[wolf78]

I am not sure about this project but residential solar if you are on the grid is a joke. Consider the basics of a solar system for my home in the Denver area. A 4.2 KW system costs about $33,000 with anticipated electricity cost savings of $700 per year yielding a pay back period close to 50 years. The system seems to be a poor way to generate electricity unless you are off the grid.

Seeing that the spot market price for solar modules is approx €2/$2.80 per watt, could you please elaborate what goes into the $33,000 (installation costs, profits, electricity storage etc.)? To me it seems to be a bit on the high side or a somewhat older price quote.

[businessprofessor]

It was a quote provided by a residential solar contractor in the Denver area. It includes the total cost of the system. I did call a representative from the local power company who dealt with the solar installations (independent power producers). She indicated that the total cost was inline with other contracts she had seen.

However, your point is on target. These contract prices are inflated because of the massive subsidies. Without subsidies, the contract price would have been at least 1/3 lower. Who really knows the cost of the solar systems with such large amounts of subsidies involved.