[quote=Jacarandoso]Thanks AN, That is clearer. It is potentially all hope as far as I am concerned. There is no chance I am getting this thing for $3000. I do think when, and if it ever gets scaled down, then we can compare apples to apples. The inefficiencies of one off sites is going to drive the cost up for almost any technology, while panels are coming down. Also the maintenance issues with other technologies has to be considered. I will look at the videos when I have more time. I was looking at the websites you provided the last time this thread was up.[/quote]
It’s not all hope. There’s already 1 system for residential out there from ClearEdge Power, the ClearEdge5. They didn’t have a price on their website, so I can’t say how close it is to $3k. Here’s a quote from a user who have ClearEdge5 system in their house:
[quote=CE5 user]I have one of the CE5 units installed at my house. Runs well. Company support excellent payback 3.5 years. Can be used as backup generator also which is a nice feature. Simple install. I highly encourage anyone looking at shaving costs from pge to look at it.[/quote] I think 3.5 years to break even is quite enticing. I would love to jump in but my intuition is telling me these green solution will get cheaper as the tech mature, which would reduce the break even point even further. He also claim that his CE5 can be used as a generator. That would have been super sweet a few weeks ago when we had the black outs.
I don’t think you can ever get a apple to apple comparison, since fuel cell still require NG to work, while solar you do not. But then, the CE5 system can be used as a generator, so a closer to apple to apple comparison would be the CE5 vs the solar system that have a battery pack as well (system where you can be almost 100% off the grid). FC is not as green as solar, but it’s cheaper.
