In this week’s Solar News Roundup, we’re breaking down the Trump Administration’s tariff on solar cells & modules and a new “major league” solar initiative.
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With strong government incentives and falling equipment costs, going solar has never made more financial sense on such a broad scale. Testament to this is the tremendous increase of the number of American homes & businesses with solar panels on their roofs in recent years. But at the same time, not everyone has a roof of their own, and even those who do might have one that is shaded or otherwise unsuitable for solar. Community-owned solar projects – sometimes called community solar gardens, or shared solar farms – promise a way for the roofless and ‘roof-impaired’ to go solar. Continue reading
Boston University’s bold plan to reach 100 percent renewables in 2018, Duke Energy’s acquisition of commercial solar developer REC Solar, and solar’s increasing share of the electrical grid in three states are the headlines from this week’s Solar News Report.
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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.
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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.
The 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 Report, tech company Edisun claims the largest solar tracker installation for a rooftop system, a Puerto Rican fire department turns to a solar panel array for reliable power following Hurricane Maria, and new research identifies opportunities for more efficient solar panels modeled after butterfly wings.
Continue readingCommunity solar – the concept of leasing or owning a share of a large solar array rather than having a personal solar installation on your rooftop – continues to gain popularity across the continental United States. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), there will be a 1.8 gigawatt (GW) increase in installed photovoltaics from community solar arrays over the next five years. Minnesota, Colorado and California – the undisputed best states for community solar – will drive the majority of that growth. You might wonder, why are these states so ideal for roofless solar compared to the 47 others in the U.S.? Here’s how these community solar leaders rose to the top.
The U.S has witnessed remarkable solar growth over the past decade 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. San Jose, like much of California, has consistent and strong sunlight totals and in this article we’ll explain why San Jose, California is a great spot for solar power and how San Jose homeowners can maximize their solar savings.
As of mid-2017, the average price for solar panels in San Jose was $3.61 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 San Jose is $18,050 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 | San jose Average solar system cost (after ITC) |
|---|---|
| 3 kW | $7,623 |
| 5 kW | $12,530 |
| 7 kW | $17,640 |
| 10 kW | $24,290 |
| 12 kW | $29.400 |
The above table shows the discounted price for a solar panel system in San Jose 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 under $13,000 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.
Other incentives 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 $0.30/W of installed solar power.
Though San Jose 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 San Jose homeowners yielded 20-year savings estimates of over $62,241 on average. Checkout the breakdown of average net savings by solar system size:
| System size | Average solar savings over 20 years |
|---|---|
| 3 kW | $30,370 |
| 5 kW | $51,219 |
| 7 kW | $77,029 |
| 10 kW | $107,678 |
| 12 kW | $131,675 |
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 San Jose 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.
More than 40 cities committed to 100% renewable energy, a unique colored solar panel breakthrough, and the impact of the coming solar eclipse on U.S. solar power generation are the headlines from this week’s Solar News Report.
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