Solar pannels on the sawmill roof

[Sawyerfortyish]

My roof is 32'from the bottom to the peak and 104' long and I think it faces the sun just about right for solar power. I delivered firewood to guy that had solar pannels  in his yard. He told me that the goverment payed 60% of the cost for solar pannels and it cost him 0 out of his pocket to get them. He said he has to pay about what he paid for electric each month for 10 years then they are paid for. He said the first day he got up at sunrise and watched the electric meter spinning then slow down then start spinning backwards at whitch he was selling power back to power and light. I'm going to look into this as my power bill has gotten pretty steep with 2 kilns running and all the moters and air compressor in the mill. Does anyone have solar power at there home ? Can anyone give me some insight on this govt. program for alternative energy. I really hate getting involved with anything with the govt. But hay if it cuts the bills back you gotta do what you can

[cantcutter]

Buyback laws and government rebates are run state by state....It is not a federal program.....yet

Last time I counted there where only about 5 states with buyback laws. The fed rebates are up to 30 % but capped at 2000.00 I think...you have to watch the companies selling and installing as they sometimes forget to mention the cap.

[DKinWA]

I saw a show on some new solar cell technology that could significantly reduce the cost of solar power.  The cells were incorporated in a thin plastic like material which could be rolled out on a flat surface.  If I remember correctly, they thought once it was mass produced it'd be half the cost of current solar cell technology.  Unfortunately, I deleted the link to the company that's developing it.  It was really interesting and they were talking about incorporating it into roofing materials.  The developer thought they might get it into production in the next couple of years.  I hope it works, because we could really use a boost in solar technology and I hope this is it.

[Radar67]

I read an article recently where they already had solar cells incorporated into roofing material. Can't remember if it was Mother Earth News or a Solar Power magazine I found online. It is real interesting technology, but still quite expensive.

[stonebroke]

If you have a location with wind, That is much more cost effective.

Stonebroke

[Sawyerfortyish]

A guy about a mile away wanted to set up an old windmill and one of his neighbors had a fit so the town put a stop to anyone wanting to put up windmills. The worst part is this guys house couldn't be seen from any road or that neighbors house that stopped him. He's a half mile away from anything. Dang yuppie from the city. I own two mountains on my farm that would be perfect for windmills. But whats got my attention about solar power is the fact that the govt (either state or federal)will pay 60% of the cost to promote it.

[stonebroke]

In NYS the state will pay up to 60% on wind power also.

Stonebroke

[jpgreen]

And people think California is bad.. 

I would go after that idiot. Far as cost the best bang for your buck in power generation starts with:

1. Hydro
2. Wind
3. Solar

One thing solar has going for it is no moving parts, and quality panels if not broken are looking like a lifetime shelf life.  Can't wear em' out.

[Furby]

We are supposed to have a company near here making those film type solar cells, but I don't have any info on the company, it's been a good while since it was on the news.

[beenthere]

Is this Powerfilm company what you are discussing?

http://store.sundancesolar.com/powulflexthi.html

[DKinWA]

The company that I watched and read about started with a "K", but it sure looks like the stuff sold by powerfilm.  The machines were making rolls of the stuff about three feet wide.  They had one roll on a machine that looked like a roll of roofing felt and it was enough to cover a big roof.

I'm a year or two away before I get to build a shop and I'd really like to put solar panels on the roof if I can afford to.  It will be interesting to see where the price is on this stuff when I'm ready to build.

[Ron Wenrich]

I saw one on Scientific Frontiers on PBS that had Stan Ovshinsky on.  They have been making thin film photovoltaics for a rather long time.  They have been using it in roofing materials.  They were putting them onto rolls and making them up to a mile long.  I have no idea where it is available on a commercial basis.  Here's a link to their site:

http://www.ovonic.com/eb_so_united_solar_ovonic_greenville_plant.cfm

I also saw one on NOVA where a guy is working on having paint that acts like a solar cell.  His work isn't quite there yet.

[Radar67]

Here is a link to the material I refered to earlier.

http://www.oksolar.com/roof/

[DKinWA]

It's raining and blowing like crazy and I just got back in from covering up the mill.  I got soaked in about 20 minutes, so it looks like I'll be inside today.  At least the links will give me something to read for awhile or at least until the power goes out

[jpgreen]

Here's another great study for anyone wanting to learn about solar and components:

http://www.backwoodssolar.com/


.......

[Coon]

This past spring I read some about solar shingles.  They seem very justifyable for the fact they take the place of the shingles.  These solar shingles (forget the name of em) come in 10 ft long strips and are just simply linked together with a simple plug.  Can't remember how many watts of power they collected or put out but I will see if I can find the info as I am seriously thinking about purchasing enough to do the south side of our house roof when the shingles need replacing in a year or two.

[Hi-Country Orange]

Coon:  do you know how snow & ice sliding down the roof might effect the connecting plugs ??

[Radar67]

The connecting plugs are concealed under the shingle above. The snow and ice should not effect them.

[Coon]

Radar is correct.  The connecting clips are very thin to begin with and are covered by the shingle above.  Think it would be a really good investment.

[Hi-Country Orange]

thanx for the info guys