Comments on: Community solar movement grows in T.O http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/ Trends, happenings and innovations in the clean technology market Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:49:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/comment-page-1/#comment-465 Anonymous Thu, 13 Jul 2006 17:13:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/#comment-465 Simple payback calculations for solar in Ontario are: $10 to install every Watt. 1250 equivalent hours of 'peak sunshine' available in Southern Ontario per year So: 1kW installed would be $10,000 It would normally generate 1kW x 1250 hrs = 1250kWh per year. At $0.42 per kWh that would yield $525 per year. Simple payback calculations for solar in Ontario are:

$10 to install every Watt.

1250 equivalent hours of ‘peak sunshine’ available in Southern Ontario per year

So: 1kW installed would be $10,000

It would normally generate 1kW x 1250 hrs = 1250kWh per year.

At $0.42 per kWh that would yield $525 per year.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/comment-page-1/#comment-464 Anonymous Thu, 29 Jun 2006 12:44:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/#comment-464 The calculation should adjust a bit: 1. average sunshire for a year is 8 hours 2. assume using fix panel against moving sun, average colletct 60% sun shine. 3. add 30% cloudy days. Then income = 365x8x0.6x0.7x0.42 = $515/year The calculation should adjust a bit:

1. average sunshire for a year is 8 hours

2. assume using fix panel against moving sun, average colletct 60% sun shine.

3. add 30% cloudy days.

Then income = 365×8x0.6×0.7×0.42 = $515/year

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/comment-page-1/#comment-463 Anonymous Thu, 08 Jun 2006 20:54:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/#comment-463 Thank you for the responses to my question about cost per year-round versus peak output. The numbers provided are interesting. At around $10 thousand per kW installed, and a price per unit of power produced of $0.42, a solar power installation in Ontario could earn 36.8% gross return on investment (8760 hours X $0.42 = $3679.00/10,000). With a 10% capital cost allowance, and 10% for operation and maintenance, solar power in Ontario should yield a handsome return on investment. Is this calculation correct, and if so, what is preventing investors from taking up Ontario Hydro's offer in large numbers? Or maybe they are taking up Ontario Hydro's offer in large numbers. Thank you for the responses to my question about cost per year-round versus peak output. The numbers provided are interesting. At around $10 thousand per kW installed, and a price per unit of power produced of $0.42, a solar power installation in Ontario could earn 36.8% gross return on investment (8760 hours X $0.42 = $3679.00/10,000).

With a 10% capital cost allowance, and 10% for operation and maintenance, solar power in Ontario should yield a handsome return on investment.

Is this calculation correct, and if so, what is preventing investors from taking up Ontario Hydro’s offer in large numbers? Or maybe they are taking up Ontario Hydro’s offer in large numbers.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/comment-page-1/#comment-462 Anonymous Wed, 07 Jun 2006 12:30:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/#comment-462 Actually, it's 1 kilowatt averaged out over a year, not just for peak. So it's better than what you thought. As for the 42 cents, it's a way to stimulate takeup of solar PV in Ontario. But when you consider we often pay more than 50 cents during peak times for importing power from the U.S., 42 cents isn't that high. Actually, it’s 1 kilowatt averaged out over a year, not just for peak. So it’s better than what you thought. As for the 42 cents, it’s a way to stimulate takeup of solar PV in Ontario. But when you consider we often pay more than 50 cents during peak times for importing power from the U.S., 42 cents isn’t that high.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/comment-page-1/#comment-461 Anonymous Wed, 07 Jun 2006 06:09:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/#comment-461 I would assume prices are for peak 1kW system - roughly $10/W for solar. Solar power is on-peak power! On hot and sunny days electricity prices can spike above 50 cents/kWh and much higher, well timed with solar electric production. I would assume prices are for peak 1kW system – roughly $10/W for solar.

Solar power is on-peak power! On hot and sunny days electricity prices can spike above 50 cents/kWh and much higher, well timed with solar electric production.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/comment-page-1/#comment-460 Anonymous Tue, 06 Jun 2006 23:53:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/#comment-460 The article states the cost of a 1 kwatt system is $13,000 but it does not seem clear to me whether that is 1 kw peak output or 1 kw year-round average output. The difference is enormous, since capacity is only about 15%. The article mentions that Ontario Hydro will pay 42 cents for solar power. Why? That is nearly ten times what they would have to pay in the wholesale market for offpeak power. Is it simply a subsidy? The article states the cost of a 1 kwatt system is $13,000 but it does not seem clear to me whether that is 1 kw peak output or 1 kw year-round average output. The difference is enormous, since capacity is only about 15%.

The article mentions that Ontario Hydro will pay 42 cents for solar power. Why? That is nearly ten times what they would have to pay in the wholesale market for offpeak power. Is it simply a subsidy?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/comment-page-1/#comment-459 Anonymous Tue, 06 Jun 2006 15:55:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/06/05/community-solar-movement-grows-in-to/#comment-459 Great article Tyler. Had I bought a studio rather then rent, I would be all over this. Even though my electricity is included in my rent, I still may go Gurilla with my building by installing a small stand alone system. After all - its not only the cost of energy for me, but where it is coming from. It's suprising how low my energy needs are, now that I am in a bright condo unit (and luckily im on the top floor). Great article Tyler.

Had I bought a studio rather then rent, I would be all over this. Even though my electricity is included in my rent, I still may go Gurilla with my building by installing a small stand alone system. After all – its not only the cost of energy for me, but where it is coming from. It’s suprising how low my energy needs are, now that I am in a bright condo unit (and luckily im on the top floor).

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