In this week’s Solar News Roundup, solar and wind won big in 2019, and developers announce plans to build two large solar projects on land formerly used for fossil fuels.
Continue readingAuthor Archives: jacob
Zero-down solar financing options: which is best for you?
Installing solar at your home or business has significant financial benefits. In many cases, you can choose a zero down solar financing option and install your system without paying any money up front, leading to instant savings. In this article, we will examine the various options for $0 down solar and the merit of each option.
Continue readingAGM batteries for solar: what you need to know
Absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries have traditionally been used as car batteries, but in certain cases, they can be a solid choice as an energy backup system or paired with solar panels. In this article, we’ll discuss what AGM batteries are, and when they might be the right choice for you.
Continue readingSolar news: August 21st, 2020
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, there’s a new efficiency record for transparent solar panels, and the largest battery storage system in the country comes online.
Continue readingLithium-ion vs. lead acid batteries
If you’re considering a home energy storage option, there are several types of batteries to choose from. In this article, we’ll compare two of the most common battery options paired with solar installations: lithium-ion and lead acid.
Continue readingSolar O&M plans and providers
For most, a solar installation is a “set-and-forget” investment, but not always: problems may come up with your system over time, from damaged panels to faulty wiring and more. You may have heard of “operations and maintenance,” or O&M, plans designed to help catch problems as they come up and fix them quickly so you can keep generating free energy from the sun. In this article, we’ll take a look at what O&M providers actually do, different types of monitoring and panel maintenance plans, and who the major providers in the space are.
Continue reading350-watt solar panels: are they right for you?
One important metric to consider when comparing solar panel options is a panel’s power rating, referred to as wattage. 350-watt (W) solar panels are close to the average wattage of solar panels available today and are a great panel option for many types of solar projects.
Continue readingSolarCity/Tesla: what’s the latest with the merger? Status of the SolarCity brand and company
Elon Musk and his companies have been in the news a lot lately, and for good reason. Musk is constantly pushing the technology envelope, from space exploration to electric vehicles to solar technology. Since Tesla’s acquisition of SolarCity, there have been many changes to what used to be the leading solar installer in the U.S. In this article, we’ll cover the history of the SolarCity/Tesla merger.
Continue readingSolar news: July 24th, 2020
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dismisses an anti-net metering plea, and Trina Solar announces new 600-watt solar panels.
Continue readingHow hot do solar panels get? Effect of temperature on solar performance
Solar panels are often exposed to high amounts of heat, especially during long, hot summer days. In this article, we will discuss the impact hot weather has on solar panels, and how those effects are mitigated by consumers and manufacturers alike.
Continue reading