How Much For Solar Panels On House

What States Are The Best For Solar

Every person has their own unique needs and conditions to keep in mind when they choose to go solar. While some states may be better for some people, others may not be as advantageous. However, there are some states that have particularly strong incentives. Here are some of them below-

NOTE: These ranges come from EnergySage marketplace data and are system pricesBEFORE the 30 percent federal tax credit for solar. Additionally, EnergySage does not currently provide quotes in all 50 states, which limits our ability to provide solar panel cost estimates in each.

In general, states where homeowners need to use air conditioning more often have more average electricity used per household. As such, some of the largest solar panel systems are installed in sunny, warm states like Arizona and Florida. Why does this matter? For solar installers, the larger your system, the less they will usually charge per kilowatt-hour . Its like buying in bulk at Costco you might pay a higher sticker price, but your per-unit costs are lower when you buy more at one time. Well dive into this phenomenon more below.

Back to solar panels. In the end, this very roughly translates to lower $/W pricing in warm states and higher $/W pricing in cold states. But in the end, total pricing is usually close to a wash warm states have a lower price per watt, but larger system sizes, and cold states have a higher price per watt, but smaller system sizes.

Can Solar Panels Help Sell A House

Throwing some facts into the mix, 2017 research by Which?* found that installing solar panels on your home does not negatively impact the value of the property. Eight per cent of estate agents involved in this research said they thought solar panels increased property value. Particularly as they are considered to be an extra/additional feature adding value to a property due to the cheaper energy it provides.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost For Homes

On average, solar panel installation and the system together can run from $15,000 to $25,000, according to the latest information from the Center for Sustainable Energy.

Electricity rates vary by location. The national average is about 14 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to year-to-date 2022 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Before you make the leap, learn how your electric bill, location and incentives can impact your wallet over time. Here are six steps to take to determine whether youll save more than you spend on solar panels.

» MORE: Find ways to save with NerdWallet

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Solar Panel Monthly Cost

If you purchase your solar panel system, they have no ongoing monthly costs. However, if you do not want to purchase the system upfront, you have the option of leasing your panels monthly. This costs between $50 and $250 a month, depending on the system size. It is only advisable if your electric bill is considerably higher than these figures to offset your monthly energy costs. Otherwise, you may find that purchasing gives you a better overall return on your investment.

Solar power might appear expensive, but you are paying for power anyway. The difference is after several year with solar your system is paid for. After several years of paying your electric bill, month after month, with power costs going up year after year, the only thing you have earned is the right to continuing doing it for the rest of your life.

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How A Solar Battery Works

Add a solar battery to your existing solar system so you can store excess energy to use when the sun isnt shining.

Get up to $1,000 off the upfront cost of a solar battery by joining our Virtual Power Plant . Our VPP is a connected network of solar batteries that can help take pressure off the grid.

We even have convenient payment options. Choose interest free finance over 60 months through Plenti, or pay in full upfront.

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Earn With Solar Energy

As we’re a gas and electricity supplier we’re able to offer our solar PV customers an exclusive tariff as part of the Government’s Smart Export Guarantee obligation.

This is for people and businesses who generate their own renewable energy. Itll allow you to earn money for any surplus solar energy you dont use in your home or business and export back to the electricity grid4.

Is Your State A Good Candidate For Solar

Solar power is used in different capacities by homeowners across all 50 states, but some inevitably do better than others. Thats why where you live can play a critical factor when it comes to deciding if your home is a good candidate for solar energy.

According to a report released by the Solar Energy Industries Association in January and based on annual data collected throughout 2021, these are the top states for cumulative solar electric capacity installed.

The low rankings are because of a combination of factors including less sunlight in some cases, reliance on coal facility-based labor , and long winters.

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Main Considerations To Determine How Much Solar You Need

Calculating how many solar panels you need can be done with the three inputs above, but digging deeper, there are many more factors at play in determining your ideal solar panel system size. Understanding production ratios, the relationship between system size and the number of panels, and the impact of home size can all be important when youre designing your ideal solar panel setup.

How Many Solar Panels Are Needed To Power A House

The average homeowner needs 28-34 solar panels to balance their electricity cost with the price of the solar panels and the installation.

These numbers are determined by assuming the average household uses about 10,400 kWh annually and the amount of electricity capable of being produced by 250-watt panels.

To calculate your own solar panel estimate, you need to look at how many kilowatt-hours you use in a year. Your monthly bill will showcase your utility power consumption for the last twelve months.

For a better perspective, one kWh is equivalent to 1,000 watts of power in use for an hour. So, if your home has 20 lights that all use 50-watt bulbs, having them on for an hour uses one kWh of electricity.

The number of panels your home needs also depends on factors like panel performance and location. The cost also depends on how big the installation job is.

Curious to know how many solar panels your home would need? You can get a solar panel quote from Shoalhaven Solar that is customised to your energy needs and property. This will help you evaluate installation, panel prices and find whats most suitable for you.

Solar prices in Australia have plummeted over the last decade, especially the price for a larger system.

Lets look at the price of a regular 3 kW system, including installation.

• The typical cost for a 3 kW solar system and installation is $5,950.

• The government rebate is $1,665.

• So, the overall price for a 3 kW solar power system would be approximately $4,285.

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Inverter Quality And Features

An inverter transforms DC electricity from your solar panels into AC electricity for your house. As with panels, inverter quality varies. Moreover, inverters have a higher failure rate than panels. This makes it important to get a good-quality inverter with a strong warranty. In addition, some inverters come with handy features like remote monitoring. The difference in price between a good-quality and a poor-quality inverter is around 300-800. Whatever about the panels, dont skimp on your inverter. Fronius, Enphase, and SMA are some examples of reputable inverter brands.

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How Much Can You Save With A Solar System

When seeking out the best panel prices on the market, consider the multiple variables first. Certain panels have higher efficiency ratings than others, but it doesnt mean they result in higher savings.

One way to ensure you get the best deal is to evaluate quotes with varying financial offers and equipment. Call us to enquire about our panel and installation prices here.

At Shoalhaven Solar, we provide high-quality products that leave a positive impact on our communities. Our aim is to create a more sustainable future by innovating products that help you rely less on energy retailers.

We work to inform you of the benefits of using high-quality solar energy systems and also watch out for costs in the process. We are accredited by the Clean Energy Council to install solar panels for you. And make the whole process simple and efficient.

Our experts are available to answer any questions you might have Monday to Friday.

To learn more, you can download our Ultimate Guide to Solar which includes all you need to know, including:

• How solar power works.

• A price guide to solar panel costs.

• The difference between on-grid and off-grid systems.

• Ways to save on cost with solar PV systems.

• All about the government rebate.

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Reduce Your Solar Costs With Rebates And Incentives

Weve been talking about factors that add on cost to a solar installation, but its also equally essential to consider the ways you can save with solar rebates and incentives. Tax credits, cash rebates, performance-based incentives , and energy credits are all ways you can get money back on a solar installation. The availability of these types of incentives almost always depend on where you live utilities, cities, and states all usually offer their own solar incentives to people living in their service areas.

How Do You Pay For A Solar Panel Installation

Once you know the cost of solar for your unique project, its time to decide how youll pay for solar. There are three primary financing options for residential solar systems: a cash purchase, a solar loan, or a solar lease/power purchase agreement.

Generally, a cash purchase is right for you if youre looking to maximize your savings from solar, you have enough tax liability to take advantage of the solar tax credit, or you have the funds available to pay for a solar panel system upfront.

A solar loan is right for you if you dont want to shell out the amount of cash required to pay for a solar panel system upfront, you still want the most savings on your energy bills as possible, and you would like to be eligible for all incentives and rebates.

A solar lease or PPA is right for you if you would prefer someone else to monitor and maintain the system, if you arent eligible for tax incentives, or if youd just like to reduce and/or lock-in your monthly electricity bill.

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Approximate Costs Of Solar Systems After The Rebate

The range of prices in Australia below is mainly down to the quality of the hardware used in the installation. To use a car analogy , expect the lower price range to be Kia level brand and the upper cost to be a BMW level brand. Ill leave you to decide if BMWs are worth paying more for than Kias!

For the absolute top-shelf components installed by a particularly fussy installer, you can expect a system to cost even more.

So, the approximate cost of a good quality solar system installation with Tier 1 solar panels as at September 2022 in Australia:

Major disruptions to solar panel supply pushed prices of 6.6 kW systems up by about $1,000. Current prices of panels are fluctuating regularly so dont be surprised if your quotes are only valid for a few days.

Note that the above assumes the use of 370W solar panels, so the final solar panel capacity may be a bit more or less than the figures mentioned above.

See Real-Time Australian Solar Pricing

The costs quoted above are based on thousands of data points. To see real-time, average prices being paid for full system installations of various capacities in your state, check out the SolarQuotes Solar Price Index.

Microinverter/Optimiser Cost

If you want a good quality microinverter or optimiser system installed, expect to add around 20% in cost to the above price ranges.

Finding The Money

How To Calculate Solar Panel Efficiency

Most solar panels have an efficiency rating of between 10% and 15%, which will usually be indicated by the manufacturer.

Efficiency also depends on the type of panel youre using , where your panel is facing, and much heat it is generating

The efficiency rating of a solar panel refers to its ability to convert sunlight into usable energy. So, if a panel has an efficiency rating of 15%, it will be able to harness 15% of the photons that hit it. Due to real-world conditions of weather and placement, a solar panel rarely produces its full wattage output rating.

To calculate the efficiency of your panel, youll need to look up the amount of sunlight that hits the earth in your particular area. Multiply this amount by the surface area of your panel, divide the maximum kWp of your panel by this number, and then multiply it by 100% to get an accurate efficiency rating.

Lets say 1,000-watts per square meter of sunlight is hitting your area, and you have a 1 square meter panel, youll end up with 1,000-watts exactly. If you have a 200 kWp panel, the efficiency will be roughly 20%

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If You Already Have Solar Panels And Get The Feed

If you already have solar panels and get the feed-in tariff, the fact the feed-in tariff is now a closed scheme won’t affect you. Depending on when your panels were installed and certified you’re guaranteed to get the payments for at least 20 years:

How Much Solar Power Will You Need

To find out your average energy usage, check your past utility bills. More precisely the last 12 months of your bills . Look for the total number of killowatt-hours you consumed every month.

Sum the numbers up and divide them by 12 to get the average. An easier way to determine your total energy consumption for the past year is to simply call your utility company and ask them to provide you the details.

Based on the data available from the U.S Energy Information Administration, in 2013 the average family home in the United States consumed about 900 Kwh of electricity per month. Thats 30kWh per day.

Obviously your household can consume more or less electricity depending on how big your house is, how many family members live in it, the appliances you have and how energy efficient you are.

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Calculating Your Energy Production

The second factor you’ll need to consider in your calculations is the amount of energy your system will produce and when it will do that. This can be a very complicated calculation to make, even for experienced solar engineers. However, let’s run through the basics.

One of the most important considerations is the solar irradiation levels available in the home’s geographical location in other words, how sunny it is where you live. When it comes to using solar panels, being closer to the equator is generally better, but other factors must be considered. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory produces maps for the U.S. showing solar irradiation levels and the tools on its website provide detailed solar information for specific locations within the U.S.

Equally important is your home’s orientation: For rooftop arrays, a south-facing roof without trees or other objects obstructing sunlight maximizes the available solar energy. If this is not available, panels can be mounted on external supports and installed away from the house, incurring additional costs for the extra hardware and cables.

Solar Panel Tax Benefits

For people who purchase and install a solar panel system, the federal government provides a 26% tax credit for solar panel installation through 2022. That credit will lower to 22% in 2023, and there isnt a tax credit for residential solar systems scheduled after that.

For example, you could receive a $5,200 credit on a $20,000 system in 2021 with the federal tax credit alone.

You can take advantage of tax benefits as long as you own your system, no matter how you fund it.

The federal tax credit is nonrefundable, meaning if you dont owe taxes or owe less than the 26% credit will get you you wont get that money back in a refund. You can, however, carry the credit over to a future tax year.

Some states also offer tax benefits and other incentives for solar installation. You can look up your states offerings in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.

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How Many Kwh Can Solar Panels Produce And How Many Panels You Need On Your Roof

The amount of power your solar energy system can produce depends on the number of solar panels that can absorb solar energy and convert it into electricity.

Assuming you are going to choose standard-efficiency solar panels, here are the most common sizes for residential solar systems and their kWh production potential to give you an idea of how many panels you would need to run a house.

• A 3kW solar system which consists of 12 panels can produce an average of 4,200 kWh per year. You will need a roof space of about 194 sq ft for a 3kW system.

• A 5kW solar system which consists of 20 panels can produce an average of 7,000 kWh per year. You will need a roof space of about 340 sq ft for a 5kW system.

• A 10kW solar system which consists of 40 panels can produce an average of 14,000 kWh per year. You will need a roof space of about 680 sq ft for a 10kW system.

Keep in mind that the amount of power your solar system can produce depends on how much sunlight your roof receives and your location.

For example, California has more sunny days annually than Washington. In this case if you live in Washington you would need a bigger solar system to get the same power as you would get with a smaller system in California.

The Renewable Resource Data Center provides average daily total solar resource information on grid cells by state and its free to use so check it out.