Solar

Solar energy is the energy of the future. Read more below.

What is Solar Energy?

Solar energy is the most rapidly expanding and cost-effective source of new electricity in the United States. Over 3 million installations have been installed in the United States, with 1 million being installed in the last two years. As the cost of solar energy systems has decreased, more Americans and businesses are opting for green energy.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Simply put, a solar panel generates energy by allowing photons, or light particles, to knock electrons loose from atoms. Photovoltaic cells are the smallest units that make up solar panels. (The term “photovoltaic” simply refers to the process of converting sunlight into energy.)

How Much are Solar Panels?

After federal tax credits, the average cost of installing solar panels in the United States is around $12,000. A smaller system can be installed for roughly $5,000 on the low end, while a Tier 1 solar panel system can cost $40,000 or more on the high end.

Aside from the cost of the panels, there are other expenditures associated with an installation operation. In fact, the panels account for just roughly a fourth of the total installation costs. The remaining costs are made up of labor, operational costs, and other equipment such as inverters and control circuitry.

Solar energy businesses set up the panels, maintain them, and provide warranties on both the panels and the labor they do. These extra services aren’t always free, but they’re often well worth it. The cost of solar panel installation is influenced by a few other factors.

How many solar panels do I need?

The number of panels you require is determined by your energy needs, which has an impact on the entire cost of your solar system installation. To completely eliminate your power cost, you must create all of the electricity your home requires. To obtain complete energy independence, most homeowners will require between 25 and 35 panels.

The average household requires 867 kWh of electricity each month.

A solar panel normally produces one kilowatt-hour (kWh) each day, so if you use 30 kWh per day, you’ll need 30 solar panels to meet your energy needs. This increases your energy bills if you need to create extra energy to heat a pool or run the air conditioning for the majority of the year.

You’ll need to know your typical kilowatt-hours to estimate how much energy you’ll require (kWh). This figure should appear as “kWh utilized” on your power statement. Look at your bills from the previous year, add up the stated kWh used, and divide by 12 to find your monthly average.

To determine your daily average, divide your monthly kWh average by 30. For example, if your monthly average kWh is 900, your daily average kWh is 30.

Some solar power estimates use a satellite image of your roof to estimate how much electricity you can generate. Other calculators estimate your solar irradiation based on your location, while others rely solely on the size of your roof or your normal electricity usage. Federal, state, and municipal subsidies may or may not be included in solar calculations, but if you’re qualified, they can save you a lot of money.

Consider periods when there is less solar power available, such as when it is cloudy or in the evening, for a more accurate computation. There are two primary explanations for this:

When the sun is shining, battery backups can be used to store energy and provide power when the light isn’t shining. There are a variety of solar batteries to choose from, so do some research to locate the ideal one for your home.
When your system isn’t producing enough power, buyback agreements might assist offset the expense of purchasing electricity from the utility provider. When the sun shines, your solar energy system will provide more electrical power than your home consumes, and the utility company will compensate you for the surplus power at “avoided cost.” This rate is usually around half of what the utility provider charges for electricity.
These extra calculations can be challenging, but they are required if you want the best solar power system for your home.

Learn more at RateMarketplace.com