[taneem]

Why is it a good idea to get off the grid? Genuinely curious. I would think that a networked connection of energy input/output nodes that is globally optimized would be a good thing. Not sure why it's better for anyone to have every node (home) operate independently.

[yardie]

1 reason is you don't have to deal with the red tape of the ILEC. I've read a few stories of people installing solar onto their house. Then, when it's time to tie into the grid the electric company won't certify the install or drags their feet for months.

Even if you do get it tied in any new changes require recertification. I can understand the position of the ILEC. The homeowner just wants to get up and running quickly. The electric company wants to ensure the stability of the grid.

[sokoloff]

In places with net metering, the electric company often seems more interested in the profitability of the grid, which tends to delay approvals.

[snowwindwaves]

The article says 2/3 of the power bill was network connection cost.

[mrweasel]

>Why is it a good idea to get off the grid?

It's not necessarily. If you use solar cells in your home, CO2 emission is something like 180g per kWh. In that case you'd be better of getting you power from the grid, if you can buy power from wind farms or nuclear power plant. It's better than coal, but only marginally better than natural gas.

If you happen to live in a country where you'll need heating for large parts of the year, it also pretty hard to beat the efficiency of a large district heating plant.

[jonathankoren]

It always struck me more as an engineer rig problem to solve. Sure there's an environmental aspect about divesting from fossil fuels, but the real appeal always struck me as engaging in the romanticism of being off on your own in the middle of nowhere and independent.

Sure making your apartment energy independent doesn't have to the romanticism, but it still has the engineering problem.

[honua]

That's an interesting question and something I hadn't thought about. I think the biggest motivation for going off-grid is the relatively cleaner outcome. I.e. the control over the source/production (e.g. solar vs coal). So overall my guess is that the intent isn't to operate independent nodes but moreover to have control over the way the electricity is produced.

[wtetzner]

Transporting power isn't cheap. If you can generate the power where you need it, then you eliminate the need to transport it.

[samuellb]

I don't know about Spain in particular, but to me it feels that apartment electricity is massively overpowered (in terms of the effect). In my country the max effect for apartments is 3x16 A = 11 kW. My consumption is 35-40 kWh/month. Unsurprisingly I pay more for the grid connection and the effect, than the actual energy production.

Ok, if I max out my stove completely it could _theoretically_ reach around 10 kW, but only if all four burners AND the oven are turned on at the same time.

It feels like it would be a better idea to install a battery in high-effect appliances to spread out the consumption over the day, than having a guaranteed 11 kW effect available 24/7/365 just in case... (and not everybody needs a stove with four burners, or even reliable power)