A "Life Cycle Costing Analysis" is a great decision making tool, but how often does the consumer live by that rule? If you compared a nice used Toyota Echo to a new Nissan Leaf, one must choose the Echo based on the LCCA results. Is that what you need or what you want? Economics is still not a real science because it must deal with irrational human behavior. The LCCA doesn't take into account the environmental cost, but that is in keeping with our current "no carbon-tax" reality.
I believe solar PV is a good investment in many situations right now. Do it If you have a new roof with an unobstructed view to the south, you plan to live or live in your house for 20 years, can get an installed price of $5/watt DC, your utility rates and costs are on the high side, and you can afford it. It will give you a lot more return than a granite counter top, an in-ground swimming pool, a Corvette, or a motorhome over the same 20 years. And it sure beats the boredom of safe money in the bank making relatively nothing in the current economic environment.
Does anyone think that electric utility prices are coming down in the near future? PV is also a hedge against inflation and price creep. Also, remember too that In the early 70's the cost of installed PV was $90/watt. How low can it really go now with a claim of a $5/watt installed price.
Don't forget to put the inverter replacement in year 15 of your analysis, or the costs of micro-inverter (one for each PV panel) replacements over the years. The balance of system should be good for 30 years with a trailing off of PV performance in the last third of the life cycle.
I believe solar PV is a good investment in many situations right now. Do it If you have a new roof with an unobstructed view to the south, you plan to live or live in your house for 20 years, can get an installed price of $5/watt DC, your utility rates and costs are on the high side, and you can afford it. It will give you a lot more return than a granite counter top, an in-ground swimming pool, a Corvette, or a motorhome over the same 20 years. And it sure beats the boredom of safe money in the bank making relatively nothing in the current economic environment.
Does anyone think that electric utility prices are coming down in the near future? PV is also a hedge against inflation and price creep. Also, remember too that In the early 70's the cost of installed PV was $90/watt. How low can it really go now with a claim of a $5/watt installed price.
Don't forget to put the inverter replacement in year 15 of your analysis, or the costs of micro-inverter (one for each PV panel) replacements over the years. The balance of system should be good for 30 years with a trailing off of PV performance in the last third of the life cycle.