photo #2893170

I thought I'd share our foray into Solar Power.We installed an Enphase 15 kW generation / 20 kWh storage system and brought it online 4pm Sep. 6.It generated more power for the month of September than we used: 2.1 MWh vs 1.6 MWh. However because of storage capacity limits we imported about 600 kWh and exported about 1MWh. We only get paid 5.5 cents per kWh as opposed to paying about 12 cents per kWh so we still have a small consumption bill (about $20 plus $25 meter rental).Right now, in the first half of October, letting the battery run as low as 30% provides power from sunset to about 5:30am. By 7:45am we produce about as much as we consume and stop importing power. By noon, the battery is fully charged and we generally start exporting to about an hour before sunset.Yes, solar is at least as "dirty" as other energy sources, but we can export the dirtyness to where the raw materials are mined. "Chynah." Works for me.The impetus was backup power. We added a freezer to hold a beef and wanted it backed up. But, selling power back to the utility has a smug ring to it. (Suck My POWAH!)Total cost? US$72k and it would have been higher if we financed (the rate is great but they front load the loan with a higher cost).We save about $250 a month, got a 30% $21.6k tax credit and it adds between 20k and 60k to the value of the house depending who you ask. Split the difference and call it $40k. So; ($72k - $40k - $21.6k) / $250 = 41.6 month payback period (assuming energy prices stay the same). Less than 4 years.It's expensive, and not for everyone, and if your going to do it, go as big as you can. I regret not adding a third battery. Tesla would have been cheaper but I prefer Enphase microinverter technology.