A Beginner’s Guide to Buying Solar Panels
Solar panels have been around for a long time and can be seen everywhere in many places. They power street lights and emergency signs, and increasingly, they appear on your neighbors’ rooftops. Solar power offers many benefits to your home, cutting down on your energy bills (even making you money if you sell excess produce back to the grid) and providing reliable emergency power when combined with a good home battery .
Therefore, it is not surprising that more and more people are seriously considering installing solar panels in their homes. If this is you, you’ve probably found that this is not a small project and figuring out the best way to get started can be a challenge. If you’re just starting out on your solar energy journey, here are some basics you need to know before you get started.
Traditional Panels vs. Solar Shingles
First, you need to figure out what type of solar panels you will be installing . There are two main categories here: traditional panels and solar tiles . Panels are what you probably think of when you think of solar power – square, flat glass panels that fit snugly against your roof and soak up the sun. Solar shingles are a relatively new product in the sector that mimic the traditional dimensions and appearance of shingles. Currently, solar tiles are not as efficient as solar panels and are much more expensive , but they are much more aesthetically pleasing. On the other hand, you can remove the solar panels and take them with you if you move, but you can’t do that with solar tiles.
Performance Ratings
The next thing to consider is efficiency, which is a measure of how well they convert sunlight into electricity. Different solar panels and roof tiles will offer different efficiencies, with higher ratings being more expensive. If you have a lot of roofs that get a lot of sun, you can choose a lower efficiency rating to get the power you need, but if you have a smaller roof, you will have to invest in more expensive panels. .
Most solar products will offer efficiency ratings between 10% and 20%. Most solar shingles are at the bottom of this scale, although some of the more expensive silicon shingles provide up to 20% efficiency. Generally speaking, you should strive for the highest efficiency you can find (and afford). All solar products lose efficiency over time, but you should look for solar panels that retain 80% to 90% of their efficiency over 25 years.
How much will you need
How many panels or shingles you need depends on the efficiency rating, the amount of sunlight you can expect, and how much power you need to generate. The average U.S. home consumes about 893 kilowatt hours (kWh) every month, so we’ll use that as a proxy target (obviously your consumption could be lower or higher).
Each solar panel or shingle will have a power output in watts and most new panels will produce between 275 and 400 watts of power , and solar tiles can offer up to 70 watts each . You can calculate how many kWh you get by taking the number of hours of sunlight your roof receives, multiplying it by your panel’s power output, and then dividing by 1000.
For example, if your panel has a 300W output and will receive about five hours of direct sunlight every day: 5 X 300 = 1500/1000 = 1.5 kWh. So, if you get 1.5 kWh every day from your panel, that’s about 45 kWh per month. If you need 893 kWh each month for your home, you’ll need about 20 panels, or about 80-100 shingles, though of course, fewer panels or shingles will still lower your energy bill.
Installation cost
Installing solar panels can be a do-it-yourself job if you’re experienced and know how to get around your roof, though you’re advised to leave the wiring to an electrician. But most people will need to pay to install the panels. Costs vary widely by region , but range from $3 to $5 per watt, or $14,000 to $25,000 before tax credits. In addition to the number and performance rating of the panels you choose, the type of roof you have will be an important factor – the more complex your roof line, the more expensive it will be.
The condition of your roof
Lastly, your existing roof will count towards your costs. Solar panels are designed to be installed on top of an existing roof, so your roof must be in good condition. The rule of thumb is that your roof must have a lifespan of at least 10 years for solar panels to be worth installing, because when it comes time to replace your roof, those panels will need to be removed and then reinstalled. Solar shingles are meant to be a complete replacement for your current roofing material, so they’re only best considered if you’re considering replacing your roof anyway.
tax incentives
If that $14,000-25,000 price scares you, keep in mind that there are really big tax breaks on offer to encourage people to install solar systems. The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit offers a 30 percent reduction in the cost of installing solar panels, so a $20,000 install magically becomes a $14,000 install. This credit is eligible if your system was installed between January 1 , 2006 and December 31, 2023 , is located at your primary or secondary residence in the United States, and the system is new and original to your home.
Your area may also have local tax credits or utility discounts and rebates. If you’re considering installing a solar system, it’s worth taking the time to research any local incentives that can help cover the overall costs.
Where could I buy
Finally, you need to buy and install solar panels or roof tiles. The simplest option might be a “big box” store like Home Depot and Lowes . Both will gladly sell you anything you need and may even arrange to put you in touch with a contractor. Costco is also partnering with Sunrun to make installing solar systems fairly easy and affordable. And Tesla will sell you their solar panels, install them, and even connect them to your home battery, but Tesla tends to be a lot more expensive than the other options.
You also may not get the best quotes if you go to the convenience of a store like Home Depot. There are many solar power companies out there that can offer more experience and a wider range of options, not to mention a potentially better price. Most of them are not represented in every US state, so you need to check what options are available in your area.