The tech costs more than conventional options upfront, but federal tax credits, new 120V models and strong savings have made them more appealing than ever.
Unfortunately in most countries in Europe the incentives for PV are much higher than solar water, which means we spend an awful lot of money supporting the least efficient of the two.
Unsubsidized PV is around €1 to €1.5 per Wp, IKEA offers 4200 Wp for €4321 right now. That saves at least €800 off my power bill.
A solar boiler starts at €2500 at minimum and easily goes up to €4000. It saves me €250 per year in gas. Or I could get a heat pump boiler for €1500 and save 80% of the €250.
Thermal solar was a thing when PV was stupid expensive but it makes no sense in ROI now, with PV you can power your hot water, home heat and everything else for about the same price as 2-3 solar heat collectors and a boiler.
Efficient with money means you get more of that world and environment as savings per dollar.
Would you choose paying €4000 to replace 600 kWh of heat pump boiler hot water with solar boiler, or 4000 kWh of basically a whole home’s energy usage including hot water?
The solar boiler doesn’t even heat well during all seasons, mine still uses gas to back it up at least half the days.
Unfortunately in most countries in Europe the incentives for PV are much higher than solar water, which means we spend an awful lot of money supporting the least efficient of the two.
[citation required]
Unsubsidized PV is around €1 to €1.5 per Wp, IKEA offers 4200 Wp for €4321 right now. That saves at least €800 off my power bill.
A solar boiler starts at €2500 at minimum and easily goes up to €4000. It saves me €250 per year in gas. Or I could get a heat pump boiler for €1500 and save 80% of the €250.
Thermal solar was a thing when PV was stupid expensive but it makes no sense in ROI now, with PV you can power your hot water, home heat and everything else for about the same price as 2-3 solar heat collectors and a boiler.
You’re talking ROI. I’m talking efficiency. SHW is about 65%-70% efficient. PV is about 20% efficient.
Efficient with money means you get more of that world and environment as savings per dollar.
Would you choose paying €4000 to replace 600 kWh of heat pump boiler hot water with solar boiler, or 4000 kWh of basically a whole home’s energy usage including hot water?
The solar boiler doesn’t even heat well during all seasons, mine still uses gas to back it up at least half the days.