I just dug up an email from 2004.
If you take option 3.
Add US$2K for batteries and maybe another US$5K for 2 inverters.
Your looking at a fortune as these prices are only for 9kWh/day.
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Here are several options with varying levels of independence from the
grid. The prices here are for panels, control boxes, roof mounting
structure, battery cabinets, and all the essential accessories like
breakers, module connections, fuses, wiring, etc. that's necessary for
installation.
Components for installing the entire system--minus
batteries and inverter--are included in this price, but we'll need some
roof details and installation parameters before we can give you our
installation quote.
As we've mentioned already, it looks like your basic consumption runs
around 9kWh/day (assuming 4 computers, 2 fans, and 3 low-consumption
lights for 8 hours each day.)
Option 1: 4.5 kWh/day from solar
Price: US $10,430 + itbis
You'll produce half of your total energy needs. The solar array can
supply 50%, but the other part has to be supplied through the grid by
recharging the batteries. If the apagones come during the full 8 hours
of your work day, you'll still have problems if you don't cut back your
consumption. Assuming that you have grid power for at least a few hours
a day to help recharge your batteries, this system should serve you well
and fill the gaps during the apagones.
Option 2: 6 kWh/day from solar
Price: US $13,590 + itbis
Same description as above, but this time the solar array is supplying
66% of your needs. You'll be able to ride out most long apagones, and,
incidentally, this is the size of system you'd need if you decided to
work only 5 days/week instead of 7. Those extra two days would give the
panels a chance to charge up your batteries while you wouldn't be using
any energy.
Option 3: 9 kWh/day from solar
Price: US $19,750 + itbis
In this case you're supplying all of your office's essential
electricity. I emphasize that this system has been designed in order to
COMPLETELY fill your energy needs (assuming computers + fans + lights 8
hours/day, 7 days/week.) It has a battery bank that will support 3 days
without sun, and will treat your batteries well by never discharging
them to more than 50% of their capacity so they'll last much longer.)
If you're thinking of staying connected to the grid and believe that the
luz will come on at least a little bit, then you might think about
cutting down the size of this system. That said, there is a certain
sigh of relief knowing that you never have to deal with apagones or gas
shortages for your planta.
I'll look forward to hearing back from you, and I'll be happy to clarify
anything I've laid out here.
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