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michaelb1 t1_ixzfo3j wrote

With my roof I can’t fit enough modern panels to provide 100% of my electricity requirements.

These would do nicely for me.

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25x10e21 t1_ixznp54 wrote

My roof is maybe 40% covered, and it generates 106% of my electricity use. Are you super shaded? Or is your electricity use just insane?

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michaelb1 t1_ixztq57 wrote

My roof has a bunch of facets that makes it difficult to get a lot of panels up there. Not to mention the rules about panels have to be minimum distance from the edges.

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Ragingsysadmin t1_ixzzs8c wrote

Why not look into the solar panels that replace your shingles then?

Edit: Solar Panels not door Panel

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DaveInDigital t1_iy175bf wrote

are those a viable option? seems they'd be super expensive, limited availability (don't think i've ever seen one in real life, imagine only super wealthy people have them right now?), limited styles, etc.

they seem so neat tho. i just haven't tracked what's going on with that tech since before the pandemic 😅

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zaque_wann t1_iy2et0a wrote

Work in a sector that is one of the contractors involved in putting solar panels as car park roofs, yup they're very expensive due to how they need to have proper support, and water tighting it. Only places I've seeen these being installed in my country at least are universities and similar public institutions.

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MINIMAN10001 t1_iy2srgk wrote

Yes they are crazy expensive, but as it turns out redoing the roof is also super expensive, so when you're doing it anyways, that's when it evens out.

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SquanchMcSquanchFace t1_iy1q3ma wrote

They’re typically a lot less efficient than panels so it probably wouldn’t get them any more power

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bobniborg1 t1_iy1apdv wrote

Some companies will move vents and stuff to fit more panels. A sunpower rep (I think it was them) mentioned that as an option instead of a tilt mount if necessary.

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LurkintheMurkz t1_iy2cm2s wrote

Usually thats just a sales tactic. Unless the company does in house roofing, they're likely pulling your leg

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Efficient_Ad_8530 t1_iy2vvy3 wrote

The Tesla solar roof is also a option but that means replacing your roof

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funkadunk8 t1_iy2zuhq wrote

It would have to actually exist in reality for it to be an option

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dgsharp t1_iy33kqj wrote

There’s one a couple of blocks away from me. Looks pretty slick. That said, it’s the only one I’ve ever seen and they have 2 Teslas, if that tells you anything.

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dustofdeath t1_iy1cmxg wrote

Location also matters, the further away from equator, the worse it gets.

Poor angles, shorter days, longer winters.

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themangastand t1_iy1ol2l wrote

Not exactly true. Because in the summer our days are far far longer. In peak summer it's only is dark for about 5 hours here.

So you make up for it. As long as your allowed to supply back to the grid during that point it should balance out

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callebbb t1_iy29xfo wrote

If the grid has a buyer of last resort. This is where Bitcoin mining comes in handy, and is why it will help revolutionize modern grid economics.

There are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of terawatt hours of energy, totally stranded. No way to monetize, thus never developed. The development of those assets will now have nigh-instant monetization. All you need is an internet connection.

This means sources of generation can be financed with a much shorter time horizon to cash-flow positive.

This means revolution.

I suggest, before you come at this take in a hostile fashion with pre-conceived notions, dig into Bitcoin a bit. Technically, it’s a marvel. The internet of money.

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k0bra3eak t1_iy2xbco wrote

Tell me more about FTX then

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callebbb t1_iy3hmi4 wrote

FTX is a perfect example of the folly of man. People took a decentralized money, where no trust in counter parties is necessary, and put it back in the centralized box.

FTX was a scam pretending to be an exchange. Ultimately, the users who withdrew their Bitcoin the moment it was purchased were unharmed.

A failure, no doubt, but not due to Bitcoin. It’s also not the first time this has happened. It will happen repeatedly, until people realize Bitcoin is a bearer asset, and they must take custody of their own money.

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callebbb t1_iy3odvj wrote

People want to believe there is something strikingly different about the Federal Reserve Bank (a private entity) and the Dollar. It really is just another shitcoin produced by insiders for nothing. Meanwhile, we have a sound money that is a technological innovation that won't be outdone for awhile, with no insiders, no permission required, no middlemen, no reliance on physical security or power projection, real scarcity, digitally native.

The cost to produce $1 is the same as producing $100 or $1 Billion or $6 Trillion.

Humans have trouble thinking in exponents... I use this example to show how large of a number $1 Trillion is compared to $1 Billion.

A million seconds is about 12 days.
A billion seconds is about 32 years.
A trillion seconds is 32,000 years...

The cost to produce example goes for every FIAT currency that exists globally. They are all digital ledger entries. And it is a permissioned landscape, wherein if you become an enemy of the state (easily these days), you are ostracized. Look at Kanye. Look at Venezuela. Look at Romania. Look at Turkey.

Billions of people NEED something like Bitcoin. The modern financial landscape excludes them, on purpose. For an in-group to exist, there must be an out-group.

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25x10e21 t1_iy1gie8 wrote

I live veeeeery far away from the equator.

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BookishByNaturee t1_iy2d0m1 wrote

I use about 1200 kWh a month. I live in a townhome so a very small roof compared to a house.

I had someone do a mock-up and it was 17 panels. Is it possible to get 15,000 kWh (or more, I’d like to go ev) out of 17 panels?

In Texas , south east facing roof (relatively flat)

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JafaKiwi t1_iy2yfp1 wrote

There are many free online estimators where you can enter your exact location and the number of panels or peak power installed (17 panels x 400W = 6.8kW peak power) and it will calculate month by month generation. Some even take into account a typical weather patterns.

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cybercuzco t1_iy1rjx1 wrote

Try using electric heat in winter in Minnesota

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[deleted] t1_iy0vm07 wrote

[deleted]

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25x10e21 t1_iy1081y wrote

I don’t live alone either, and I don’t have an abnormal electricity use. Not sure what tech you’d have over me that would increase your consumption significantly.

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dropkickoz t1_iy1228j wrote

Supercomputer and a time machine. Solar simply can't give me what I need yet.

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25x10e21 t1_iy127u9 wrote

I think you’re making that up. Why aren’t you using better panels from the future?

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dropkickoz t1_iy136wo wrote

Can only go backwards and return. :(

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25x10e21 t1_iy16opg wrote

Future you doesn’t feel like bringing you back panels?

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dropkickoz t1_iy189cs wrote

From what I understand, after 2028 the new panels/accumulators won't arouse unwanted interest from a local utility board. Have to wait until then.

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tim3k t1_iy13jhl wrote

There are actually so many factors you can't compare your solar panels and electricity consumption with random strangers on the internet.

  • he might live much further away from equator than you or just in an area with a lot of cloudy days

  • he might have electric heating so his consumption is much higher

  • his roof might be much smaller than yours

  • his modules might be older so producing not as much power per square foot/meter

  • might have larger family or simply different lifestyle with more cooking/ night activity

  • he might have an electric car

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cortez985 t1_iy18l8u wrote

Could have a pool too. Damn thing take a lot of power

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phatelectribe t1_ixzpk67 wrote

Same here but I have the roof space - unfortunately there’s absolutely nonsensical code that sates panels must be placed a certain distance from the roof ridge and also can’t be too close to the edge meaning that I can only use about 30% of my roof space. So If I max out my entire allowable roof space I only get about 70% of my power needs (even with everything in the house being high efficiency such as new appliances and led lighting etc).

Having panels that are twice as efficient (which is what this development means in real terms) would easily solve that issue.

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Anasterian1408 t1_ixzw3c3 wrote

I wouldn't say nonsensical.... Fire setbacks are if firefighters ever have to get on your roof, that have room to move and walk without tripping over the panels.

What's your actual kwh usage?

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Tigen13 t1_iy0hz75 wrote

If firefighters have to get on your roof, your house is likely toast anyway.

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ThellraAK t1_iy1gzwo wrote

A good chunk of firefighting had more to do with protecting life not property and keeping things from spreading.

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gramathy t1_iy1sb78 wrote

What about houses on either side? Behind?

Yours isn't the only house at risk.

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Tigen13 t1_iy3j595 wrote

I am not a firefighter nor do I have experience in the biz. I just don't see why a firefighter would ever want to walk on a roof in a bad fire. Every room has a window and provides better access to a fire without endangering a firefighters life. The roof is one of the most dangerous places to be in a fire because if the fire has weakend the roof the firefighter could be a step away from falling to their death. It's much safer to hang the ladder over the roof and spray from there.

Anyway, dumb code in my opinion which is why it isn't the norm.

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WarOnFlesh t1_iy4coqc wrote

percentage of houses that would benefit from a firefighter on the roof in its lifetime: 0.000001%.

percentage of houses that would benefit from maximizing solar panels: 99.999%

we're holding back billions in energy savings just in case a firefighter needs to get on the roof. a thing that almost never happens.

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Solid_Hunter_4188 t1_ixzmjmr wrote

Do you have a battery?

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mybreakfastiscold t1_ixzmppo wrote

"Couple of marine batteries should do the trick"

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Solid_Hunter_4188 t1_ixzrcv3 wrote

You joke, but I know people that got solar, didn’t think to store it, and are upset that they don’t have power at night. As stupid as it sounds, never underestimate peoples lack of understanding.

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thetaFAANG t1_iy1zcgf wrote

a lot of people dont do that because getting batteries messes up all the financial math for getting solar

Like, most people look at it and walk away completely, another group looks at it and sees just going solar like the proponents and sales people say would work as long as they dont get the batteries, and a smaller group can just afford it with batteries and isnt doing it to save on an electric bill 15 years from now

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BasvanS t1_iy337c7 wrote

Get an EV and you kill two birds with one stone

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Commisioner_Bush t1_ixzvgjg wrote

Almost all PV is connected to the grid, there's no point in having a battery unless you're totally off the electric grid, in which case obviously you need more infrastructure, like a backup generator, than what you'd need in a regular PV installment.

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darkgothmog t1_iy01q99 wrote

Batteries are useful to have higher autonomy. What you produced and not used during the day can be used during the night without buying it. Of course it’s useful

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AnonymousWritings t1_iy07kcm wrote

Only where utilities have idiotic net metering policies right now that let you effectively use your noontime summer production at any time of the year. Resulting in oversupplies if electricity during daylight hours.

Sensible policies that paid people differing amounts depending on what time of day electricity was released to the grid SHOULD be in place and would favor batteries.

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Commisioner_Bush t1_iy0l9ql wrote

The energy grid is fundamentally a battery, it would be asinine to have distributed battery sources storing energy for individual units when literally everybody is connected by a giant battery. The fact that it's not super profitable to store energy isn't a failure of the energy system, but the economic system that the grid must adhere to.

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AnonymousWritings t1_iy1146o wrote

It's not a battery. It's a set of generation sources that have to be ramped up and down to meet demand. And ramping up variable sources to meet peak demand times tends to be expensive for the grid.

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sjbglobal t1_iy27yfq wrote

If you live in a country with lots of hydro power then it kind of acts like a battery

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Emu1981 t1_iy13ap7 wrote

>Almost all PV is connected to the grid, there's no point in having a battery

It really depends on your usage patterns. For me it could be a great investment to get batteries if I had PV. The Feed In Tariff is about 20% of the cost of grid supplied KWh which means that having a battery to cover the period between when the sun goes down and the off-peak rates hit could save a decent amount of money. I would have to gather data (power consumption vs time of day) and do the maths to figure out if the cost savings would pay for themselves though and I am not going to bother to do that without having the option to put up PV in the first place.

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LouSanous t1_iy41cti wrote

Triple jct cells are insanely expensive. This article is a bit out of date, but the cost difference holds true. When I was working on the solar car for my university back in 2009, the GaAs cells were hundreds of thousands of dollars in total.

https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/nrel-developing-tech-lower-cost-multi-junction-solar-cells

>To give a cost comparison, utility-scale solar projects now cost about $1 a watt for solar power. A gallium arsenide multi-junction solar cell costs up to $300 a watt at this point.

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Billy_Goat_ t1_iy5nakg wrote

How much electricity do you use? I have 6.1 kW of panels and easily make double my electricity consumption per day (~35kWh). The issue is that I do not make power when I need it most, after sunset when cooking/heating/cooling the house.

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