Basics of Grid-Tied PV

(Page 2 of 2)

February/March 2001
 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

AT WHAT PRICE?

RELATED CONTENT

At 25 to 40 cents per kilowatt hour, PV-generated electricity is still more costly than electricity purchased from our country's extensive electric grid. Still, many people are turning to this clean-energy option for reasons of ecology rather than economy. Most of our electricity comes from coal, oil or large hydroelectric dams, all of which have devastating environmental impacts. The use of solar power can reduce dependence on these environmentally damaging sources. In fact, a one-kilowatt PV system can prevent 150 pounds of coal from being mined and 300 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each month.

These facts convinced Randy Udall, director of the Community Office of Resource Efficiency (CORE) in Aspen, Colorado that PV is cost-effective. "Conventional energy economics assumes that the future is worthless and the environment doesn't matter," Randy says. "If you value the future or the environment, PV is cost-effective."

To encourage more homeowners to invest in PV systems, CORE started a fi nancing program. Through CORE's program, customers make a small down payment and receive a zero-interest loan to pay for the rest of their system over four to six years. CORE pays the interest on the loan.

SPINNING BACKWARDS

One thing that makes grid-tied PV attractive to homeowners is net metering. Under PURPA, utility customers can sell excess electricity to the utility company. However, the utility only needs to purchase that electricity at the wholesale price - much lower than the retail price. The excess energy is metered using an additional meter that must be installed at the customer's expense. But if the utility offers net metering, the customer can use the excess electricity to offset electricity used during the billing period. Currently, 30 states require at least some utilities to offer net metering. To find out about net metering contact the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, or visit http://www.homepower.com/netmeter.htm .

Related info:
Guerrilla Solar

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.