Affordable solar power?

**pup2** · March 21st, 2007 05:49 AM

Eto storya. 2 years ago, sa sobrang mahal ng meralco for commercial use, nag-research ako at nag canvass ng alternative renewable energy. Turns out, the cost of RE, particularly solar energy, declines by over 10% per year. At the time, I figured to hook up a 2000-watt system (dating kinakabitan ng gen set dahil pinaka important circuit power-wise) running for 9-12 hours a day, kung ang cost ay mga 800 thou, break-even na with napocor power.Since 1M pa yung qinuote sa akin at that time and since naubos na ang budget ko, pinostpone ko muna. Recently, though, nag-canvass ako ulit. Guess what? Yung dating 1M cost, ngayon less than 600thou na lang!!!Kaya this summer, grineen-light ko na itong project na ito kasi tipid na, enviro friendly pa, scientific curiosity pa. BTW, 20 years ang warranty nung solar cells. Baterya lang ang replaceable kung sakali and 2-3 years ang expected life ng isang set (madami eh -- 10 yata).Ano sa tingin ninyo?

**wildthing** · March 21st, 2007 06:59 AM

okay yan...saan ka nagtanong ng solar cells?

**userfriendly** · March 21st, 2007 09:09 AM

I'm also interested but want to clarify a few things. You said you use it for
2000 watts. This is a small amount of power only, less than 1.5kw. How much are you paying Napocor per kw? How much does solar energy cost per kw?

If you don't mind, who is the supplier and what is the contact number?

**hitomi** · March 21st, 2007 10:31 AM

^i second the motion.

supplier and contact number sir?

if solar power is feasible for your business, why not take the plunge?

**niky** · March 21st, 2007 12:15 PM

I'm interested in solar power, myself... but I still can't afford it.

For business, power requirements are huge... airconditioning and lighting alone eat up a huge chunk of budget... I think our monthly bill for the school is seven figures, already.

But putting panels on the buildings? Ten million or more kaya yung cost? Wehehehe...

**pup2** · March 21st, 2007 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by wildthing

okay yan...saan ka nagtanong ng solar cells?

Dalawa ang major supplier sa 'Pinas pero madaming contractor. I'm currently talking to Shell and First Gen (Lopez Group). Ang shell maraming experience since a whole slew of houses in Palawan are actually shell solar powered. Ang Lopez group parang mas mura OTH.

**mmanson** · March 21st, 2007 06:01 PM

wow..i was also thinking of using this one sa province namin. sobrang scarce kasi ng energy source dun lalo na ngayong dinaanan pa ng bagyo

**pup2** · March 21st, 2007 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by userfriendly

I'm also interested but want to clarify a few things. You said you use it for
2000 watts. This is a small amount of power only, less than 1.5kw. How much are you paying Napocor per kw? How much does solar energy cost per kw?

If you don't mind, who is the supplier and what is the contact number?

Kaya siya 2000 watts kasi yun yung output nung circuit na naka-kabit sa gen set namin noong panahon ng brownout. It's smallish pa kasi experiment pa nga lang. I want to see any downsides to the project, if ever.

Pero kahit 2000 watts lang yun, dahil malakas ang gamit (essential system nga eh), it operates NLT 10 hours a day kaya in 1 month, that's 2000x10x30 wh (60 kwh). I don't remember the cost I used for Napocor but I remember just dividing the Kwh figure by the total bill para kasama na lahat ng taxes, distribution charge, etc.

Take note though -- commercial establishment ito kaya mas mataas ang rate kesa sa households dahil sa commercial establishments yata galing ang lifeline subsidies. Hindi ko kinompute using households as a basis eh.

Solar doesn't cost anything after installation -- yung replacement lang ng baterya every 2-3 years or so. If I remember correctly, I also put that in to my analysis. Thing is, mahaba ang payback niya kaso since 20 years naman ang warranty nung solar panels, huwag lang maaksidente OK na.

I also took note that our power increases in price by around 10% every year. While the cost of the panels decreases by more than that every year. So talagang eventually, only the large initial cost will be a hindrance. Hinihintay ko sana magka-subsidy ito pero mukhang wala pang liwanag sa gov't kaya mauuna na me! harharhar!

**pup2** · March 21st, 2007 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by niky

I'm interested in solar power, myself... but I still can't afford it.

For business, power requirements are huge... airconditioning and lighting alone eat up a huge chunk of budget... I think our monthly bill for the school is seven figures, already.

But putting panels on the buildings? Ten million or more kaya yung cost? Wehehehe...

You're in school admin also? Ako din! Actually, pilot project pa lang ito kasi mahilig kami mag-experiment. There are some EU schools on 100% solar but I imagine the total cost would be huge -- plus the area devoted to the panels!

Kaya nga 2000 watts lang muna. Kung maganda ang results ng experiment, puwede ko i-implement ng circuit-by-circuit para hindi mabigat sa bulsa.

**pup2** · March 21st, 2007 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by noel26

wow..i was also thinking of using this one sa province namin. sobrang scarce kasi ng energy source dun lalo na ngayong dinaanan pa ng bagyo

Try to contact somebody based in Palawan. Masama ang power situation doon at madaming naka-solar. Yung shell nga may retail solar stores doon eh kaya lang dito wala

. At least now, may idea ka na of the cost.