Are solar cells ever worth the investment?

Question

I used a solar power calculator on SharpUSA. And found that $50,000 worth of solar cells would save only $500 per year in costs. Is it possible to sell these kinds of new technologies? That would take 35 years to payback. With the economy about to break, how can we make the change, with 35 years payback? Man this isnt gonna work.

Answer 1

Solar water heaters are worth it.  People have been using them for decades.

Answer 2

Who cares about money!? All you should care about is conserving energy so the Earth won't blow up!

Answer 3

I have only recently begun to look at solar and found a link to a company that sells systems for different home and business applications.  Here's a link to one of the setups they offer for a modest home for a family of 3 or 4:

http://www.sunenergyusa.com/html/home.ht...

According to the site, for $12-18,000 you can meet 'most' of your electric needs with it.  If that's true, this one example implies that solar is certainly more cost-effective than I had previously thought.  (I have no connection of any sort with the company in this link.)  Perhaps there is enough information there to provide you with a better answer than you have found so far.  I don't know enough about solar and my use of KW/Hs to make a buying decision or anything yet...but I'm interested.  How does it look to you?

Answer 4

I have only $5000 in to my solar set up O but then I installed and have done all the up keep my self I use 12 volt DC  and 120 ac. I spend $300 to $500 a year with add on's. It has been paying for it self..

I am not off the grid but I don't mind getting Elc.  bills as low as $20

Start small do what you can your self And have fun with it

Pick the panel you want and buy one set it up get a battery

and a small inverter and play see what the one will do.

Yard lights  window fans  TV.  SAVE AS YOU PLAY..