Wisconsin utility We Energies moves away from coal and towards solar generation, a new report on the 5,500 U.S. schools that rely on solar power, and Zero Mass’s solar water-collecting panels are the headlines in this week’s Solar News Roundup.
Continue readingIf you live by the ocean, the air around you contains high levels of salt. You may be wondering whether a high-salt environment could cause damage to your solar energy system. When comparing your options for solar, it is important to know how well your solar panels will hold up if you live in an area where environmental factors like salty air and water are present. In this article, we will look at how salty air and water can damage or generally impact outdoor electronics and metals, and if solar panels are at risk for damage.
Continue readingThe solar industry is growing rapidly, which means solar installers and manufacturers are competing with ever-growing numbers of companies for space in the market. This can lead to bankruptcy cases for solar companies who fall behind in the industry, as seen recently with Sungevity and SolarWorld. As a solar shopper you may be concerned about the state of warranty coverage for your panels in the event that the solar company you are working with goes under. In this article, we will look at solar manufacturers and installers, and what their financial positions mean to you as their customer.
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Oregon’s governor pens an executive order mandating “solar ready” new homes within about three years, California expects to get 50 percent of its energy from renewables by 2020, and a next-generation solar panel method using living organisms in this week’s Solar News Roundup.
Continue readingSolarWorld Industries GmbH (formerly SolarWorld AG) is a major player in the solar panel manufacturing space, and the company has had a year full of change. After it declared insolvency earlier this year and went through a reorganization and acquisition process, the company joined manufacturer Suniva to petition the government for tariffs against imported solar panels. Now, you may be wondering how SolarWorld’s financial standing impacts the coverage on their solar modules. In this article, we will look back at SolarWorld’s turbulent year and where they stand now, and we’ll examine their updated warranty offerings and consumer protections.
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Over the past decade the US has witnessed a remarkable growth in solar with California leading the way. The Golden State is the behemoth of the U.S solar market boasting 19,000 megawatts of installed solar to date, which is almost as much as the other top ten solar producing states combined. Livermore, like much of California, has consistent and strong sunlight totals. In this article we’ll explain why Livermore, California is a great spot for solar power and how Livermore homeowners can maximize their solar savings.
As of mid-2017, the average price for solar panels in Livermore was $3.46 per watt. Thus, since the typical system size in the U.S. is 5 kilowatts (5,000 watts), the average cost of a solar panel system in Livermore is $17,300 before any rebates or incentives.
Though this price may already look attractive, it’s missing a major incentive that bolsters the economics of solar in the U.S.: the federal tax credit for solar energy systems. The solar ITC signifies a huge price reduction thanks to a hefty 30 percent rebate offered to both residential and commercial markets. Check out this data table that shows the cost of solar at different system sizes with the ITC factored in:
| System size | Average solar system cost (after ITC) |
|---|---|
| 3 kW | $7,329 |
| 5 kW | $12,005 |
| 7 kW | $17,052 |
| 10 kW | $24,920 |
| 12 kW | $29,148 |
The above table shows the discounted price for a solar panel system in Livermore after the solar ITC is included. The data draws from real quotes submitted to homeowners on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace over the past year. Keeping in mind the typical system size for a U.S. homeowner is 5 kilowatts (5,000 watts), a solar panel system will cost just over $12,000 in 2017.
Net metering has faced recent legislative battles in California but remains one of the biggest incentives for going solar in the state. Every California solar homeowner is eligible to receive bill credits for their excess solar generation at retail price from his or her utility.
Another strong solar incentive in California include the California Solar Initiative which is a cash rebate available to customers of either Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) or San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E). This program is for low-income homeowners who receive cash back for installing solar panels on their homes. The rebate amounts can be as high as $10,000.
Some local utilities also offer homeowners rebates that can pay anywhere from $0.20 to $1.25 per watt of installed solar capacity. For example, Silicon Valley Power offers a cash rebate for every watt of solar power installed up to 10 kilowatts, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power offers a rebate of $0.25/W of installed solar power.
Though Livermore residents will see solar prices in the country continue to decline over the next five years, low prices aren’t necessarily the biggest selling point. When it comes to going solar, the long term ROI and savings from avoided bill payments is often the biggest deciding factor – and the figures can be staggering even in states where utility rates are reasonable.
In 2017, solar quotes received by Livermore homeowners yielded 20-year savings estimates of over $68,408 on average. Checkout the breakdown of average net savings by solar system size:
| System size | Average solar savings over 20 years |
|---|---|
| 3 kW | $26,801 |
| 5 kW | $47,568 |
| 7 kW | $71,748 |
| 10 kW | $105,271 |
| 12 kW | $133,220 |
As with any big ticket purchase, shopping for a solar panel installation takes a lot of research and consideration, including a thorough review of the companies in your area. A recent report by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recommended that consumers compare as many solar options as possible to avoid paying inflated prices offered by the large installers in the solar industry.
To find the smaller contractors that typically offer lower prices, you’ll need to use an installer network like EnergySage. You can receive free quotes from vetted installers local to you when you register your property on our Solar Marketplace – homeowners who get 3 or more quotes can save thousands on their solar panel installation.
The bigger isn’t always better mantra is one of the main reasons we strongly encourage homeowners to consider all of their solar options, not just the brands large enough to pay for the most advertising. A recent report by the U.S. government found that large installers are $2,000 to $5,000 more expensive than small solar companies. If you have offers from some of the big installers in solar, make sure you compare those bids with quotes from local installers to ensure you don’t overpay for solar.
National-scale installers don’t just offer higher prices – they also tend to have fewer solar equipment options, which can have a significant impact on your system’s electricity production. By collecting a diverse array of solar bids, you can compare costs and savings based on the different equipment packages available to you.
There are multiple variables to consider when seeking out the best solar panels on the market. While certain panels will have higher efficiency ratings than others, investing in top-of-the-line solar equipment doesn’t always result in higher savings. The only way to find the “sweet spot” for your property is to evaluate quotes with varying equipment and financing offers.
For any homeowner in the early stage of shopping for solar that would just like a ballpark estimate for an installation, try our Solar Calculator that offers up front cost and long term savings estimates based on your location and roof type. For those looking to get quotes from local contractors today, check out our quote comparison platform.
Solar loans are the fastest-growing method of financing a solar panel installation your home or business. Across the country, more than half of all new solar installations are done with either a cash purchase or through a solar loan.
Mosaic is arguably the largest solar financing provider for homeowners in the country. If you’re comparing solar quotes from a few different solar installers, chances are you’ve encountered a loan option from Mosaic.
Continue readingWhen you install rooftop solar you save thousands on your electric bill, but if you live somewhere that gets lots of snow in the winter, you may also be at risk for a winter-specific side effect. Sometimes, large amounts of snow will slide off your solar panels all at once, which can damage your property. In this article, we will discuss solar snow guards, what they do, and why you might want to ask your solar installer to include them in your solar array.
Continue readingThe HERO Loan Program by Renovate America is one of the most popular energy loan options in California. HERO loans offer reasonable interest rates that make it possible to fund energy upgrades like new windows and updated HVAC systems. Homeowners and businesses in hundreds of communities across the state have used HERO loans to make clean energy upgrades to their properties. One of the most popular uses for HERO loans is to reduce energy bills by installing solar panels.
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In this week’s Solar News Roundup, the International Renewable Energy Agency predicts that solar power costs will fall by 60 percent in the next decade, Hawaii sets up two new solar-friendly programs, and total solar securitizations in 2017 pass $1 billion.
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