An interesting report from Maryland USA on rooftop V utility solar.
The authors - or maybe the journalist reporting - preen over the economic benefits of rooftop installs.
"An analysis submitted to Maryland regulators found that distributed solar’s economic benefits – mostly labor associated revenue – was worth six times the value of the electricity to the grid."
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2018/04/13/maryland-report-shows-distributed-solars-real-power-is-people/Look at this study another way: the capital cost of installing rooftop solar is many times that of utility solar and gains mostly accrue to labour - the panel retailers, panel installers and electricians wiring them up.
While Maryland is a lot less sunny than mainland Australia, a significant cost difference still exists.
Those with long memories may recall my insistent warnings against utility solar as it competes directly with price insensitive rooftop solar installed in part for social reasons. IFN has the Capital experimental 120Kw solar farm and has shown no further interest in solar. Their actions show utility wind produces superior returns.
Ash
(20min delay)