Can You Negotiate Solar Panels

How Much Will Solar Continue To Grow In The United States

The growth of renewable energy has been driven by two things: better technology and an increasing manufacturing volumes. Together, these forces have driven down the price of solar electricity so much that it is on par with gas and coal, or even cheaper in many cases.

Second, the majority of people live in states that have a renewable portfolio standard . An RPS is a mandate from the state government that a certain percentage of the stateâs electricity must come from renewable sources.

These mandates are important for the price of solar because it means there will be a guaranteed market for photovoltaics in the future. By increasing the demand, weâll see the price of solar panels to continue to drop.

Secure The Best Financing

Buying

Solar companies will help provide you with financing options. A home mortgage loan is a great way to finance solar and will allow you to secure the best possible terms on your loan.

Record the interest rate on your loan offer. Be sure to note whether the rate is variable or fixed. All things equal, select a loan with a fixed interest rate.

Leasing & PPAs

Instead of purchasing a system, some homeowners rent their roof space to a company using a Power Purchase Agreement . Under this agreement, the homeowner agrees to purchases the energy produced by the system at a discounted rate.

To get the best electricity prices under a PPA, its important to compare multiple companies. All things equal, select the company that offers the lowest electricity prices.

Are There Alternative Places To Install Solar Panels On A Mobile Home

If you cannot put solar panels on the roof, that does not mean you have to give up on solar power. Here are some ideas.

The first option is to install the panels on another structure close by, like a pergola, a patio or even a shed. Once set up, you can connect these panels to your main house.

If your property has a sizeable land area, consider a ground mounted solar installation. In a grounded configuration, a structure is set up where the solar panels can be installed. If your local building code allows this, it is the best alternative to rooftop solar panels.

Keep in mind that ground mount solar panels cost more than rooftop panels to install. Their output is also lower because they are further from the sun. However, it is the most practical option if you want solar power for your mobile home.

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Get Clarity On The Warranty And Ensure Its Part Of The Price

You can always negotiate with your contractor on the price of a successful project before signing a contract. Discuss your budget with your solar contractor. Agree that any unexpected project expenses will be presented in writing to help you remain within your budget. Surprises, in other words, shouldnt surprise you or your contractor, and they should definitely not surprise your investment.

Warranties will also impact your quoted cost. Most installers offer manufacturers warranties that protect you from faulty equipment. Some might offer additional guarantees for the installation, as well, covering potential damage to your house. Be sure the quoted warranty is clear in what it coversand in what it doesnt. Additionally, use the warranty as a bargaining chip.

A lower price should elicit a short length warranty and a higher price one that is longer. A 50-year warranty might be too long and a two-year warranty might be too short. The particulars of your system and your solar energy needs dictate these numbers more than anything else. Discuss them thoroughly with your contractor.

Parking In The Shade Can Be Tricky

On a hot summer day, youre probably dreaming of parking the RV in a nicely shaded campsite out of the blistering hot sun. However, if you have installed solar panels on your roof, they wont generate nearly as much power if they are not getting direct sunlight.

Portable solar power units might give you the best of both worlds IF you dont need tons of power. Its often easier to set up since it doesnt require drilling holes in your roof. Quality portable solar electric systems are made by Renogy, Acopower, and Eco-worthy. Goal Zero also makes portable power stations, to use with their solar panels. Whats nice is they have a built-in inverter and outlets for your electronics. Do you already own rooftop panels? Check out this easy mod from Do It Yourself RV on how to make them portable.

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Submit Your Connection Application

To get your system connected to our network, you need to apply for a new connection contract with us. As technical information is required, its a good idea to have your system retailer apply for you. Otherwise you, or someone on your behalf, can apply via Customer Self Service.

There is an option to fast-track your application in some cases read more below in Step 3.

Check the progress of your connection application in Track Service Orders.

If you still have questions, you can call our Solar Team on or .

When we receive your application, well check if the connection service needed for your system is basic or negotiated. We may also assess if the local network can support your new system.

Please note: The person who applies is usually the person we contact during the connection process.

Hardware Costs Versus Soft Costs

When you think about a solar system, you might think that itâs the hardware that makes up most of the expense: the racking, wiring, inverters, and of course the solar panels themselves.

In fact, hardware accounts for only 36% of the cost of a home solar system. The rest is taken up by soft costs, which are other expenses that the solar installer must bear. These include everything from installation labor and permitting, to customer acquistion , to general overhead .

Soft costs have been dropping, but not as dramatically as hardware costs, as shown in the graphs below:

Youâll also notice that soft costs become a smaller percentage of system costs as the system size increases. This is especially true as you go from residential to utility scale projects, but large residential systems generally also have a lower price-per-watt than small systems. This is because many costs, such as permitting and customer acquistion, are fixed and donât vary much with the system size.

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Flooring Contractor From San Diego California

I am in escrow on a property that has a solar lease agreement in place with a company called SunRun. The property was foreclosed, so the agreement appears to be null and void, though we have the option of assuming the contract if we want to. We plan to be in the home for 2-3 while remodeling it.

Here how it works. SunRun owns and maintains the solar equipment, which produces and average of 650 kWh per month, and we would be obligated to purchase ALL of the power produced by the system at $.25/kWh. Our payments to SunRun would have nothing to do with the amount of energy the home consumes. Compared to the tiered rate structure of SDG& E, the breakeven point is at around 850 kWh per month. The company claims that they average historical usage of this home is around 1000 kWh/mo. I don’t plan to use that much while living in the home, but maybe a potential buyer would, and would like to have the system in place, especially considering that SDGE’s rates will likely increase over the next few years.

The main problem is that this contract is very difficult to get out of under normal circumstances. If we assume the contract and our potential buyer does not want the system, we would have to pay to have the system removed and roof repaired, or buyout the equipment at a cost of around $20k. As it is now, due to the foreclosure, SunRun has no recourse but to remove the equipment if we don’t want to be in contract with them.

I’d appreciate any thoughts or advice on this issue.

Is Solar Power Worth It

Dont get me wrong, RV solar power has some downsides, but it is absolutely worth the investment. While it is a hefty cost upfront, it gives you the ability to go boondocking on public land rather than having to stay in a crowded RV park with hookups.

From what youll save on camping fees as well as on electricity costs, it will make up for the expensive initial investment. Solar power is also completely silent unlike a generator, and maintaining your RV solar panels is easy once everything is set up.

Cover photo via Serolynne under Flickr Creative Commons

Plan Better Trips Faster

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Check What The Utility Will Pay For Your Grid Exports

Many states offer net metering, which means that you can sell excess power from your system to the utility grid at the retail power rate. Florida and New York State are notable examples.

Other states apply Time of Use billing, which changes the electricity rates over the course of the day, potentially influencing how much youll earn for your exported power. This is the case in California, for example.

In states with Time of Use and feed-in tariffs, you may be better off with a hybrid system . These systems allow you to store the surplus power produced during the day in a battery, for use at night.

And then there are states where your exported power will earn a price lower than the retail rate. This is usually called a feed-in tariff, and is in effect in places like Arizona.

If net metering is available, you should take advantage of getting the full retail rate by installing a grid-tied system that will export plenty of power to the grid.

Make sure you discuss compensation for exported solar power with your utility and your solar company.

Buying A House With Solar Panels Financed Through A Solar Loan

Unlike a lease, if a homeowner installs solar equipment with a solar loan, the loan will always be their liability, even if the property is sold. So, if youre looking to buy a home with solar panels financed through a solar loan, you dont need to worry about making additional monthly payments. Instead, the asking price for the home might be higher to factor in the cost of the solar equipment.

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Investor From Poway Ca

I suspect you will find that electricity usage in an apartment is very different from a house and that you will be selling a lot less power back to SDG& E at wholesale rate than you are anticipating. If you have net metering the buyback does not occur monthly but annually. This is good because there will be variation if both the power generated as well as power used ).

My point is that I suspect the lease will not be as bad as you have calculated. Still if you are conserve your electrical usages $130/month is slightly high cost.

What Do Solar Sales Reps Do

As part of the clean energy economy, Solar Sales Reps: Generate customer leads to develop new accounts Prepare proposals, quotes, contracts or presentations for potential customers Select solar energy products, systems or services for customers based on thermal or electric energy requirements, site conditions or.

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What Is A Negotiated Connection Service

A negotiated connection service is needed if:

• Sufficient power supply from our network is not readily available in your area
• A network change is required to connect your proposed system
• Your new system connection is classed as a basic connection service but you have chosen to negotiate the terms of your connection contract with us
• Your new system connection is not classed as a basic connection service, such as the export capacity of your proposed inverter exceeds our network thresholds.

Youll Need A Battery Bank

With shore power, you never really need to worry about backup power. Once youre hooked up at the campsite, you can just plug in your laptop or coffee maker like you would at home. The weather or time of day doesnt affect your life at all.

On the other hand, if you have solar panels, youll need a battery bank. This provides power for nighttime, cloudy days and when you want to park out of the sun. Lithium-ion batteries, though more expensive, are a better option for solar energy storage than lead-acid batteries. Theyre lighter, more compact, and have a longer lifespan.

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Negotiate The Best Price

Just like most large purchases, its important to shop around in order to get the best deal.

Record these key stats when receiving a quote:

AC Watts: When you get a quote, it should clearly state the maximum generating capacity of the system in AC watts. Some contractors may provide you with DC watts, so make sure they convert it to AC for you.

Incentives included: Verify that the price you were given includes all the costs of getting your PV system up and running. Make sure it includes sales tax, permitting, connection to the grid, and hardware.

Also ask whether the price includes rebates and incentives. If so, make sure the contractor specifies the rebates and incentives factored into the price.

Calculate price per watt:

Divide the quoted price by the systems expected output. This metric, cost per installed watt, can be used to compare quotes from different contractors. All things equal, select the contractor with the lowest cost per installed watt.

Installing Home Solar Panels With An Hoa

If you have a homeowners association for your property, youre probably aware that you need to get permission for certain renovations and alterations to your home. In many cases, HOAs require that you get approval for solar panel installations. This isnt always easy some homeowners report that their HOA denied their request for aesthetic reasons.

Luckily, many states have solar access rights that protect your right to install a solar energy system on your home. If youre considering solar panels but have an HOA, its important to be aware of your solar rights as a property owner.

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Calculate Solar Energy Output For Your Home

A key assumption determining the return you will make from your solar system will be the amount of power it produces. This varies depending on the location, the direction of the roof and the tilt angle or slope of the roof.

If your house has roof space facing anywhere between south-east and south-west, at a normal roof pitch of around 22 degrees and is largely unshaded between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm, then this is probably not a big issue for you.

If you are concerned, then the best calculator for working out the exact production from a specific roof is a government solar calculator called PVWatts.

This PVWatts solar production data is also available through the solar savings calculator.

See how much solar power your home can generate

For The Lowest Prices Get Your Solar Quotes Through Bulk Buying Platforms

It is no secret that solar companies will hand out their best pricing when they know they are facing stiff competition.

That is why you are often better off requesting your solar quotes through a marketplace like SolarReviews.

Our combined platform is used by over 350,000 consumers per year and receives competitive bids from more than 350 solar companies nationwide.

Installers know that if you have used our platform, you are an informed consumer who is shopping around, and the only way to win your business is by offering you a great deal.

Users of the SolarReviews platform in 2020 paid $3.40 per watt for their solar system compared to a statewide average of $4.66 per watt.

New solar companies are joining the SolarReviews platform in 2021, which will drive down prices further.

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How Much Will Solar Grow Globally

The United States is actually not the largest market in the world for solar. China is outpacing the US by far, installing solar at about double the rate of the US. China, like most US states, have a renewable energy target. Theyâre aiming for 20% renewable energy by 2030. Thatâs a big shift for a country that used coal to power much of its industrial growth.

Here some more highlights from the reports:

• In 2019, solar power supplies only 2% of the worlds energy, but it will grow to 22% by 2050.
• Massive, grid-scale batteries will be a key catalyst for this growth. Batteries will be 64% cheaper by 2040, and the world will have installed 359 GW of battery power by 2050.
• The cumulative amount of solar investment will hit $4.2 trillion by 2050.
• In that same period, coal usage will drop by half globally, down to 12% of the total energy supply.
• In the United States, we will have nearly stopped building new coal and nuclear power plants. Both technologies will basically disappear from the electric grid by 2050.
• India is projected to continue to build some coal power to meet its growing electricity demand, in part driven by air conditioning which will double globally. India is projected to add 170 GW of coal capacity by 2050, but this will be dwarfed by renewables which will be 1,500 GW in the same time period.
• 67% of Indias electricity will be zero carbon by 2050, and 70% of that will come from solar.