On Dec 23, 2020, I was finally given the OK to flip the switch to bring our eleven panel solar system online. It has been a learning event, for sure, this past year. The main thing I have learned is that we needed that spruce tree (at right in photo) removed, the consumption monitoring CT clamps installed, and five additional panels installed. HA!
Honestly, the CT clamps should be installed with the rest of the system. Why they are not just included by default is beyond me. They were cheap (like $50) to buy directly off the web site, and so far we’ve yet to be billed to have the electrician out to install them. He didn’t even need to enter the house, but rather installed them right at the mains power meter.
Looking at the numbers over the course of the year, one thing was obvious. We were not collecting enough photons to offset the cost of our electric usage (we are just dumping our solar onto the grid) plus the loan for the solar system. The first thing that needed to be done was removing the tree to lengthen our daily maximum-capture window.
In the above image, check the production (blue) in the morning. That is entirely the tree casting a massive shadow on the roof and panels. I have been looking at that same pattern for a year. We were not reaching full production from the panels until after noon, even in Summer.
Compare that with the first sunny day with the tree down, four days later.
January, baby. January in New England.
That is quite the difference. And that 14.0kWh produced is pretty damn close to our average daily consumption rate of 14.75kWh on our last electric bill. I’ll be VERY interested to see the increase in our check from the electric company this month.
So, what that leaves to be addressed is to increase the number of panels actually up there collecting all of that photonic goodness. In speaking with the electrician who was out to install the CT clamps, he gave me ballpark figures for the panels and inverters. The total cost was not that off-putting. What I am do not know is the cost of installation. That email has been sent to my rep at the solar company.
With the tree down and those five panels installed, we might actually start collecting enough to reach net $0 on the electric bill. Maybe even eventually turn a small profit, as was promised. But we will see about that. If we do start collecting enough to offset our usage, I can then start to dream about a battery so that we can live off of our own power. Of course, those batteries are entirely not inexpensive, and by not dumping directly onto the grid, that will impact the amount of money that we receive from the electric company, so there is a whole bunch of math that needs to be done before we get to that point. But having solar panels on the roof, and no power in the house if the grid is down seems non-intuitive.
And, yes, we will be planting a replacement tree, but not one that will become a 75′ tall shadow-maker. There a couple varieties of evergreen that we are looking at, along with a hedgerow along the street to increase carbon capture.
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