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Solar power

15K views 74 replies 19 participants last post by  bigpearl 
#1 ·
I've dabbled with small solar panels in the US, but here in the Philippines it seems like it could really be cost savings due to all the sun. I've searched on the internet a few companies here that have grid-tie and off-grid systems, but I really haven't seen any in actual use. Does anyone have any experience here with solar power or know of someone that does? thanks in advance.
 
#2 ·
the private owned power suppliers who finance the politicians election war chest see no incentive in popularizing solar / wind power .... and ensure no undue benefit is sought,... so no tax breaks / duty free privilege ...whilie the Filipino tree Huggers cry on BBC / CNN ... about global warming etc.,. while back home the firmly entrenched business families while funding the tree huggers also fund politicians so nothing happens ...

I recently enquired about micro wind turbines and solar panels for a hospital, .. the replies detailing the number of paperwork and legal red tape to clear made sure I lost interest

it is a no go unless the power generation companies do it for you ..
 
#4 ·
I recently enquired about micro wind turbines and solar panels for a hospital, .. the replies detailing the number of paperwork and legal red tape to clear made sure I lost interest

it is a no go unless the power generation companies do it for you ..
Is that maybe because it was a big project that got attention?

Would think a private homeowner could order some stuff and install it without all the drama?
 
#6 ·
I have seen the solar street lights in Palawan. I quickly determined that Ecotourism = no infrastructure but we want your money just the same.

I have also seen a couple of hotels using solar water heaters (Camayan Beach Resort and Wild Orchid Baloy). They work quite well. For me the cost savings is not enough. My tap water is 84-86 degrees routinely and I doubt that my water heater is hardly working to maintain the water hotter.

Bandasolar has a shop in the Subic Freeport across from the main police station. The have flyers all over the Freeport.

If was not where I am now and living in a remote area this would be a definite part of the tool kit. I am sure that maintaining a backup generator is costly.

I was just up in Illocos Norte for a brief respite. We revisited the wind turbine farm at Bangui. It looks to me that they are more than doubling the numbers that we saw a year and a half ago and I saw them building towers for carrying the electricity to the grid. It still wasn't operational. I can't imagine how much $ the politicians with a vested interest in that project are making for themselves.
 
#7 ·
Jon, If that shop in Subic that sells solar equipment has a website--please post it here.



Thanks

Jet Lag..
 
#11 ·
Thanks Jon, I'll find it. I'd love to disconnect from the power company for the most part. I've had enough of paying these outrageous pwr rates!
 
#9 ·
#10 ·
Although I'm a fan of solar energy, I have a 12 panel system on my house in the UK. The biggest problem in the Philippines is that you will likely need to run it off-grid with batteries as your storage. My Uk system back feeds the grid so I basically use the solar panels to top up what I take from the grid. On average the solar panels supply about 60% of my electricity. Anyway getting back to the Philippines, there are two problems both to do with heat. Solar panel output is apart from the amount of sun falling on them is also reliant of the heat of the panels. The hotter they get the less efficient they get, and the same with the batteries, the hotter they get the shorter their life. At 25 deg C a given battery may have a life expectancy of say 10 year. Increase the temperature by 8 degrees and you will half its life. So the same battery at 33 deg C will have a life expectancy of only 5 years. Hotter still and you see where I'm going. Finally you can't use car batteries for solar power as you need deep discharge batteries and they are much more expensive than car batteries. You don't want to be changing your shed full of batteries every few years.
 
#12 ·
Very good info as I know nothing about solar, but would start the research if serious about it lol.

To power the higher energy using devices like AC, fridge, electric oven if you have one, I'm sure the solar setup is more extensive and costs alot more. And seeing how lights and TV are probably a small percentage of the electric bill, is the solar setup price worth it to just run that part of the house? A buck's a buck, but if it takes 5 yrs to recoup and then you're changing batteries at 5 years what's the point?
 
#18 ·
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and experiences. I live in the southern province of Cebu and in the last few months, there has only been a few short brownouts, and 1 long outage. Even though I might just break even over the years, just the reliability of electricity "when" I need it would be my reason to go with solar. The batteries certainly would be my greatest concern. In my search, the solar products here in the Philippines really do seem high....but how difficult is it to import solar products from China?
 
#19 ·
I think solar is still at the stage of you use it if you have no other option. In somewhere like the Philippines payback should not even be considdered.

I know this doesn't apply to the Philippines but my nominally 2kw system including installation but no batteries, we run on grid, costs about $15,000. I get from the government about $0.70 for every kwH I produce and about $0.09 from the electricity company for every kwH I feed onto the grid. Payback is about 8-11 years.
 
#22 ·
I'm still hoping to get some info about getting solar products from China. I could take a trip there, buy a bunch of panels and accessories, then bring back on the plane, for additional baggage fees. BUT, since they would only be for personal use, would they be subject to Customs and VAT?
If I just order online, I was told I need to hire a Customs agent, pay for processing numerous documents, pay VAT, plus possibly port officials.
 
#25 ·
I met some people like a month ago whos starting up a solar power business. They're just fixing the documents to start the business but as he said they would be offering it to households in the near future but for now their gona meet with office buildings and other business establishments. I'll get an update on how its doing now
 
#28 ·
Gentlemen,

Go to CDR-King. They are nationwide and have a wide range of low cost china made solar panels and accessories.

Just make sure you do a good google search and get familiar with your project before you buy.

Speaking of OFF GRID, anyone know where I can get a Gasul or Solane (LP GAS) freezer? I prefer to make my own ice instead of buying it 30 kilometers away....

Ingat!

david
 
#31 ·
Most people have batteries that store energy........that's the whole reason for having solar, so you don't have to depend on the power company. you have your own power, independent of exterior source, for as long as your batteries last. Of course, if you are tied to the power grid with NO batteries, then the energy you generate from solar will just lower your consumption during the day, while at night you continue consumption through local power company.
 
#32 ·
The companies (one was Matec) I've spoken with in Manila all only have or push the grid type (no batteries) solar energy systems. From what I'm told when there is a brownout, the grid shuts down and to protect their workers, so will your inverter, thus no solar power available. Also, can anyone with solar energy confirm they've received credit for their excess energy from Meralco?
 
#35 ·
It appears systems like these/yours ONLY lower the consumption during the day, and ONLY operate when the grid is energized. These systems don't give you the best savings for your investment. Its much better to have the option of using your solar power even during brownouts. Even better is to have deep cycle batteries.
Peak loads are during the daytime for power companies, which could be the reason your system would function only during the daytime. Many small businesses also operate during daytime hours, which makes this design popular too.
Unfortunately, you won't get maximum savings from your investment, nor will you have emergency power during brownouts or at night.
 
#39 ·
The lifespan of solar panels is around 25 to 30 years before seeing a decline in efficiency. Homeowners typically recoup their investment in around six to 10 years. This means after paying off your solar panels, you'll likely benefit from an average of more than 16 years of savings on utility bills.
 
#43 ·
Much depending of location though. In Sweden its like 20 years inspite of subsidised :)
In Phils weather zone, how much clouds.

And much depending of battery need. (And connection to grid cost to not need (many) batteries if chose that alternative selling surplus.)
We will dimension batteries to manufactory to we almoat only work at daytime = 1 battery :)
 
#45 ·
@Howard_Z

My bad, a bit more info for you. Think I've gone through this here before here but roughly as follows.

In Oz 5 KW of panels on roof and connected to the grid via a smart meter, that meter measures incoming and outgoing demand, simply replaces the old meter and is a free service. Our bills used to be about AU 2,600 per year and after installation dropped the annual bill to AU 5/600. The supply and install on that system was AU 3,400 and back then the thinking government wanted more people to install solar and gave carbon credits and tax incentives that made it viable for the average punter like me, at that time 12/14 years ago decent batteries were cost prohibitive unlike now.

Around 31% of Aussie homes have solar in greater and lesser degrees.

Here different kettle of fish, no incentives and they tax the sh1t out of every component so here an 11.4 solar array, 4 x 10Kw LI02 batteries and 2 x 5Kw invertors with linking kit/load sharing supply and install was just under AU 38K.
We sized the system to produce 40 to 50Kw per day and enough storage to only drop the batteries to 50/60% capacity with overnight usage.
Prior to installation we were using around 23Kw per day with a monthly bill of P 10 to 11K per month with Luelco. We were careful with usage with general running and the master B/R A/C for 12/14 hours a day.
Now running 1 unit 24/7 and the office for 12 to 14 hours and the system is charged by 12 to 1pm and throttles back, yesterday we ran those 2 x 1HP units and a 2.5HP unit in the living area (fantastic) from 9am till 5pm and the batteries were fully charged by 2 pm and throttled back to 3KW for usage. Yesterday was 40KW input.
The max so far we see for input is 9.5 Kw per hour, rainy days 3 to 5 Kw. Rainy days less need for A/C.

The power company here wanted huge fees to grid tie, required running new cables and conduits 45/50 meters and a 4 to 6 month wait for them to install an extra meter, the buy back is 4 to 1 whereas Oz was 3 to 1. Costs to accomplish? Another P 150K,,,, 10Kw of battery is 185K. As mentioned before I asked the engineer that came here for the site inspection (Luelco) why an extra meter? We need that to measure what you put back sir,,,,,, you don't have smart meters? He looked at me stupid, explained that for 20 odd years Australia simply uses 1 meter and no need for extra cables and costs,,,,,, no sir I've never seen that.

So that's why we will be a 6/7 year ROI.

Cheers, Steve.
 
#46 ·
An add on Howard. Even though we are "off grid" we can throw 4 breakers and reconnect if something goes wrong with the solar.
Though we only pay 3 pesos per month for the meter charge I suppose while we pay they won't disconnect us so back up and we will sell the generator.

Cheers, Steve.
 
#48 ·
@Howard_Z

I am the average retired westerner and a 3 bed 2 bath home around 150M2 and our bill for near 3 years was 18/19Kwh per day, since the works and construction, bunk house with fridge, fans, charging etc. has averaged 22/3Kwh per day.
Now 300M2 5 bed 4 bath, powder room larger living areas we will consume 35 to 40Kwh per day, use it or lose it.

Sorry Howard, internet glitch,,,, repost.
 
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