Optimistic solar breakeven calculation

time2roll · Apr 29, 2024

New nuke in Georgia is looking hopeful at 80 year payback. Good luck.

“Hopefully, despite being seven years late and billions over budget, the two new units at Plant Vogtle will finally perform well for at least the next 80 years to justify the excessive cost,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer group that fought to limit rate increases.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/second-nuclear-reactor-completed-georgia-155053005.html

fnnwizard · Apr 29, 2024

45North said:
Many calcs of breakeven fail to include the "opportunity" cost of capital. This means:

Loan interest charges, if you are borrowing the money, or

Alternative Income earned, if you have the cash and invest it elsewhere

Throw in the extra cost of managing, building and operating your own power company

All these things will lengthen your breakeven time and reduce the attractiveness of your DIY solar project.
If you know this and still want to do it anyways, that's fine but you should recognize that it's more of a hobby project and not really a pure investment decision.
Sorry to rain on your parade, but let's be realistic here.

I agree that many calcs don't include the opportunity costs, which runs both ways.
One needs to also count the tax rebate + earnings on it and the earnings on the yearly savings.

Sparks-n-Splinters · Apr 29, 2024

Lots of good points brought up here.
For me, the world is going nutz, the more stability I can offer my wife and I the happier we both are. ROI doesn't really matter as much as peace of mind.

robbob2112 · Apr 29, 2024

so, to sum it up, this is our hobby and we just need to figure out how to justify the time and money spent.

jbkrntrprz · Apr 29, 2024

aragonx said:
I love your 2nd point. What price can you put on having some peace of mind?

Your third point is also a very strong one. Most server admins I know have backups and redundancy. It never occurred to me until just now that there is a single power option without some sort of self generation. So the grid is a single point of failure. That term alone is enough to make many server admins lay awake at night with worry.

Something not mentioned is how long will this crap equipment last. From someone who just had to return 2 defective inverters after 3 months of use, I doubt 10 years, even for the more expensive ones. Never heard the word replacement of equipment. Just make sure you have a way to pay for more stuff in the future! Piece of mind is my reason also. Grids coming down eventually!

millsan1 · Apr 30, 2024

Your assertions are on point, but there are other intangible factors.

Same logic applies to paying off your house vs keeping a mortgage and investing instead. As long as rate of return is greater than interest, you are ahead.

But I paid off my mortgage, because nothing can happen to my income that will cause me to lose my home.

I also installed solar, so that when I am retired, I will not have an electric bill.

Optimistic solar breakeven calculation

time2roll

Solar Wizard

fnnwizard

New Member

Sparks-n-Splinters

Solar Enthusiast

robbob2112

Doing more research, mosty harmless

jbkrntrprz

Solar Enthusiast

millsan1

Solar Enthusiast

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