Solar Panels Are Generally Low Maintenance
The Energy Saving Trust says little maintenance is required on a properly installed, well-designed solar PV system, though youâll likely need to replace the inverter a gadget which is a key part of the mechanism within about 25 years .
Of course, though, things can go wrong. If so, check the installer warranty you get it can cover you for up to 20 yeas. If the panels are damaged by something unexpected, like a storm, you may also be covered by buildings insurance check with your insurer before you have them installed.
What They Mean By Free Solar Panels
Welcome To Free Solar Panels Now!
Are you are trying to decide if going solar is right for you? If so you have come to the right place.
Check out solar programs, government incentives and creative projects to make the most out of going solar.
If solar is a good fit for your home, you might just be able to get setup with your own free solar panels!
Final Thoughts On Free Solar Panels
Free solar panels in New Mexico may seem like a great option, but before you decide to sign on the dotted line, make sure you go over all the financial options available to you and get quotes from solar installers like New Mexico Water & Electric.
Free solar panels may be a good fit for you if you dont have the up-front cash to cover installation or you dont qualify for a loan or government tax credits.
If you decide to purchase solar panels, either directly or through a loan, youll receive the most significant long-term electric bill savings. Additionally, youll own your solar panel system and can take advantage of tax credits and incentives offered by the federal government.
Free solar panel programs do not give you these same advantages, but they do offer access to solar electricity to homeowners who may not have otherwise had it.
Now that youre aware of what free solar panels are and whats involved in the agreements, you can make an informed buying decision.
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Whats The Catch With Free Solar Panels
Have you seen installers advertising free solar panels for your home, and youre left wondering if its a scam or not? While it may seem like a shady sales tactic, many installers actually do install solar panels without upfront costs! But, like many things that sound too good to be true , theres a catch.
Youll find they usually have two financing options: solar power purchase agreements or solar leases. In both cases, these are long-term contracts with the solar installation company, agreeing that you will pay the solar company each month for the solar energy produced. For both options, these leases usually last for 20-25 years.
Local And Federal Tax Incentives
Solar tax incentives and rebates are offered on the federal and state levels. For example, the federal tax credit offers a 26% credit on installing residential solar systems through the solar investment tax credit .
Other solar incentives vary from state to state. For example, Florida offers homeowners the Property Tax Abatement for Renewable Energy Property. This incentive adds more value to your solar installation through a 100% property tax exemption for residential renewable energy property, as well as an 80% property tax abatement for nonresidential renewable energy property.
We encourage you to use the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency to learn what other rebates and solar tax credits are available in your state.
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How Can My Local Solar Company Offer Free Solar Panels
Weve already told you that free solar panels dont exist. So why do you see local installation companies advertising free solar panels? Why are their solar panels free?
These solar panels arent really free. However, you may not pay an upfront installation cost for the solar panels which is why companies can advertise the panels as free.
Obviously, theres a big catch to these free solar panels. Typically, these solar panels are part of solar leases and power purchase agreements. The company will install solar panels on your roof at no cost to you. That sounds great! You get a complete solar panel system without needing to pay $15,000 upfront.
However, the catch is that you dont technically own the solar energy system on your home, and the solar energy produced by the panels isnt free. When you sign one of these lease agreements, youre agreeing to buy energy from the solar panel company for a fixed number of years.
In laymans terms, the company has built a small power plant on your roof, and is selling you the electricity.
With leases and power purchase agreements, you may be locked into a contract for 15 or 20 years. This contract is part of your home. When you sell the home, youll need to either break your contract or convince the new homeowner to take over the existing solar panel lease.
Is Solar In Texas Worth It
If you want to save money and help the environment at the same time, solar panels are an excellent investment. With Texass vast amount of sun exposure coupled with our many cost-effective incentives for going green in energy production there really isnt any reason not makes this move.
Solar is worth it in any state of the US, but solar trends nationwide are showing that Texas has some of the best values for energy savings.
An average residential electric bill in TX was over 20% lower than the national average, and all rates were at least 8% lower. If you live in a nearby state or region for example, North Carolina your monthly output would be even higher since sunlight reaches this region an hour earlier.
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Free Solar Panels Are They Really Free
Some ads on Facebook and other social media platforms tout free solar or free electricity, claiming the local utility provider or the state government will pay for the cost of a solar system.
Other ads feature buzzwords like NO-COST, or ZERO UPFRONT COST trying to entice people to click their hard-to-believe offers.
These ads are deceptive. There are no free solar power systems.
There Are A Lot Of Solar Companies That Say You Can Get Solar Panels Installed On Your Home For Free How Legit Is This
A salesperson knocks on your door and tells you that you can get solar panels installed on your home for free. Sounds too good to be true, doesnt it?
It is. When a solar company pitches you on free solar panels for your home, they are referring to a solar lease or power purchase agreement that requires no payment upfront. The company will install the solar array on your home, and you get to use the solar electricity it generates. Its no-money-down but the deal is not free: you pay a monthly fee for the use of the solar system. Typically, the contract includes a fixed cost increase. In fact, after several years customers sometimes pay more for electricity than their utility rate.
Leases and PPAs are similar financing schemes, and which one you are offered depends on the state you live in. With a lease, you pay a fixed amount every month. With a PPA, you pay for the electricity that is generated by the solar panels. In both cases, you dont own the solar array – the installer does. Essentially, you are renting the system.
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The Complete Guide To Get Free Solar Panels In 2021
I dont know about you, but Ive been thinking about installing solar panels for a while now. Solar systems are becoming much more efficient, and it feels that the time is right to kit out my home with a renewable energy source that will save me money and help the environment.
Id heard that there are ways to get government subsidies and maybe even get solar panels for free. When you look into the detail, As you can probably imagine, the story is a little more complicated. But there are some excellent incentives from the government to help you get started with a solar system.
Ive done a ton of research that I want to share with you about how to get free solar panels from the government.
Free Solar Panels: Is It Still Possible In 2021
Free solar panels surely theyre all free anyway because the money you make from them over 25 years is more than the money youll outlay?
Yes thats true. However, many people really do want to have a solar panel system installed on their properties but its the upfront cost that puts them off. You eventually make your money back and a little on top.
If thats your situation, is there any solar panel funding available? What about for your business?
What can you do to get the solar panel system you want for your property? Is there a local solar scheme in your area?
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Federal Solar Investment Tax Credits
There are federal tax incentives to installing a solar system in 2022 if you meet the criteria established by the U.S. Department of Energy: you must own your home , the solar panels must be new or are being used for the first time, and you must own your solar panels.
The solar investment tax credit means that you can claim 26% of your total project costs as a credit on your federal tax return. This is different from a tax refund you must owe taxes to be eligible and claim the reduction in what you owe.
The federal solar investment tax credit is available to all states at 26% for home solar systems that are purchased and installed by December 31, 2022, and decreases to 22% in 2023.
What About The Feed
The Feed-in Tariff was a government initiative that paid households for every kilowatt hour of electricity that they produced from renewable sources, also known as the Generation Tariff. On top of this, homeowners were also able to sell any unused electricity to the National Grid .
The Feed-in Tariff was a huge success. Between 2010 and 2017, the UKs renewable energy capacity rose from 9.3 gigawatts to a massive 38.9 gigawatts.
The Feed-in Tariff concluded in April 2019, but anybody who signed up before the deadline will still receive payments until their contract expires.
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When Are Solar Panels Worth It
There are various ways solar panels pay off, ranging from reducing your carbon footprint to increasing your homes value. Recently, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that for a home with a solar power system, every dollar saved on energy increases a homes value by $20. That is a 20-to-1 return on investment .
Here are some factors to help you maximize the value of your solar investment.
Federal And Local Solar Incentives That Lower The Upfront Cost Of Solar
The main takeaway when considering a no cost solar program or PPA is that you dont own the solar panel system on your roofthe installer does. Most agreements are structured in a way that heavily benefits the installer, and it allows them to claim the Federal Investment Tax Credit , as well as any local incentives, for going solar.
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Local And State Solar Incentives Dont Really Exist
That state of California offers no solar incentive programs. However, there is a state assistance program which helps low-income households acquire a solar systemSingle-family Affordable Solar Homes Program, or SASH. They provide low-to-no-cost solar systems for qualifying families. They even task volunteers and trainees with installing the system in order to get them some real-world experience. You can learn more about SASH and how to apply on their website.
There are no incentives for solar buyers on the county or city level either.
The only place you might find money-saving opportunities is with your utility provider. For example, SMUD currently offers a $300 incentive for homeowners that purchase solar. And in Riverside County, Rancho Mirage Energy Authority will provide a $500 rebate to cover the cost of acquiring permits.
You can also take advantage of net energy metering, a program which most utility providers offer. This incentive program allows you to sell the energy produced by your solar system to the utility grid. Youll receive a credit on your bill based on how much energy your system generated for the grid.
Once 2022 rolls around, the ITC will no longer exist. If youre in the market for solar, act now! Contact Ilum Solar today and we will be happy to discuss installing a solar system on your home or business.
Why Would They Offer Free Panels
Simple, they can still make good profits from receiving the FIT or NIROC payments in addition to the fee they receive for selling any unused electricity back to the grid.
So, just to make sure were clear, you get free panels on your roof plus you get to use as much of the free electricity as you can.
Don’t get me wrong. For many of us who can’t afford residential solar panels to produce electricity, this system can be fantastic, as it can halve the cost of your annual electricity bill.
But, as with most things there’s a little more to it.
All the firms offering the free panels will have them fitted by a MCS registered installer, otherwise the installation won’t be eligible for the FIT or NIROC scheme and the company won’t get its payments.
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What Is All This About The Government Paying For Your Solar Panels
We have all heard the pitch before. Get free solar from the government! or The federal government will pay you to put solar panels on your house!
There is a lot of truth to this statement, but the whole free solar thing is misleading at the very least.
The basis for this claim is that most solar programs require no money down and no out-of-pocket expenses upfront. The first bill or payment you will receive comes after your solar is installed and is typically less expensive than your current electric bill and will replace your electric bill.
What Is The Smart Export Guarantee
The Smart Export Guarantee is a government-backed initiative that compels large energy suppliers to pay homeowners for renewable energy they send back to the National Grid.
If you produce energy with solar panels, wind turbines, micro combined heat and power, hydro, or anaerobic digestion, you can request payments from one of more than a dozen companies.
SEG began in January 2020 as a replacement for the defunct Feed-in Tariff , but works differently mainly because it puts the responsibility on consumers to choose the best rate.
Its especially profitable for anyone with solar panels, because unless you have a solar battery, youll likely export half of your power back to the Grid so why not get paid for it?
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Why Efficiency Is Important Rooftop Solar Systems
Panel efficiency is a considerable factor to ensure the quality of the system and also in terms of return on Investment. In addition to that, you can effectively maximize the utility of the available roof space. The less efficient panel may cause an increase in the number of cells in your solar system.
If you have boundless space and are ground-mounting solar panels in a field or empty lot, efficiency matters less compared to the rooftop installation, where getting the most out of limited space is important.
Solar Leases And Ppas
choosing to go with a solar lease or PPA may be something worth considering for certain homeowners. The biggest selling point here is that there is no upfront cost, but beware that the value is dampened by the solar company who takes out their cut of your savings each month. By the end of your warranty period, the lease or PPA will have taken up more than half of your potential savings as profits for the solar installer.
Take a deeper dive into the different solar financing options in this article.
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What Is Bad About Solar Energy
When some people think of solar energy, they think of toxic materials and leaks. But modern day panels are non-hazardous, Cohen said. The same is true for batteries that help to store solar electricity so it can be used at night or during inclement weather. The batteries are mostly lithium-based like what is used in smartphones, Cohen said, and do not have a history of leaking.
With both utility and rooftop solar, some people also dont want to look at the panels they consider them an eyesore. But many times the panels can be hidden with setbacks, landscaping or different films that make them less noticeable.
One of the other main issues for rooftop solar is that not everyone has the ability to install panels on their own roof, Schalk said. That could be because there isnt enough room, the roof faces the wrong direction for the panels to get sunlight, or there is a Homeowners Association that restricts the ability to install solar panels. It could also be a situation where someone cant afford the installation cost or lives in a building where they dont own their roof.
The good news is that many of those barriers can be lowered through good policy, Schalk said.
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