Solar panels don't work in Tampa, Florida?????

[OperaHouse]

http://mediatrackers.org/florida/2014/07/30/solar-panels-tampa-courthouse-fail-meet-promises

"WFTS News in Tampa obtained copies of the courthouse's electricity bills and confirmed the savings are no more than about $2,000 per month. WFTS also confirmed the panels are reducing electricity bills by only 15 to 18 percent, instead of the promised 40 percent. At $27,000 per year, it would take 45 years to recover the solar panels' costs. Accounting for inflation, it would take closer to 50 years to recover the costs. However, solar panels have a typical lifespan of only 15 to 20 years. Also, the effectiveness of the panels decreases throughout the panels' lifespan. As a result, the Hillsborough County Courthouse solar panels are likely to return only about one-third of their inflation-adjusted cost."

[dnix71]

I was born and raised in Tampa. The article gives no real numbers. What make and rating, how the panels are grid-tied, etc. My guess is that the seller lied and used the name plate rating on the panels, which is a bs number. It also doesn't say how often the panels are cleaned. The dirty salt air in Tampa would cut output quickly unless the panels were kept clean. I had a family friend that lived in Apollo Beach and their cars were covered in ash fall from TECO's coal burner across the bay.

The article also doesn't say how the panels are angled. Mount them flat and they will cook if they are mounted below the roof line. Temp matters a lot if you are using amorphous. The article suggests they are because it says they can produce power in moonlight.

It sounds like a scam based on "free" federal gov't money. When you're spending your own money you tend to be more careful.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/08/30/how-not-to-do-a-solar-power-project-great-moments-in-solar-panel-engineering/  Better article here. The building is shaded by a taller buiding. This is professional malfeasance.