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Bright Saver, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, aims to bring the European balcony solar trend to U.S. homes with low-cost, plug-in systems that require no interconnection and no permits in some places (pv-magazine-usa.com)

submitted 4 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

This is an innovative model. They are working with people on low incomes, renters and apartment dwellers. All people cut out of traditional rooftop solar. People will be paying $35 a month for two free-standing 7 by 4 feet panels. There doesn't seem to be any upfront cost, though a qualified electrician needs to install them.

If those two panels generate more than $35 worth of electricity a month, then this seems like a no brainer.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

The only problem here is the dumb subscription model

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 weeks ago

I guess the hardware is just leased? That means the company gets all the tax credits…

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

They mention people will own them outright after 6 years. So it's free electricity from that point onwards.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

You can also buy the system outright for $1850, which is solid for 800W and the professional electrician install they need for power sensing and anti-islanding requirements to prevent power from being fed back to the grid.

The panels are worth about $500, so you're mainly paying for the electrician in the above.