be set up as needed.
There is a strong argument that we are over-prepared. Nonetheless, it's good to have some level of preparation for possible crises and perhaps this will inspire you to think further about your own strategy.
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