What Are Solar Panels For

Maintenance Programs For Solar

Solar energy companies offer maintenance programs that, coupled with virtually no-hassle installation, can take the worry out of the equation. This ease of installation and maintenance can be a much-welcomed change for homeowners who have grown weary of their previous routine of having to schedule delivery of high-costing gas or other energy sources, in addition to the costly repairs that they can incur should their boiler unit or HVAC system unexpectedly require repair.

Solar panels are generally very low-maintenance and since we have a guarantee, there is very little to worry about in terms of adding and using solar panels to your home, offers Emmer. Once they are installed, theres not much you need to do except watch them reduce your bill and make you feel better about your carbon footprint, he adds.

For the most part, the servicing of solar panels is only required when something isnt functioning correctly, and the general upkeep of solar panels wont put a strain on your budget or create unwanted stress as you try to make sure that you keep your solar panels in proper condition so that they can function optimally and continue to save you money for years and years to come. Emmer suggests that solar panel owners plan to have routine maintenance and inspection of their units, which also includes cleaning, at least once per year.

Compare Quotes From Top-rated Solar Panel Installers

Select a State To Get Started With Your No Commitment, Free Estimate

Standard Solar Panel Sizes

There are three standard solar panel sizes. They include the following:

• 72-cell panels have a length of 77 inches and a width of 39 inches.
• 60-cell panels have a length of 66 inches and a width of 39 inches.
• 96-cell panels have a length of 62.6 inches and a width of 41.5 inches.

Most residential homes use small-celled panels, which are more feasible.

How Much Will You Save

Once you know how much a solar power system will cost upfront, and how much energy it will produce, you can predict how much you can save in energy costs per year.

This is another tricky calculation, however, because a lot depends on how you pay for electricity at the moment. Utilities often charge residential consumers a flat rate for electricity, regardless of the time of consumption. This means that instead of offsetting the expensive cost of peak electricity production, homeowners’ solar power systems merely offset the price they are charged for electricity, which is much closer to the average cost of power production.

However, many utility companies in the U.S. have introduced pricing schemes that allow homeowners to be charged at different rates throughout the day in an attempt to mirror the actual cost of electricity production at different times: This means higher rates in the afternoon and lower rates at night. A PV solar array may be very beneficial in areas where this sort of time-varying rate is used since the solar power produced would offset the most costly electricity.

Exactly how beneficial this is for a given homeowner depends on the exact timing and magnitude of the rate changes under such a plan. Similarly, utilities in some locations have pricing schemes that vary over different times of the year due to regular seasonal demand fluctuations. Those with higher rates during the summer make solar power more valuable.

You May Like: Epever Mppt Solar Charge Controller

Polycrystalline Solar Panel Design

Polycrystalline panels have a blue hue due to their manufacturing process. The blue color is actually somewhat marbled in appearance, so there are some variations in color and consistency from panel to panel. Homeowners concerned with creating a subtle solar panel system should opt for monocrystalline panels over polycrystalline varieties.

Are Solar Panels Worth It For Your Home

Solar panels are almost always a worthwhile investment, especially in places with solid net metering policies and local solar incentives.

Of course, there are certain scenarios in which rooftop solar panels arent a good fit, like if you have nowhere to put the system, you plan to move soon, or your energy costs are already low.

Learn more: 7 reasons why you should hold off on installing solar panels

To guarantee that you have access to net metering and the 30% tax credit, the best time to go solar is now. Plus youll get to see solar savings sooner, which puts more money in your pocket to use on things you actually care about – instead of your electric bill.

Installing solar panels not only allows you to save big on your electric bills, but it also helps you lower your carbon footprint while giving you more independence, especially when you pair solar with battery storage.

Although battery storage doesnt make sense financially everywhere just yet, as we see more states eliminating net metering and blackouts becoming more common, more homeowners will start adopting storage along with solar panels.

The best way to know if solar is right for you is to use our solar calculator. Our state-of-the-art calculator provides accurate cost and savings estimates for your specific home, so you can get a better idea of whether or not solar is a worthwhile investment for you.

See how much solar panels will save you over their 25-year lifespan

You May Like: Solar Power For Rv Air Conditioner

Should You Get Solar Panels

Whether solar is right for you depends on various factors, such as where you live, your current utility costs and your budget. Not every household will benefit from solar panels in the same way. If you live in a sunny area, your home is exposed to sunlight on a regular basis and you’re able to take advantage of local and state incentives to offset the cost of your system going solar might make sense.

Decide Whether Solar Is The Right Choice For Your Home

If you live in an area with high energy rates and a suitable solar rating, and if you can afford the initial investment, its worth installing solar panels on your home while the 30% tax break is in place for the good of the environment and your wallet. But don’t expect to eliminate your power bill overnight.

If you decide to purchase solar panels, shop around and search for incentives. Consider financing with a solar loan if youd rather spread out the cost over time. Keep in mind that you dont have to buy solar panels you can lease them, too. Leasing offers a lower upfront cost, though since you dont own the panels, they wont raise the value of your home, and you may not be eligible for incentives.

Going solar isnt the only potential way to save money. Learn more about what you can do to lower your bills.

Recommended Reading: Is Solar Energy Bad For The Environment

Solar Panel Types By Cost

Monocrystalline panels carry a hefty price tag, due to its energy-intensive and inefficient manufacturing process with only a 50% yield for every silicon crystal.

Polycrystalline modules are cheaper because they make use of the crystal fragments leftover from monocrystalline production, which results in a simpler manufacturing process and lower production costs.

Among thin-film solar panels, CIGS is the most expensive, followed by CdTe and amorphous silicon. Apart from the lower acquisition cost, thin-film modules can be easier to install thanks to their lighter weight and flexibility, which lowers the cost of labor.

While the total cost of residential systems has declined by more than 65% over the last decade, the soft cost of a system has actually risen from 58% of total system cost in 2014 to 65% in 2020.

For more information about soft costs, check out our article on the soft costs in the solar industry, and whats being done to reduce them.

Note that these figures dont include the cost of installation and labor. With labor and other overhead factors, the total can rise to $2.50 to $3.50 per watt.

The Amount Of Annual Household Electricity Use

The more electricity you consume, the more solar power youll need to generate. You should ideally produce enough power to offset 100% of the electricity you consume.

Its useful to have a full years worth of electricity payments for reference on your bill, so your system designer can factor in household usage patterns that fluctuate month to month.

Recommended Reading: Can I Install Solar Myself

How Do Solar Panels Generate Electricity

PV solar panels generate direct current electricity. With DC electricity, electrons flow in one direction around a circuit. This example shows a battery powering a light bulb. The electrons move from the negative side of the battery, through the lamp, and return to the positive side of the battery.

With AC electricity, electrons are pushed and pulled, periodically reversing direction, much like the cylinder of a car’s engine. Generators create AC electricity when a coil of wire is spun next to a magnet. Many different energy sources can “turn the handle” of this generator, such as gas or diesel fuel, hydroelectricity, nuclear, coal, wind, or solar.

AC electricity was chosen for the U.S. electrical power grid, primarily because it is less expensive to transmit over long distances. However, solar panels create DC electricity. How do we get DC electricity into the AC grid? We use an inverter.

Whats The Difference Between Monocrystalline And Polycrystalline Panels

Renogy offers both monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels. Polycrystalline panels, which are light blue in color, are less efficient than monocrystalline panels, but they are also cheaper. Monocrystalline panels, which are darker in color, are more space-efficient. If you have limited area on a roof, wed recommend monocrystalline panels to be able to make the most out of a small space.

Recommended Reading: How Much Does Solar Energy Cost Per Month

The Characteristics Of Your Roof

Most residential systems are placed atop your home on the roof. Your roofs tilt, type, age, and amount of shading can all affect the number of solar panels you need.

Generally speaking, its better to have more panels placed on the southern side of your roof, as thats where the sun shines the most in the northern hemisphere.

Based on these factors, a solar engineer will put together several configurations using different panels. Once you have options, the choice is all yours!

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost For An Average Home In 2022

The average residential solar panel installation cost today is between $12,390 and $15,960 after claiming the 30% federal solar tax credit . This works out to an average of less than $3.00 per watt installed, which is more than 70% cheaper than the cost of solar just 10 years ago!

*Based on 370-watt panels

Solar panels have next to no long-term maintenance costs, so solar is mostly a one-time investment. Solar prices have leveled out over the last two years and we are not forecasting any further falls in solar panel prices over the course of 2022.

Read Also: Are Solar Panels Worth Buying

From Lunar Materials Launched In Orbit

Gerard O’Neill, noting the problem of high launch costs in the early 1970s, proposed building the SPS’s in orbit with materials from the Moon.Launch costs from the Moon are potentially much lower than from Earth, due to the lower gravity and lack of atmospheric drag. This 1970s proposal assumed the then-advertised future launch costing of NASA’s space shuttle. This approach would require substantial up front capital investment to establish mass drivers on the Moon. Nevertheless, on 30 April 1979, the Final Report by General Dynamics’ Convair Division, under NASA contract NAS9-15560, concluded that use of lunar resources would be cheaper than Earth-based materials for a system of as few as thirty solar power satellites of 10 GW capacity each.

In 1980, when it became obvious NASA’s launch cost estimates for the space shuttle were grossly optimistic, O’Neill et al. published another route to manufacturing using lunar materials with much lower startup costs. This 1980s SPS concept relied less on human presence in space and more on partially self-replicating systems on the lunar surface under remote control of workers stationed on Earth. The high net energy gain of this proposal derives from the Moon’s much shallower gravitational well.

What Will It Cost You To Go Solar

Solar systems vary in price depending on multiple factors, such as the number of panels you purchase and the type and ease of installation. Buyers also shouldn’t forget about tax credits and incentives, like the 26% federal solar tax credit.

To find out how much you can expect to spend on your homes solar array, contact multiple solar installers in your area, get bids and compare. You want to compare not only the costs but also the efficiency of the panels and the product warranty. While a better system made from higher-quality materials may cost more, it may also last longer, have more efficient panels and require fewer repairs over time. This could make the higher cost worthwhile.

Read Also: Can Solar Panels Power My Entire House

Pros And Cons Of Solar Panels For Your Home

Like most things, solar power has its benefits and drawbacks. At the same time, some economic costs may be defrayed by the social benefits to the environment and lowering your carbon footprint, which may be more important to you than a purely monetary evaluation.

• Green energy that lowers your carbon footprint

• Net metering allows you to sell back excess energy produced

• You may be eligible for certain tax breaks

• Installation and maintenance costs are still high

• Solar only works when the sun is out

• Parts of the system need to be replaced every few years

• Some tax breaks may have expired or will be expiring

How To Avoid Solar Panel Scams

• Do your research. Genuine incentive programs and reputable solar energy contractors do exist. Before you accept an unsolicited offer, do some research on solar companies in your area. Investigate each company’s reputation and business practices before you consider signing a contract for services.

• Do not give in to high-pressure sales tactics. Con artists want to provoke an emotional reaction that would cause you to give in to their requests without thinking it through. Take your time and know that a legitimate company will not pressure you to act. If someone is using aggressive sales tactics on you, it is best to cut off communication immediately.

• Get competing bids. Contact several solar installers if you plan on going solar and get bids from each company. If someone is pulling a con, they will be much easier to spot this way.

• Ask plenty of questions and consider the answers. Ask questions about any aspect of a contract or proposal you do not understand. If the company gets upset about your questions, refuses to answer them, or is vague with their answers, consider it a red flag.

Read Also: How To Hook Up Solar Panel To Boat Battery

Are There Solar Incentives Or Tax Credits Available

The most well-known solar incentive is the federal solar tax credit, also called the Clean Energy Tax Credit or the Investment Tax Credit , which provides homeowners with a tax credit equal to 26% of the total cost of a solar panel installation. Battery installation costs are covered, as well.

The 30% tax credit is available until the end of 2032. At the start of 2033, the value of the tax credit drops to 26% and falls again to 22% in 2034. The tax credit expires completely in 2035 for residential solar installations.

However, the solar tax credit drops down to 22% at the start of 2023 and expires completely at the start of 2024. So if you want to secure the highest tax credit possible, you need to go solar before the end of 2022. If you wait, your solar savings wont be nearly as impressive as they could be.

The solar tax credit isnt the only incentive for going solar. There are tons of solar incentives throughout the U.S., even ones just for battery storage! Keep in mind, these incentives might not be around for as long as the federal tax credit. To maximize your solar savings, its best to go solar sooner rather than later so you can take advantage of as many rebates as possible. You can get a better idea of the savings you can get through rebates and incentives in your area with our detailed state solar incentive guides.

How Does A Solar Panel System Work

Here’s an example of how a home solar energy installation works. First, sunlight hits a solar panel on the roof. The panels convert the energy to DC current, which flows to an inverter. The inverter converts the electricity from DC to AC, which you can then use to power your home. It’s beautifully simple and clean, and it’s getting more efficient and affordable all the time.

However, what happens if you’re not home to use the electricity your solar panels are generating every sunny day? And what happens at night when your solar system is not generating power in real-time? Don’t worry, you may still benefit through a system called “net metering.”*

A typical grid-tied PV system, during peak daylight hours, frequently produces more energy than one customer needs, so that excess energy is fed back into the grid for use elsewhere. The customer who is eligible for net metering may receive credits for the excess energy produced and can use those credits to draw from the grid at night or on cloudy days. A net meter records the energy sent compared to the energy received from the grid. Read our article on net metering and how it works.

If you’d like to see how much your home or business can save, schedule a time for us to create a personalized design and potential savings quote.

Read Also: Solar Companies In Phoenix Az