03-29-2010, 06:46 PM
A couple of things: I spoke with Chen Wu, HELCO's engineer for East Hawaii, just two weeks ago and verified with him that grid tied systems are still being accepted. He said up to 100kw is still no problem. Of course, whenever a person wants to do a grid tie they need to verify that the system can accept it. Another thing, be very careful for the claims of tax credits. Always verify not only the actual percentage but the criteria needed for the credit/refund. All the information is available online.
There are a lot of monies being allocated by the Feds for major upgrades of existing utility infrastructure just for this very thing...to be able to adapt to the growing market of alternative energy. We are caught between a hard place and a rock in this economy with younger couples not able to mortgage a home. They are the ones who would actually see a net neutral value by installing a solar system for 30k and costing it out over the 20-25 yr life expectancy of the system as opposed to renting power from HELCO. If rates remained as they have for the past 20 years they would see savings at around 12.5 years with the remaining 8-13 years life expectancy free generation of power. Of course, the system has a 10% degradation factor which accelerates as life expectancy draws near which makes the system less and less efficient and one doesn't know what kind of power demand they may have in 20 yrs but they'd still be making their own power. Remember, for east Hawaii, it is generally 4.5 hours of production a day, barring shadows cast from tall trees, hills, etc. Your HELCO bill will tell you what your average daily kw consumption is.
Amazing technology out there.
“A penny saved is a government oversight.”
There are a lot of monies being allocated by the Feds for major upgrades of existing utility infrastructure just for this very thing...to be able to adapt to the growing market of alternative energy. We are caught between a hard place and a rock in this economy with younger couples not able to mortgage a home. They are the ones who would actually see a net neutral value by installing a solar system for 30k and costing it out over the 20-25 yr life expectancy of the system as opposed to renting power from HELCO. If rates remained as they have for the past 20 years they would see savings at around 12.5 years with the remaining 8-13 years life expectancy free generation of power. Of course, the system has a 10% degradation factor which accelerates as life expectancy draws near which makes the system less and less efficient and one doesn't know what kind of power demand they may have in 20 yrs but they'd still be making their own power. Remember, for east Hawaii, it is generally 4.5 hours of production a day, barring shadows cast from tall trees, hills, etc. Your HELCO bill will tell you what your average daily kw consumption is.
Amazing technology out there.
“A penny saved is a government oversight.”
"Q might have done the right thing for the wrong reason, perhaps we need a good kick in our complacency to get us ready for what's ahead" -- Captain Picard, to Guinan (Q Who?)