What is needed to setup solar panels or wind turbines? (most expensive parts)

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Where are the largest costs for setting up sources of energy like wind turbines or solar panels? Is it in actually storing and using the power (batteries, electrical switches, etc.) or the equipment to generate the power?

 

[FleshLight]

Depends on the project itself since land acquisition, permit acquisition, engineering can vary. But for a residential project with a single turbine or solar array, the equipment costs would be highest and you would most likely be supplying power to the grid.

 

[Darwin333]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Where are the largest costs for setting up sources of energy like wind turbines or solar panels? Is it in actually storing and using the power (batteries, electrical switches, etc.) or the equipment to generate the power?

On or off the grid?

 

[0roo0roo]

i bet a large battery pack /control systems/inverter takes up a decent chunk of change. storage area might also need to be built, they need to be taken care of to last.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Darwin333

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Where are the largest costs for setting up sources of energy like wind turbines or solar panels? Is it in actually storing and using the power (batteries, electrical switches, etc.) or the equipment to generate the power?

On or off the grid?

I was thinking about residential, so on the grid for this.

I was wondering if the costs can be brought down by getting a whole neighborhood to participate in something like solar power, and cutting costs by:

1) Purchasing in larger quantities
2) Splitting equipment costs for fixed costs (variable being the # of panels/turbines/etc.)

 

[Jeff7]

Grid-tie inverters are rather expensive, and likely need to be installed by someone who's licensed to do so.

A battery bank will also cost a decent amount, and it'll need a good charge controller.
It'll also need a vented enclosure - the venting is to prevent buildup of hydrogen.

 

[0roo0roo]

doubtful, for one getting a neighbor to plunk down thousands isn't easy unless u live in a relatively wealthy area.
and things have to be separate if you are on the meter.
off the meter equipment costs rise significantly.

 

[Darwin333]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: Darwin333

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Where are the largest costs for setting up sources of energy like wind turbines or solar panels? Is it in actually storing and using the power (batteries, electrical switches, etc.) or the equipment to generate the power?

On or off the grid?

I was thinking about residential, so on the grid for this.

I was wondering if the costs can be brought down by getting a whole neighborhood to participate in something like solar power, and cutting costs by:

1) Purchasing in larger quantities
2) Splitting equipment costs for fixed costs (variable being the # of panels/turbines/etc.)

Then the previous poster was correct. Check if your local electric company has to buy back the power you produce (and at what cost they have to pay). If you can sell back to the grid the cost (at least materials) is going to be almost all in inverters/generation.

Generating your own electricity is relatively easy. Generating and USING your own electricity gets more complicated.

 

[BoomerD]

If you're on the grid, you don't need the battery storage. The grid becomes your "storage battery" and in many cases, the utility will send you a check at the end of the year if you put more power into the system than you take out. (not all utilities pay you for your excess, many just "absorb it as a donation" to the system."

http://www.findsolar.com/

 

[Baked]

In last month's Popular Science mag, there was an article about a guy who guys mini turbines in his garage and sells them for $3K to $3.5. His setup is different from your conventional gigantic wind turbines in that it's a bunch of mini turbines that runs along a string. It's setup so that all the turbines on the string gets its own wind source. Combine, it generates out a lot of power. Very simple yet ingenious invention compared to the giant wind turbines.

 

[skywhr]

wow will cost me 75k installed for my house

 

[PowerEngineer]

Originally posted by: skywhr
wow will cost me 75k installed for my house

$180k for 100% photovoltaic; breakeven in 33-40 years.

Being green takes a lot of green.

 

[skyking]

I think that number can be revised downward if you figure using a light battery setup and DC LED lighting with part of the generation. The losses for conversion to AC is about the same as storing it in battery, but the watt/lumen with LED is less than half that of CFL.
I am going that route, and using active solar heat with DC circ pumps.
Basically all the heating costs, hot water, and lighting will be wrapped up in the solar without the cost/complexity of building a grid tie system.
The hard part is sizing all of it so I don't over purchase the PV cells and battery system.
I tend to go the overkill route