My OperaThieves of solar panels
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:48:35 AM
The price of raw materials has increased a lot during years and then things like stealing wires from the rail roads for retrieving copper has become relatively common here.
Now there is a new trend for more professional thieves, stealing solar panels.
While photovoltaic solar panels are getting increasingly popular on italian buildings, it seems some people are organizing crews to get over the roof at night and take down the expensive panels.
Then the stolen panels are sold in other countries, probably north Africa, for about 1/3 of the original price. I am reading the new solar panels get an unique ID the first time they get online in the national power grid so they can't be reused in Italy but I don't know if this is true.
Now there is a new trend for more professional thieves, stealing solar panels.
While photovoltaic solar panels are getting increasingly popular on italian buildings, it seems some people are organizing crews to get over the roof at night and take down the expensive panels.
Then the stolen panels are sold in other countries, probably north Africa, for about 1/3 of the original price. I am reading the new solar panels get an unique ID the first time they get online in the national power grid so they can't be reused in Italy but I don't know if this is true.
starree # Thursday, September 17, 2009 12:52:22 AM
(like it takes you 20 years to pay them off if you want to put them on your house, and what are the odds you'll still be living in that house)
Lorenzo CelsiLorenzoCelsi # Thursday, September 17, 2009 6:11:18 AM
Anyway I am reading the current cost should be 4,50/6,00 €/Wp (Euro per Watt) and the best panels require about 5 squared meters to produce about 1000Wp (average about 7 squared meters).
Then, the best panels start with an efficiency of about 15% but every year they lose some of their capacity so the lifespan is about 20-30 years and after that you must change them. I think they come with a guarantee of 80% performance after 20 years.
Basically photovoltaic panels suck
See, investing money in the solar panels depends on the price of energy where you live. This takes us back to the discussion about different life styles in US and Europe/Italy.
starree # Thursday, September 17, 2009 5:46:18 PM
Shaunak DeShaunak # Saturday, September 19, 2009 4:44:40 PM