Let's do this.

@TechConnectify I've followed your channel for a while now and I have to say that this is probably your best video so far! From a European perspective it makes me very happy to hear people speak out about what's happening in your country. Thank you!

@TechConnectify mate this might be your magnum opus and you didn’t even mention the refrigeration cycle ONCE

@TechConnectify I need you to know every time I put on your videos, my fiance says "Oh is that dishwasher man? I recognise his dulcet tones".

@anthropy @TechConnectify The panels themselves are yeah, but due to decisions in politics we do face the fact the energy they produce can become worthless without a battery or a way to control them. So even though I got solar panels already I need to look into a several thousand euro investment to not pay for them being there that is very unlikely to pay back soon...

There is environmental reasons why I will, money just ain't everything with solar in The Netherlands at the moment.

@f4grx @BalooUriza @ysbreker @TechConnectify I think they meant the person who bought the tower coda, but iirc that was going to california, so no

@mattesilver @TechConnectify

Real data from the field tells us that 25 years is a low-ball conservative number. The oldest in continuous operation PV plant still running on the panels installed over 40 years ago still operates at well over 80% of fresh efficiency.

And PV tech has only gotten better and more durable.

Modern PV panels are sold with warranties of 30 years or longer on maintaining over 80% of their fresh conversion efficiency.

So yes, it's been accounted for.

@TechConnectify holy shit it is so good to hear this from you. I feel like your politics have always been so clear but hearing you say these things so clearly is still like the opposite of gaslighting. It feels so obvious to me how bad things are getting, and hearing someone whose other opinions I trust saying this with their full chest is lifegiving. Thank you.

@TechConnectify truly an excellent piece. many thanks for it.

@mattesilver @TechConnectify The most recent figues show that panels that were installed in the 80's are still at around 80% efficiency – that's after 40 years of use.

@TechConnectify I am a longtime follower who also always felt a special connection. Not only because of the interest in technology but because I also own a NeXT shirt (and the computer with which it came).

You open so many people’s eyes. This time it’s more important than ever. Even if it seems long, every minute of the video should be watched. All the way.

@TechConnectify During the energy crisis of the 70s Sweden went all-in on nuclear. During that period, home owners were told/incentivised (unsure) that they should also throw out their oil/coal/wood furnaces and go all-electric since it was and was going to be _so_ much cheaper. We built out a lot of electrical direct heating back then.

This has given us an amazing situation now. We're already big on heat pumps, giving us 4-5 times better efficiency compared to direct heating, and going solar is just to hook it all up since everyting is already electric.

@TechConnectify Looking in from Europe, all I can say is well said. I hope your words can fuel the change the US and the world needs. How can it be that we are able to pump billions into things like border protection, thugs, "AI"-Bullshit, but people can't get together and spend that money on energy independence ONCE?! It's maddening and so good to hear it articulated like this.

@maruno @TechConnectify I built my own 20kWh + 5kW off grid setup, batteries included, for about 2000 euros.

LFP cells cost about 40-100 per kWh, you just have to add a BMS, inverter and some cables.

The expensive part is people. Same goes for the panels; 5kw of panels is 500€, but getting them put on your roof and cabled and all that costs (sometimes tens of) thousands, because there aren't a lot of people who do it and they want a high profit margin.

Happy to show you how to do it though

@maruno @TechConnectify To even go further in this: getting a second hand electric car as your battery is even cheaper!

I got a 2013 Nissan Leaf for about 4k half a year ago, 24kWh worth batteries included, less than 70k KM on the odometer, 120KM range.

and I've driven thousands of kilometers to work and other placed in that thing already, so calculating what I saved in gasoline, assuming 6k km, which is about 300-500L gasoline, assuming 1.80€ per liter, is 540-900€, so I'm 1/4-1/2 break even!

@maruno @TechConnectify "wait but 4k is more than 1k"
correct! but I got a good car, you can get those Leafs and similar electric cars for around 2k if you look around a little, and it already got the BMS, charger, etc etc included; you're buying a complete package that you can just start using. If you compare that to having a premade 24kwh powerwall (~2500) installed by a professional (~5k+), then it is indeed cheaper to buy a second hand electric car.

@anthropy @TechConnectify Simply answered: my house is not off grid nor do I want that. But just getting this professionally done, for sanity but also following guidelines for insurance etc. blows up the costs. Electricians are not cheap to start with.

@maruno @TechConnectify It's honestly purely the electrician and convenience that really drives up the costs actually!

If you want a grid tie battery it's even easier, you can buy those plug-in ones that you can plug into any wall socket for around 1k, 2.5kwh (random example from the top of google search results: https://www.homewizard.com/nl/shop/plug-in-battery/ ) of course the more easy you make it for yourself, the more you pay convenience costs a lot of money, especially for these kinds things.

@anthropy Yeah, I am going to look at one of those however they have the downside that they are single phase. If I am a good boy and register the change I also need to register my current non-certified equipment and that probably won't end well. Plus the inverter is near the end of the life cycle already.

So we are still doubting between doing the legal/right thing of replacing this setup with an inverter/solar combo that is at least on the approved list or just being a bad citizen and take the risk. Going only single phase there are some cheaper options, but cause it causes grid imbalance not something too good and it will not solve our problems of dropout when the grid capacity is exceeded.

Our power company offers as solution for 7000 euro, excl. the needed additional costs for the meter cabinet (which I am definitely not touching and needs full replacement) something. I do think it is what most people will be looking at as an indication.

We will be leaning to something not so 'right' because it's insane, but at the same time my partner works for the grid provider... xD Perhaps his employer might be able to help do it right and chip in (though in exchange for privacy, they want all data then).

It's a messed up situation for sure though that everyone with solar panels will need to navigate within a year. xD

@TechConnectify I thought this video was already perfect before the fake ending happened, but everything that followed; Words fail me.

Alec, thank you for saying what you said. It shouldn't need to be you that said it. It's awful that things have become what they are. But what you said is what so many of your fellow countrymen already know. You've given them a voice.

I just hope we don't make the same mistake on my side of the Atlantic.

Stay safe
🇺🇲

@TechConnectify Absolutely brilliant and insightful commentary, both the economics and the politics. Well said.