Back to the original question of the post, yes and no is the unsatisfactory but correct answer. For me in S.E.Asia a few degrees off the equator it is a resounding yes with my DIY 5.5kW off grid system, for those elsewhere it seems that mark-ups and installation costs are incredibly high which probably has something to do with subsidies. My ROI is under 3 years but I have taken the perhaps unusual step of including my own usage behavior modification into account not just pure kW/h consumption:
I am planning to increase my ROI by a couple of years by adding the following mostly for reduncancy:
Spare 5.5kW AIO invertor
Additional 48v battery bank and BMS
Additional panel and fittings to max out string (450v OC)
6,500kW Diesel Genset
We have been living totally off-grid for 9-10 months with a reliable and stable electricity supply, along with the usual stuff powering cement mixer, mig welder, air compressors without issue, for the last 18 months we've endured an almost continuous monsoon season with a lot of cloud cover due to convergence of La Nina and the Indian Ocean equivalent but managed to squeak by on batteries, in more normal years the power produced is far in excess of our needs.
When going solar I revised my consumption habits and methods mainly to reduce nighttime consumption, I am not foregoing anything or living a smaller life because of it. In conclusion, in my particular case going solar was a very worthwhile, low cost investment.
- Ceiling fans everywhere vs. air-con (geothermal air-con is planned est. 100w usage)
- Low power, inverter tech appliances
- Separate gaming and entertainment PC's,
- Central immersion insulated hot water tank for energy sink vs. discrete 'on-demand' multi-point water heaters
- Low voltage led interior lighting plus self-contained discrete external solar lighting
I am planning to increase my ROI by a couple of years by adding the following mostly for reduncancy:
Spare 5.5kW AIO invertor
Additional 48v battery bank and BMS
Additional panel and fittings to max out string (450v OC)
6,500kW Diesel Genset
We have been living totally off-grid for 9-10 months with a reliable and stable electricity supply, along with the usual stuff powering cement mixer, mig welder, air compressors without issue, for the last 18 months we've endured an almost continuous monsoon season with a lot of cloud cover due to convergence of La Nina and the Indian Ocean equivalent but managed to squeak by on batteries, in more normal years the power produced is far in excess of our needs.
When going solar I revised my consumption habits and methods mainly to reduce nighttime consumption, I am not foregoing anything or living a smaller life because of it. In conclusion, in my particular case going solar was a very worthwhile, low cost investment.