What You Need To Know Before Going Solar
February 9, 2023
Solar energy is the key to clean energy and is essential to the decarbonization of our societies. The energy the sun produces each day is more than what is required to power the entire planet.
This is why the world is getting ways to use solar energy resources. Since solar energy is scalable, everyone prefers to deploy it – from a single household to an industrial level. Of course, going solar is not child’s play. It involves taking a significant leap in terms of investment and planning.
Solgen Power installer working to get the panels installed
However, you can make it easier through appropriate planning and by figuring out the Solar Energy System Design – the expected cost, roof condition (size, shape), incentives, rebates, and much more as these factors can reduce your pre-installation, maintenance, and upgradation cost and hassles.
This comprehensive blog provides all the information you need for safe and easy solar power adoption.
Energy Patterns at Home
Every home has different energy patterns and requirements, depending on the size and the number of individuals residing there. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that in 2021, the average U.S. home consumes 10,632-kilowatt hours (kWh), a maximum average of 886 kWh per month.
Hence, checking how much energy your home needs before installing the solar panel is necessary. If you want to assess your home energy requirements, you can check the utility bills for the last 12 months, as it can give you the most relevant information regarding your energy usage and consumption patterns.
You can divide the annual bill by the 12 months to get the estimated energy you need from the solar panels per month. This will also help you determine the number of solar panels you need to power your business or home effectively.
Roof Conditions
Solar Panels are designed to gather sunlight and convert it to electricity; depending on this functionality, installing them on the roof at the best angles is necessary.
The roof direction decides how much sunlight the panel will receive most of the day. The shading and orientation also significantly impact your solar panels’ performance. It is a scientific fact that the sun mostly remains in the southern half of the sky, which means solar panels outperform south-facing roofs with slopes between 15-40 degrees.
As a result, south-facing roofs with minimal shading are ideal for solar panel installations. The users residing north of the equator need to install the panels in the south, and homes on the northern side must choose the southern position.
Roof Inspection is Necessary
Rooftop solar panels are always the best because they can absorb more sunlight and perform at their best. It is better to inspect the roof thoroughly and decide whether it is all fine to hold the weight of the panels to keep yourself safe from any unfortunate future accident.
The features of an ideal roof for solar panel installation include the following:
- A roof made of tiles, tar, gravel, metal, or asphalt shingle is suitable for solar panels.
- The roof must be strong enough to bear the weight of several solar panels.
- The roof, which is prone to several hurdles between solar panels and sunlight, is not feasible for installation. Hence, it would be better to choose a wide open roof.
- An old roof is horrible for the solar system as it carries a significant chance of collapsing down or damaging the solar panels. The life expectancy of most solar panels is between 25 to 30 So, you must ensure that the roof is not too old (it should be less than ten years).
All-in-all, a roof inspection is a crucial step for the home, members, and solar system safety.
Costs
Solar panel installation can be costly because multiple costs are associated with the installation process, including labor, equipment, and permits. An unplanned solar panel installation is always risky and challenging. Thus, you must calculate the anticipated cost(s) for safe, reliable, and effective solar power incorporation.
Most solar panel systems cost around $18,000 and $20,000, including equipment, labor, and other costs. Solar Energy Off-grid systems need batteries to store extra power and keep your home bright during power outages.
For the safe side, you also need solar energy battery storage as it is a great way to avoid inconvenience, especially when there is no sun for days – due to storms or hurricanes; hence, summing up an additional $10,000 is also a convenient deal.
Note: This is an estimated price; the actual cost may vary depending on the size of the home, your area, the cost of the solar panel system, and a fee of a professional installer. The cost may further go up if the roof needs any repair.
Incentives And Rebates
Many states and local governments reward people and make solar energy conversion easy and affordable. Solar panel installation is already costly; the cost may further rise if you are unaware of your location’s rebates and tax incentives. It’s best to look into these incentives and rebates in order to minimize solar panel installation costs.
The American congress passed a bill that states businesses and homeowners can enjoy a 30% federal tax credit, known as Residential Clean Energy Credit (formerly ITC Solar Investment Tax Credit), for installing a solar power system.
Many U.S. states also offer solar panel installers the option of solar energy net metering credits if the consumers generate more energy than they need. Some states also give tax exemptions, cash rebates, performance-based incentives, and more for users’ benefits.
Note: The government also significantly encourages solar panel installations because of the high ROI it offers. The average Solar Energy Return on Investment (ROI) in the U.S. is 10%. Still, it can vary depending on your home location and numerous other factors. You can also take help from an ROI calculator for determining the ROI from your solar panel system.
Solar Panel & Inverter Type
You’ll come across various types of solar panels and inverters, and each of them has its own drawbacks and benefits. Choosing the right solar panel and inverter type for your home is important for best meeting your energy requirements and budget.
Solar Panel Types
Mainly there are three types of solar panels available in the market: thin-film, polycrystalline, and monocrystalline. You can pick one according to your needs, home, office location, and other factors.
Before going solar, it is important to unfold the things regarding each of these three types of solar panels.
1. Monocrystalline
This is the most widely used panel in residential areas and is known to be the most efficient. These panels are made of pure silicon crystal, which cuts into many wafers. As they are made of silicon, it is easy to recognize them from their black color.
Silicon is the thing that makes these solar panels highly efficient and durable. However, one thing that can impact users’ minds is their hefty price tag because a lot of silicon is used to produce just one solar panel.
2. Polycrystalline
Polycrystalline is comparatively less efficient than monocrystalline but is also less pricey. Though they are made up of multiple silicone crystals, their safe manufacturing process saves precious silicon and minimizes wastage – this is why they cost less.
However, they are unsuitable for high-temperature zones because of their less heat tolerance structure.
3. Thin-Film Panels
These panels have a finer design, making them more portable and flexible. Each panel does not need a frame backing, making them lightweight. While crystalline silicon solar panels come in a standard size, this is not the case with a thin film. Thin-film panels are available in different sizes, so pick one that best suits your needs.
Solar Inverters Types
To keep the electricity generating system smooth and safe, installing a solar inverter along with the solar panel is necessary. Let’s check how many solar inverters are available for your help.
1. String inverters
The oldest form of the inverter is the String inverter, in which solar panels are arranged in rows with every panel installed on a string. Many strings are connected to one inverter, which converts solar panels’ D.C. electricity into A.C. electricity. The drawback of this inverter is that the performance of the whole array gets affected if there is an issue in one panel.
2. Microinverters
Solar Energy Microinverters are installed to use in homes. This is the latest technology and works by transferring D.C. to A.C. from the back of each solar panel. Every microinverter is independent and is responsible for changing the alternate current to the direct current on the spot.
The biggest perk is if any panel is covered due to shade, only the performance of that particular one will be affected; all remaining panels will work at full capacity. Add micro inverters at the back to expand the solar system and see the wonders.
3. Power Optimisers
Optimizers have almost the same benefits as microinverters. Each power optimizer is installed on each panel. Still, instead of changing D.C. to A.C. on the spot, they move the direct current to the string inverter.
The string inverter allows you system-level and panel-level monitoring. It means any problem in the solar output is easy to notice.
What Suits You Best?
If you are wondering what solar panel and inverter type suit best to you – there is no definite answer, but remember, it depends on the situation and your budget. If searching for a budget-friendly option, go for a string inverter.
However, if you reside in areas where the sun goes out quickly or have shading issues, try using a micro inverter or optimizer.
Nonetheless, whichever option suits you best, you can rest assured that Solgen Power will help you smoothly transition to clean and sustainable energy. Get in touch with us today or click here to see if you can sign up for the $0 Down Solar Program at Solgen Power in just minutes.
Wrapping Up
There are plenty of reasons that make solar panels highly attractive for domestic and commercial purposes – they are renewable and scalable energy resources, tend to save power costs, and facilitate you in making money in the long term.
However, before installing solar panels, you must consider many vital factors to minimize expenses and save unnecessary costs.
Typically, solar panels work best on south-facing roofs with slopes between 15 and 40 degrees, but other roofs are also suitable. In addition to direction, you should also focus on the roof’s age and determine how long until it will demand replacement.
For further understanding, you can thoroughly read this blog post for a safe solar energy adoption.
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Solgen Power is a solar energy equipment company that sells and installs solar for homeowners. Solgen Power has been recognized by INC. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation. Solgen Power has grown nationwide and continues to provide excellent customer service to homeowners.