From what I've seen both on large scale industrial, as well as residential installations, profitability relies on government subsidies and credits. In other words - over its lifetime, a solar panel is not likely to produce enough electricity to pay for itself. Factoring in rebates and credits, etc. will make it economic. And if you live in an area where you can sell excess power back into the grid then you can eventually see small profits. Of course, as energy prices go up then solar will become more profitable, but the exact opposite could be said when/if prices go back down.

One benefit that is very difficult to figure economically is that the panels shade your roof. The most inefficient part of your house is the roof and attic area. Despite all the insulation you add into the attic, a portion of that heat makes it into your house. In theory solar panels block and absorb a lot of that heat that would have been transferred into your attic, thus reducing the electricity required for your AC unit.

On the flip side, a drawback is that most of the panels now are newer technology and the true longevity of the panels outside a testing environment is unknown. Older panels would produce pretty close to max rates for around 5 years, but had a very steep decline thereafter. Today's panels are expected to last 20+ years, but none have been in service that long to know if they will make it.

And you must also factor in the additional cost of insurance when running the economics. Hail resistant is not hail proof, and an 80 mph gust of wind can still rip all those panels right off the roof.

well done

they are hail resistant

get ready to see them everywhere
they don't look any worse than ridge vent

I have one on my boat to charge the battery that runs my Livescope - does that count?

The houses with solar are flagged with Biden, Bernie or Beeto signs during election season.

That is for the steel plant across 67 at least that is what I was told

Too many trees here.

I am probably wrong, but it seems to me the subsidy money would be better spent incenting folks to insulate and upgrade windows.

The only way it could possibly make any sense would be if you planned to be in that house forever and if you did the battery backup. Even then I think a generator makes more sense.

I have had them for 7 years, last billing cycle was $13 for electric (mainly Oncor charges and base charge) and $40 for solar payment. My savings overall average $75/month. They are basically zero maintenance and have a 20 year service contract in case there is a problem. Mine also have a guaranteed annual production and they will credit the difference if they under perform the contracted amount, this helps cover any degrading of the panels over the 20 year period. If production gets too low they will add or upgrade panels to reach the contracted rate. I can see where it is a pain for the roofing contractor for removal and replacement but it was great for me as a homeowner because the solar company removed and replaced them at a small contracted amount when my roof was replaced. They are wind resistant up to 120 mph and hail resistant over golf ball size....and home insurance covers mine. They do act as a radiant barrier. This year is a 26% tax credit that I believe can be spread over 2 years. If you have no tax liability to offset the credit then lease the solar system, my dad does this at $67/month and also save about $75/month after solar and electric payments. I don't care how they look, it is a roof with a chimney, vents and turbines!

I did not do the battery backup at the time because the system then was not great and was expensive. Now the system is better with lithium but more expensive. Have system installed with a generator plug, they can do it easily and correctly when hooking up the solar system and the expensive battery backup is not needed.

I overproduce 9 months out of the year and that rolls over and is used first the following month. Summer months usually don't have rollover but my bills are still less than before I got the solar. The biggest drawback I see now are the cost which is way more than it was 7 years ago and many companies are out to make a quick buck.

Also, mine are transferable to new homeowner if I move.

The amount of the solar system is added to the value of the house but is exempt from taxes by law....

My parents put them on their house about 4 years ago. They've both passed away this last year and we are fixing to sell the house. The solar company said it would take a month to figure out what we owe them. Took 6 months just to get the mother [censored] to call us back.

the guy I just talked to claimed they would warranty everything including hail for 5 years. They would also cover any damage they might do to the roof if something went wrong (the whole roof)after that it went to a 3-yard area around the pannels. He also claimed they were warranty covered for 25 years and that they would produce at least 95% of the power they did on day one. My electric bills run from $45 in the winter. spring, fall to $150 in the summer. These panels would cost about $20,000 or about $80/mo.

Well as I'm sitting here in my office in Deer Park looking out my window, I have to say the solar panels don't look any worse than the miles of refineries with burnoff valves venting flame into the sky i see. Also, they don't look any worse than a Honda Ridgeline sitting in the driveway. How about we envision a world free of Ridgelines, then we worry about solar panels

Bronco... If I'm following your math you pay $13 + 40 = 53, and that saves you 75? So your total electric bill was only $128 per month previously?

100 percent

yes, small 1500 sq ft very well insulated house. Most of the year before solar my electric bill was around 80-90 with much higher summer months More sun and longer days give me great production in the summer. But I use most of the overproduction at night....gas heat, tankless gas water heater and gas range and oven.

BS gun toting MAGA republican here

How do you have that low of an electric bill, do you just sit in the dark and fan yourself all day.