OUR SOLAR ARRAY IS PEAKING AT OVER 80 KWH A DAY! BUT WAS OUR INVESTMENT WORTH IT?

EV Channels Review

This video delves into the practicalities and financial viability of a large-scale residential solar panel installation, focusing on the presenter's 15.02 kWp system. The presenter highlights the significant energy demands of their home, driven by a production studio, server room, and multiple electric vehicles. Despite initial concerns about shading from surrounding trees, the system, equipped with Enphase IQ7 microinverters, has generated an impressive 60 megawatt-hours since its spring 2021 commissioning. The presenter acknowledges a slight degradation in annual energy output but attributes monthly variations primarily to weather. Financially, the $33,000 installation was offset by a $7,000 federal tax credit and a $4,000 local incentive, with the remainder financed. The presenter emphasizes that the monthly loan payment, combined with electricity costs, is still less than their previous mortgage, projecting full payoff by mid-2028. The review concludes that the investment is worthwhile for those with high energy needs, working from home, and in areas with favorable net metering or feed-in tariff programs, especially given the rising cost of grid electricity.