5 kw grid tie system, what can I expect? Florida

easytim
easytim Solar Expert Posts: 57 ✭✭✭✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
I'm building a 2000 sq ft. home and will be installing a 5 kw grid tie PV system.

What can I expect as far as pay back? I'm such I newbie, I sure need an idea what I can expect.

I guessing I should be paying about $6.00 per watt

This will be in the Cape Coral Florida area
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #2
    Re: 5 kw grid tie system, what can I expect? Florida

    Roughly, using PVWatts for Tampa Florida, 5kW, 0.77 derating, fixed array, grid tied:
    "Station Identification"
    "City:","Tampa"
    "State:","Florida"
    "Lat (deg N):", 27.97
    "Long (deg W):", 82.53
    "Elev (m): ", 3
    "PV System Specifications"
    "DC Rating:"," 5.0 kW"
    "DC to AC Derate Factor:"," 0.770"
    "AC Rating:"," 3.8 kW"
    "Array Type: Fixed Tilt"
    "Array Tilt:"," 28.0"
    "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, 4.56, 513, 46.17
    2, 5.21, 525, 47.25
    3, 5.72, 629, 56.61
    4, 6.52, 678, 61.02
    5, 5.92, 630, 56.70
    6, 5.56, 564, 50.76
    7, 5.46, 569, 51.21
    8, 5.70, 601, 54.09
    9, 5.32, 543, 48.87
    10, 5.41, 580, 52.20
    11, 4.83, 513, 46.17
    12, 4.24, 474, 42.66
    "Year", 5.37, 6819, 613.71

    Assuming cost is $6 per watt installed, -30% for Federal Tax Credit ($4.20 per Watt installed), assuming you have to spend $5,000 for a replacement inverter 10 years down the road, and 6,819 kWH per year average--Spread over 20 years:
    • ((5,000 watts * $4.20 per watt) + $5,000 repairs) / (6,819 kWH per year * 20 years) = $0.19 per kWH (over 20 years)
    Roughly, $0.19 per kWH over 20 years... Plus you may have monthly fees and other net metering issues (or other billing plan)...

    So, what is your cost of power and what Solar GT plan(s) does your utility support?

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • rollandelliott
    rollandelliott Solar Expert Posts: 834 ✭✭
    #3
    Re: 5 kw grid tie system, what can I expect? Florida

    If your bill is $120 a month expect to decrease it in half with a Solar PV system.

    well you have two days before the Progress Utility rebate happens and FPL utility is also giving away a $2/watt rebate.
    Personally I think $6/watt is too high, try to get it down to $4 to $5 a watt.

    It would be silly not to apply for the rebate, but you might be too late and need to apply next year, if there is a next year.
    here is a good web site to figgure everything out. an example is below:
    http://bpsolar.cleanpowerestimator.com/default.aspx

    Benefits of yourSolar system
    Estimated System Cost $30,000
    Federal / State / Local Tax Credits $6,000
    State / Utility Rebate $10,000
    Net Cost $14,000
    Cumulative Lifetime Savings $24,359 over 25 years
    Investment Return 4.6%
    ChartImg.axd?i=chart_4fe5343f865b47c9b8c0d888f93ae44b_30.png&g=a2df95211bb7475785972d698c357a2e
    Before 	After Solar	Bill Savings
Jan    	        $82	$37	         $45
February	  $96	$45	          $52
March        	  $82	$27	          $55
April	        $146	$75	          $71
May	        $161	$93	         $68
June	        $183	$121	$63
July	        $183	$122	$61
August      	$183	$118	$65
Sept   	     $85	         $36  	$49
October	         $85  	$34	        $51
Nov           $85	         $38 	$47
Dec           $68	         $26	        $42
TOTAL	$1,440	$772	$668
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  • easytim
    easytim Solar Expert Posts: 57 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: 5 kw grid tie system, what can I expect? Florida

    Someone please tell me this is wrong, I heard the LCEC = Lee County Electric Company charges $5.00 per month to hook to the grid.

    My electric company is LCEC for Pine Island Fl. just west of Cape Coral Fl.

    They do not have a rebate program .:cry:

    And here I thought Florida was the sunshine state, big on solar. WOW! was I wrong.
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: 5 kw grid tie system, what can I expect? Florida

    it seems to me everybody has to pay a monthly fee to be hooked to the grid whether you use or sell electricity from/to them. $5 is about less than half of what mine is the last time i looked.

    don't feel bad as there's no program where i am either as it goes by the size of the utility and they chose, i believe, the top 5. funny how that works as i am in the 2nd most populated area of pennsylvania. imho it should not go by the utility and should be state wide, but who am i?:confused:
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  • solar_dave
    solar_dave Solar Expert Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: 5 kw grid tie system, what can I expect? Florida

    If I generate 100% of my electric I still have a minimum of $22 in standard fees. The meter fees alone are about $9 if I remember correctly.
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  • Solar Guppy
    Solar Guppy Solar Expert Posts: 1,989 ✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: 5 kw grid tie system, what can I expect? Florida

    The material price continues to drop, Panels are now under 1.30 watt for 1st grade name brand panels. Add a buck a watt for racking and inverter and its more like 2.30 watt now for materials.

    3.00 watt is completely doable turn key or 15k before rebates/tax credits for a 5kw system.
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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #8
    Re: 5 kw grid tie system, what can I expect? Florida

    30% back in taxes from Fed, and a decreased power bill.

    http://sites.google.com/site/solarmation/

    I have a 6.9KW system, you can see the daily graph in the URL above. I average 25KW per day
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Re: 5 kw grid tie system, what can I expect? Florida

    i assume you meant that you got 25kwh per day.;)
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