A Different Approach to Solar Power

Quite a few residential solar power systems have been installed in the last decade. The vast majority (90%) are grid intertied without battery backup and are installed for the purpose of reducing power bills and power plant emissions. The average system cost is 28K. These solar power systems are a good thing, but all that green energy has not kept up with power demand and we are emitting more greenhouse gases than ever. Some of those same solar power households have generator backup as well. Those big whole house generators average about 12K because they have to power houses with power hungry electrical appliances. That is 40K for systems that will keep you going for about a week running your average household. That is an absolutely terrible investment from my point of view. For the same 40K power budget, I can show you how to run your home, eat, drink, stay warm, defend yourself, heal yourself etc. across a variety of scenarios for up to one year. That means a small solar power system, with battery backup, a smaller generator, and various propane appliances to handle the heavy BTU loads, with a large propane tank.

My 3 kilowatt DIY solar power system with battery backup cost 12K installed (by me) and consists of:

• 12 used bench tested 250 watt panels for $100 each

• Installed on a shed that doubles as a walk in freezer, pet quarters and garden shed.

• 500 amp hours of lightly used bench tested lifepo4 lithium batteries for $3000

  (way less expensive than a Tesla Powerwall)

• .A Sol-Ark 5KW inverter for $4500 which does a great job of managing current, loads and monitoring ongoing performance

• Underground cabling, wiring, $300 electrical help

  
  

On sunny days my system can power the house from 10 AM - 3 or 4 PM - which includes a pool pump, hot tub, and 2 mini splits as well as various appliances. At night the system draws on grid power. I am happy with that. I don't really care what my power bill is. I'm guessing I am offsetting about $50 per month. My goal is not to save the maximum amount of money on my power bill when life is good and normal, but to retain high functionality no matter what happens. With only 12K in solar plus battery backup I spent the extra 28K on lots more resiliency.

Every situation is unique and cannot be addressed in a blog article. I am hoping to impress upon you that conventional solar systems do not provide much resiliency unless they are integrated into a carefully planned resiliency strategy. I can walk you through the many considerations that are hard to appreciate unless you have lived off grid for decades.