How Much Do Solar Panels Cost In Alaska

Can I Install Solar Panels On A Property I Don’t Own

While it is possible to buy solar panels that are not attached to a residential property this is not common and not recommended for large systems. In order to capitalize on tax credits and get a solar system that will provide you with enough electricity, you will need to be the homeowner and have access to the utility and electricity bills for that property.

An Upgraded Power Inverter: $1000+

Upgraded inverters can allow you to get more energy out of your solar panel system, meaning that over time you will save more money.

Sometimes, the cost of upgrading your inverter is worth it because it might spare you thousands over the course of several years. Try to determine whether your current or intended inverter is going to allow you to maximize your cost savings. If it is not, consider spending a little more to make a little more.

How Much Do The Solar Panels Themselves Cost

So how much does an actual solar panel cost? Well, it depends on a few things: how powerful the panel is and who is buying the panels.

If you are not a solar installer and are considering doing a DIY solar panel installation on your home, you will likely have to pay retail prices for each panel. The general rule of thumb is that installers who buy in bulk pay around $0.85 per watt, while retail consumers pay around $1 per watt.

A typical solar panel ranges from 150-350 watts, so for this example well cut right down the middle and use a 250 watt solar panel.

If you are going through an installer, youre looking at around $212.50 per panel . If youre going DIY and buying panels yourself, youre looking at around $250 per panel . Keep in mind that this is before tax rebates!

Average Cost Per 250 watt Solar Panel: $212.50

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Current Installations In Alaska

The systems covered in this briefing range in size from 2.2 kW in Ambler to 50 kW in Galena. Online data is available for some of the roughly 20 systems installed in Alaska, though cost information is harder to come by. Costs for state-funded projects are available from the Alaska Energy Authority, but few projects have been funded by the state. Cost information is sometimes available via community development staff. Significant data collection is still needed for specific details such as module technology type, mounting types, and other characteristics that can further refine this analysis.

Alaskas Renewable Portfolio Standard Guidelines

A states Renewable Portfolio Standard is a plan that is based on legislation or regulations. It outlines goals and targets for the production of renewable energy in the state. The RPS is the tool that encourages power companies to supply renewable energy, rather than using fossil fuels.

Sadly, Alaska is one of the few states that has no RPS. This means that in Alaska, there is no incentive for power companies to convert from dirty power to clean solar and other renewable energy sources.

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Average Cost Of Solar Panels Based On Your System Size

The dollars per watt format of expressing solar panels cost is the most prevalent in the United States. However, the most important thing to note is that the cost of a solar system goes with amount of electricity generation desired. That is where 6kW, 8kW and 10 kW systems come in. Other than that, the average cost of solar panels also varies from state to state. The website Energysage.com shows solar panel pricing per state for both 6kW and 8kW systems. For example, a 6kW system costs between $13,700 and $17,500 in California. In the same state, the price of 10kW system ranges from $22,800 to $29,200.

Here is a table showing estimated solar panel cost in some states.

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Cost Of Solar Panels By State

There is a wide range in price of solar panels, both in the starting cost for a 6-kilowatt system and cents per kilowatt-hour across the country. Prices can vary greatly from state to state, due in part to the average electricity bill in the area. Hawaii has the highest costs, while Louisiana has the lowest costs. The national average cost is 10.53 cents per kilowatt-hour.

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Solar Power In Alaska

Solar power in Alaska has been primarily used in remote locations, such as the Nenana Teen Center near Fairbanks, where long summer days provide most of the electricity generated. In 2015, Alaska ranked 45th in installed solar among U.S. states. Rooftop solar panels could provide 23% of all electricity used in Alaska.Net metering is available for PV systems up to 25 kW but is limited to 1.5% of average demand.IREC best practices, based on experience, recommends no limits to net metering, individual or aggregate, and perpetual roll over of kWh credits.

In 2011, Alaska’s largest solar array was the 17.28 kW array installed on a building in Anchorage. A 12 kW solar array installed in Lime Village in July 2001 helped reduce electricity costs.

Annual insolation and thus power production per capacity installed in Alaska is similar to central Europe, where Germany became a leader in worldwide solar power use in the years around 2010.

Solar Panel Cost By State

California leads the country in solar energy generation, but many other states are quickly expanding their presence in the solar industry. As more consumers invest in home solar systems, the cost of solar panels have lowered across the country by as much as 70 percent.

The cost of solar panels varies by state and is influenced by the factors we discussed above. But the energy savings are impressive no matter the location. Following are the top states for solar generation and how much consumers can save by investing in solar panels.

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How Much Do Solar Panels Cost In Talkeetna

The cost of buying a solar panel and installing it will vary from state to state. Initially, the prices were incredibly high, which made it impossible for people to acquire. However, the rise in production and demand substantially decreased solar panel prices in the last few years.

After installing them, you will get tax credit and incentives from the federal government.

To put it into perspective, consider Arizona is where you require a solar panel installation. Then, a 6kW solar panel will have a starting price of $13,680, translating to an average cost of $2.67 per watt.

On this, you will get a 22% tax credit as of 2021, which amounts to a $3,010 value. In addition, Arizona produces 12.12 cents per kW hour which makes solar panel installation effective.

Due to this value, you will take advantage of the clean energy program to reduce upfront expenditure.

Even so, the Center of Sustainable Energy suggests an average installation cost. They believe that the solar panel cost is $15,000 to $25,000, depending on your location and usages.

Based on their findings, you can estimate that the average residential 5kW solar panels will have a $3 to $5 per wattage cost. However, this amount is before the calculation of tax credit and incentives from the government.

To put it into perspective, here is the average breakdown of a 5,000-Watt system:

Depending on the utility and your state, you might even get access to incentives for changing to solar energy.

How Is The Cost Of Solar Panels For Homes In Alaska Offset By Solar Tax Credits

The cost of installation of renewable energy systems in Alaska is supported by the federal solar investment tax credit.

The amount of this tax credit is currently 26% of the value of the solar system and it is claimed on your taxes in the year after installation.

Many people mistakenly refer to this tax credit as the Alaska solar tax credit but it is actually a federal tax credit.

Alaska itself does not offer a solar tax credit.

Solar panel cost calculator

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Will My Solar Panels Still Work During Power Outages

Solar energy is powered by solar panels and these solar panels absorb the energy from the sun to create electricity. However, this electrical is converted to AC electricity in order to properly power your house.

Unfortunately, the solar panels do not serve as a backup electricity source if the power to your home goes out. That said, it is possible to invest in solar-powered generators and other solar power products that may help during times of power outages.

Native Village Integrates Solar And Storage To Cut Costs Displace Diesel

Despite the nearly half a million barrels of oil produced in Alaska each day, theres no such thing as a hometown discount. Instead, some remote rural villages shell out as much as $1/kilowatt-hour for diesel-generated electricitymore than eight times the national average.

In the Native Village of Hughes, thats about to change. Hughes just installed the bones of a 120-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system that will cut diesel use and costs while advancing the Villages renewable energy goal of 50% by 2025.

Solar savings aheadcurrently rural Alaskas largest solar installation, this system will save Hughes an estimated $1 million over 20 years. Photo from TCC

Once the system is integrated with the local power system, Hughesa small community on the Koyukuk River, 210 air miles north of Fairbankswill be able to bring rural Alaskas largest solar project online.

High costs are the primary driver for Hughes, said David Pelunis-Messier, who presented a status update on the U.S. Department of Energy co-funded project at the DOE Office of Indian Energy 2018 Program Review in December. Currently, Hughes is a fly-in-only community, which means theyre not just barging in fuel, theyre flying it in.

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How Much Electricity Do Solar Panel Systems Generate In Alaska

Depending on the location, solar panels will generate different amounts of electricity.

A solar system that is installed on a south-facing 0-degree pitch roof Alaska will generate 1,550kWh of peak DC capacity per year per 1kW inAlaska.

Enter your details into the solar panel calculator to see how your location, roof tilt, and roof direction impacts solar panel production.

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Solar Panels For Home Cost Depending On Panel Type

When performing your solar panel system calculations, it is important to understand that different panel varieties carry different price tags.

Here is what you can expect to pay for the three most popular varieties of solar panel currently available. Please note that these cost estimates do not include installation costs.

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need

Your energy needs determine how many panels you need, which affects the overall price of your solar system installation. To eliminate your electric bill entirely, you must generate 100% of the electricity your home needs. Most homeowners need between 25 and 35 panels to achieve complete energy independence.

Average households need867 kWh/monthin electrical power

A solar panel typically produces about one kilowatt-hour per day, so if your daily kWh usage is 30, you would need 30 solar panels to generate all of your energy needs. If you need to generate extra energy to heat a pool or run the air conditioning for most of the year, this adds to your energy costs.

To estimate the amount of energy youll need, you need to know your average kilowatt-hours . This number should be on your utility bill as kWh used. To get your monthly average, look at bills for the past year, add up the stated kWh used and divide by 12.

Next, divide your monthly kWh average by 30 to calculate your daily average. For instance, if your average monthly kWh is 900, then your average daily kWh is 30.

For a more accurate calculation, try to factor in times when there is not as much solar power available, like when its cloudy or in the evening. There are two main ways to account for this:

These additional calculations can be difficult, but they are necessary if you want the optimum solar power system for your home.

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Solar Power Prices Savings And Payback In Your Part Of Alaska

The average cost for an installed residential solar system in Alaska is currently$10,678 after claiming the 26%federal solar tax credit. This is $2.41 per watt.However, there is some variance in solar prices in different parts of the state.The graph below shows the average cost of installed solar systems in your part of the state.

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Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of a 6.0kWsystem

What Is The Solar Panel Installation Process

We offer intricate installation and activation services in Talkeetna, AK. Our high-quality services include processes like:

After completing our work, a government representative will inspect the installation. In some cases, they might install a meter that feeds the excess power into the electrical grid.

After you have gotten the green light and all our efforts have been approved, you activate your solar panels by flipping a switch.

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Why You Need Solar Panels

Before we start talking numbers, lets establish what makes solar panels such an important component of the future of clean energy. Simply put, theyre made of many smaller cells that can convert photons, or light particles, into electricity. More specifically, panels can convert between 4 and 19% of the light they come into contact with.

Still, thats effective enough to significantly reduce the strain you put on the regular power grid your home is connected to. Many homes have managed to completely transition to this kind of electric power. So bringing in solar panels will certainly bring your energy consumption down to an all-time low too!

Of course, if youre looking to disconnect your home from non-renewable energy sources, solar would be just the beginning. Households that have high energy consumption may have to incorporate other clean power sources too.

A Solar Monitoring System: $150$1000+

Realistically, though solar monitoring is optional, it probably should not be. Through the use of a solar monitoring system, you will be able to get live feedback on your systems performance and efficiency.

This will allow you to detect and resolve any hardware issues promptly. Generally, it is going to let you squeeze every ounce of efficiency out of your panels, meaning that you will save more money over time.

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Are Solar Panels Worth The Cost

So, are solar panels worth the upfront cost? The bottom line is yes. Investing in home solar panels will lead to substantial energy savings over time because you can power your home using electricity that you generate yourself.

Solar panels also allow for increased energy independence. This is important because you will not need to rely as heavily on the power grid and will be protected from energy price increases during times of high demand and power outages in your area.

Finally, residential solar systems generate clean, renewable electricity. Green energy sources such as solar power are much better for the environment because they do not emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Overall, the energy savings of investing in solar panels make them well worth the upfront cost. And as the overall price of solar systems continues to decrease, home solar panels will become even more affordable for consumers in the coming years.

Understanding The History Of Pv Technology

The by a French physicist named Edmund Becquerel. However, it wasnt until Bell Labs developed the first workable solar cell in 1954 that scientists began to understand how the PV effect works.

President Jimmy Carter signed the Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act in 1978, ushering in a period of rapid technological advancement. But early adoption of solar panels was slow due to the low efficiency of photovoltaic technology. Generating enough solar power to run a property required large arrays, limiting its usefulness to rural, commercial, and off-grid properties.In 1985, the University of South Wales became the first organization to break the 20% efficiency barrier. In 1994, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory produced a solar cell capable of exceeding 30% conversion efficiency. Since then, PV cells have continued to get smaller, more affordable, and more suitable for widespread use.

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