2018 was a year of ups and downs for the solar industry. From the impact of the Trump Administration’s tariff on imported solar panels to the new technologies unveiled at Solar Power International, and from the emergence of home battery energy storage technologies to changes in solar programs in Massachusetts, New York, Illinois and beyond, EnergySage has been with you every step of the way.
As we enter a year with the promise of solar industry growth, here are our most popular articles of 2018, as chosen by you, our readers:
How do you replace a roof with solar panels?
Given the long life of solar panels (30 years or more!), what happens if you need to replace your roof after installing solar panels on your home? We break down the industry standard costs of removing and reinstalling panels while the roof replacement occurs, the best time to consider replacing your roof, and the cost of alternatives, such as building-integrated solar panels (BIPV).
HanTiles: solar shingle options
Speaking of BIPV, Tesla isn’t the only game in town when it comes to solar shingles. Hanergy, a leading manufacturer of thin-film solar panels, released the new generation of their solar tile product line, called the HanTiles. We compare the new product to traditional solar panel installations and to the Tesla shingles across performance, aesthetics, warranties and installation providers.
SolarCity/Tesla: what’s the latest with the merger?
Tesla made a lot of headlines in 2018, both positive and negative. But one branch of the company that evaded many news cycles is SolarCity. Post-merger, what’s the status of the SolarCity brand? We review the timeline of the company to-date and take a look at both the next steps for the combined companies and for solar shoppers in the near future.
US solar panel manufacturers
Perhaps the biggest headline of the year for the solar industry was the Administration’s announcement of the 30 percent tariff on imported solar panels in January. The stated goals of the policy are to encourage manufacturing in the U.S. and to push more solar shoppers to select American made solar panels. But which companies actually produce solar panels in the US in 2018? Our list includes ten popular panel manufacturers not subject to the tariff, providing guidance for how best to get those panels on your property.
How to find affordable solar panels
Finally, our annual review of how to find the most affordable solar panels was again one of EnergySage’s most popular articles in 2018. The cost to go solar is decreasing throughout the country, and nowhere faster than in the EnergySage Marketplace. In fact, the cost of installation for an average 6-kilowatt system has fallen by nearly $4,500 over the last few years in the Marketplace, and most systems pay for themselves in 6 to 8 years.
More to come in Solar News
Thanks for reading in 2018 and we look forward to much more new content in the coming year! To keep up-to-date with new articles as they’re published, subscribe to our Solar News Feed on the right-hand side of this page.
