Solar energy

[kopkei]

i have been informing about solar panels and the systems , been to this shop ,they seem to have good service and decent explanation about the product , the result to me , is that it is still way too overpriced surely if you use battery packs which are bloody expensive ,and quality? ,as they only give 5 year warranty on battery pack 5kw that costs 150.000 baht ? , i was given a price of 190.000 baht ,on grid system , no batteries , i have made my own inquiry , with the same materials and brand it would cost me not more than 90-100.000 baht and using micro inverters ....so installation costs also way over the top ?... strangely enough they are all installing the cheapest system , with normal inverter , not the better system with micro inverters connected parallel for better efficiency ....
and all installers are avoiding the question if a permit is required from PEA for installing a system? , saying under 5Kw installation permit not needed? .....
also keep in mind an on grid ,no batteries solar system will cut your electric bill only about in half (your system must have a safety your PEA meter can not turn back ! ,as all non solar use ,nighttime /less sun will still make u use the normal grid electric ....as info

[Khun Paul]

Upon arrival here some 20+ years ago, Solar Power was here in its infancy and anything that was available was FAR TOO expensive to not only buy and as for installation was a no no.
Later as it came on line and prices were dropping then it did be a viable option, however as has been pointed out installation was too costly, latest technology was not an option . The option I would like would be to make the pwer and any I do not need feed back into the local grid, therefore need for batteries not required a major saving of the installation and running costs generally but sourcing that is I think is a nightmare.
There are many main and local installers and providers, but some I feel are downright dangerous .

BUT now I am in the latter years of my life the expenditure will far outweigh any savings I may make in the first 5/10 years and as the local electricity companies here have made huge leaps in improving the service and far less blackouts now, it seems a pointless exercise.

If one is that worried important power can be provided by a Portable generator to save frozen objects and provide water into a house at those times of no electricity. Those costs , purchasing a reliable one are reasonable and requires minimum maintenance.

[Udon Map]

... I do not need feed back into the local grid, therefore need for batteries not required ....

Wouldn't batteries be helpful for providing electricity at night?

[Khun Paul]

... I do not need feed back into the local grid, therefore need for batteries not required ....

Wouldn't batteries be helpful for providing electricity at night?

I wasa referring to the practice of being able to top up the local energy supplier at night you would use them , as 99% of power outages here are in the daytime, night-[time it is hardly ever.

[Udon Map]

... I do not need feed back into the local grid, therefore need for batteries not required ....

Wouldn't batteries be helpful for providing electricity at night?

I wasa referring to the practice of being able to top up the local energy supplier at night you would use them , as 99% of power outages here are in the daytime, night-[time it is hardly ever.

Oh, I see. IIRC the U.S. requires power companies to buy excess power back from homeowners who have solar whenever the electricity production from solar exceeds the home's requirements. I can't remember if there is a single two-way meter or if there are two meters, one to measure the home's draw from the utility and the other to measure electricity supply to the utility when the home is using less than it produces.

[noosard]

dont know about where you are but the power goes off at night just as much as during the day
Worse at night if trying to sleep without AC

[deankham]

I noticed the outlaws have slowly been investing in solar at the farm over the past few years. The biggest game changer for them has been the solar well pump. They are now able to grown many more vegetables, on a smallish scale, enough for personal consumption with some left over for the dragon to sell at the market.

They also have a couple solar panels and cheap looking invertor / battery set up to charge phones / run fan during the day and for fan / lights at night.

I'd say it's made a big change in their lifestyle as now will live on the farm most of the time.

Interesting statistic about solar panels on the roof;

According to a study conducted by researchers at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, solar panels reduced the amount of heat reaching the roof by an incredible 38%, keeping a building's roof 5 degrees cooler than portions of a roof exposed to sunlight directly

[noosard]

Makes sense as the solar panels are shading the roof

[Whistler]

I noticed the outlaws have slowly been investing in solar at the farm over the past few years. The biggest game changer for them has been the solar well pump. They are now able to grown many more vegetables, on a smallish scale, enough for personal consumption with some left over for the dragon to sell at the market.

They also have a couple solar panels and cheap looking invertor / battery set up to charge phones / run fan during the day and for fan / lights at night.

I'd say it's made a big change in their lifestyle as now will live on the farm most of the time.

Interesting statistic about solar panels on the roof;

According to a study conducted by researchers at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, solar panels reduced the amount of heat reaching the roof by an incredible 38%, keeping a building's roof 5 degrees cooler than portions of a roof exposed to sunlight directly

Interesting post Mr D.

I never realised the heat reduction aspect. In fact, I have never seen any adverts for solar panels pointing out this significant benefit. Thanks for that piece of info

[tamada]

Makes sense as the solar panels are shading the roof

...and don't catch fire.

Whoosh!!!

[deankham]

^ oh bugger. Didn't think about the 'Somchai' effect. Crappy quality panels, cables and ------ installation.

Was also thinking about how many birds, snakes, rats, etc, etc would be nesting under the panels.

[noosard]

Had paper wasps under mine
little bastarrds

[Doodoo]

Solar Panels

https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-d ... 00629.html

[tamada]

From one of my (filthy fossil fuel exploration) industry news feeds, some interesting and enlightening Q & A factoids.

Is offshore wind commercially viable?
Many projects need a commercial reset; supply chain challenges, lack of standardised technology and inflation have been driving up costs and slowing rollout. Meanwhile, oil companies are offering record shareholders returns.

What do you consider the biggest impediments to the energy transition?
Insufficient grid infrastructure, which is often poorly designed for adding new intermittent power supplies. Also, lack of funding – it needs trillions, not billions of US$; slow project & planning approvals don’t help.

Which is growing faster, wind or solar power?
In 2023, the single largest contribution was solar (~1.1 GW) driven by small-scale roof top installations, next offshore wind (~0.9 GW), then onshore wind (~0.8 GW). During the year, China built more solar than the USA has in its entire history. Solar generation over the last decade consistently grew faster than expected.

That last one I find very interesting on two points.

1 ) You chaps investing in home solar are making a bigger contribution than companies working on wind-powered alternatives, well done chaps! And

2 ) Just look at China go!

[jackspratt]

From one of my (filthy fossil fuel exploration) industry news feeds, some interesting and enlightening Q & A factoids.

Is offshore wind commercially viable?
Many projects need a commercial reset; supply chain challenges, lack of standardised technology and inflation have been driving up costs and slowing rollout. Meanwhile, oil companies are offering record shareholders returns.

What do you consider the biggest impediments to the energy transition?
Insufficient grid infrastructure, which is often poorly designed for adding new intermittent power supplies. Also, lack of funding – it needs trillions, not billions of US$; slow project & planning approvals don’t help.

Which is growing faster, wind or solar power?
In 2023, the single largest contribution was solar (~1.1 GW) driven by small-scale roof top installations, next offshore wind (~0.9 GW), then onshore wind (~0.8 GW). During the year, China built more solar than the USA has in its entire history. Solar generation over the last decade consistently grew faster than expected.

Bought to you by Mandy Rice Davies.

[glalt]

I am very happy with my lithium 200 AH solar battery. I will NEVER buy another deep cycle lead acid battery again. The last time I bought deep cycle batteries, I bought four of them. Two were the best premium batteries that Globatt makes. the other two were called Newmax. Both Globatt batteries died and were the worst shortest life batteries I ever bought. Over ten years using solar I have bought many new deep cycle batteries. They actually went bad about 5 months ago. The Newmax batteries are still going strong and won't be replaced until they die. This is just a warning NOT to buy the Globatt brand batteries.

[AlexO]

Interesting statistic about solar panels on the roof;

According to a study conducted by researchers at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, solar panels reduced the amount of heat reaching the roof by an incredible 38%, keeping a building's roof 5 degrees cooler than portions of a roof exposed to sunlight directly

[/quote]

Interesting post Mr D.

I never realised the heat reduction aspect. In fact, I have never seen any adverts for solar panels pointing out this significant benefit. Thanks for that piece of info
[/quote]

About 15 years (or more) ago we were invited to visit a building that had been awarded a LEED Platinum award, the only building in the Middle East (Dubai) to achieve the required parameters to qualify for this level of award. Basically the award is based on overall affect on the environment and sustainability. The roof was virtually covered in solar panels and when questioned the building manager basically confirmed that the major benefit was the additional shading offered by the panels to direct sun on the roof. Battery and panel technology etc was not at the level now found so probably true at the time but perhaps better now. One of the reasons I encourage people to take a view on domestic rooftop installations.

[glalt]

I got into solar power, not to save money but because the electric grid here is very bad. It flickers nearly every day and is sometimes down for hours. I did buy a UPS that eliminated the flickering but it would only run the computer for 20 minutes or so. A very large UPS was expensive and that's when I decided to build a solar system. Ten years later the grid is not any better. My solar system components have been VERY reliable but my main expense was the batteries. I always bought deep cycle batteries and ever tried deep cycle 6 volt golf cart batteries as well as AGM deep cycle batteries. I got tired of always having to top up the conventional batteries with water and have since bought sealed batteries. I did buy two of the best 200 AH Globatt batteries. They had the shortest life of any other batteries I ever bought. I was about to eliminate one solar system because of the expensive Globatt batteries failing. I finally decided to spend $500 US dollars for a 200 AH lithium battery. That battery easily replaced both 200 AH Globatt batteries and after a couple of months I am VERY impressed with how much simpler my solar life is now. I will NEVER buy another expensive deep cycle lead acid battery. The 2 remaining NewMax lead acid deep cycle batteries are still working fine but will be replaced with lithium when they give up.

[Whistler]

Great info glalt, thank you

[AlexO]

I got into solar power, not to save money but because the electric grid here is very bad. It flickers nearly every day and is sometimes down for hours.

I also know people who bought 'off grid' land where solar was the only option available (more reliable than windmills in Thailand). Not so necessary where you have a 'stable' supply of clean energy however and it would be interesting to know just how much kwh Glaits system provides and what he projects as the payback period to check the economics of this source of free energy.