Solar Leasing in South Florida

Re: Solar Leasing in South Florida

Looking at PVWatts for Miami FL, 8kW system, rest defaults:

"Station Identification"
"City:","Miami"
"State:","Florida"
"Lat (deg N):", 25.80
"Long (deg W):", 80.27
"Elev (m): ", 2
"PV System Specifications"
"DC Rating:"," 8.0 kW"
"DC to AC Derate Factor:"," 0.770"
"AC Rating:"," 6.2 kW"
"Array Type: Fixed Tilt"
"Array Tilt:"," 25.8"
"Array Azimuth:","180.0"

"Energy Specifications"
"Cost of Electricity:"," 9.0 cents/kWh"

"Results"
"Month", "Solar Radiation (kWh/m^2/day)", "AC Energy (kWh)", "Energy Value ($)"
1, 4.61, 811, 72.99
2, 5.42, 866, 77.94
3, 5.69, 1009, 90.81
4, 6.20, 1048, 94.32
5, 5.63, 959, 86.31
6, 5.25, 856, 77.04
7, 5.51, 935, 84.15
8, 5.54, 943, 84.87
9, 5.17, 841, 75.69
10, 5.06, 867, 78.03
11, 4.55, 774, 69.66
12, 4.54, 806, 72.54
"Year", 5.26, 10714, 964.26

If you get a quote at $5 a Watt installed and 30% federal tax credit--$5*0.7=$3.5/watt installed price. Assume 20 year spread of costs and you have to replace 1 10kW inverter for $5,000--your $$/kWH pricing:

• (8,000W*$3.50/W + $5,000 maintenance) / (20yr * 10,714 kWHperyr) = $0.154 per kWH

And, from the other thread, it looks like your current power costs are around $0.13 per kWH...

The above does not include any loans or other fees/taxes.

And does Florida charge property taxes on your array (some states do)?

If your area does not have true net metering, then you may only get paid ~$0.06 per kWH or so (wholesale power rates).

So--at this point, you are around the break even point for the cost of off-grid power, And an important factor is going to be how your billing details works out with your local utility (wholesale vs retail payments for your "extra power").

I don't know what is going to happen in your area--But in California we have true net metering (one meter, and a retail credit for excess power generated, perhaps a new program with $0.06 per kWH at the end of the year for any excess power generated).

But, all of the rebates/net metering/subsidized smaller user costs and other social power programs comes at a cost--We have peak power rates (above roughly 1,000 kWH per month) of $0.40 to $0.58 per kWH (flat rate vs seasonal time of use).

So--you can look at one possible future and decide if/when solar GT will make sense to you.

Also, you can look at "extreme" conservation at what you can save at $0.15 per kWH for solar vs even $0.40+ per kWH for power.

I understand that your have a large home and are way under the power usage of your neighbors... But I keep coming back to looking at the costs and avoid costs of solar and conservation.

If the returns are not possible with conservation--then GT solar will be your next best investment to address future power increases.

Solar Leasing throws more confusion at the issue--But putting everything in a spread sheet and looking at how long you are going to remain in your current home (looking 15-20 years in advance--kids gone, moving to smaller home, following jobs, etc.)... It is a difficult decision.

-Bill