solar pv display screens quotation

We’ll spare you from the nitty-gritty of how semi-conductive materials create electricity through the photovoltaic effect. In short, when a solar panel absorbs sunlight, it generates direct current (DC) electricity. However, the electricity that comes out of the outlets in your home or business is alternating current (AC). To match this, when you go solar, you’ll also need a solar inverter to convert DC electricity from your solar panels into usable AC electricity to power your home or business.

Most people can save tens of thousands of dollars on electricity costs over the lifetime of a solar panel system (25+ years). The exact amount you can save depends on many factors, including how much you spend on electricity bills, how much electricity your solar panel system generates, incentives available in your area, and more. The best way to get accurate savings estimates is to compare custom solar quotes on our Marketplace – your quotes will take all these factors and more into account.

The price of solar has fallen dramatically over the last decade (seriously – it’s dropped more than 70 percent!) In 2020, homeowners typically spend between $10,000 and $20,000 to buy a solar panel system, but it may cost you more or less depending on your state, incentives, the size of your system, the type of equipment you install, and the company you move forward with. Fortunately, you don’t need to outlay thousands upfront to go solar: like with getting a new car, there are accessible financing options for both leasing and ownership that allow you to install with no money down.

Probably more than 10 and fewer than 40. We know that’s quite a range, but with solar, there’s really no one-size-fits-all solution: the number of panels you should install depends on how much sun hits your property, your energy needs, and the amount of space you have available for the installation. Most people install a system large enough to generate as much of their electricity needs as possible (that’s how you’ll save the most money!)

Need? No – most people who go solar remain connected to the grid, meaning you can pull electricity from the grid when your solar panels aren’t producing enough to meet your needs. However, even though you don’t need one, solar batteries have some pretty great benefits: if you live in an area that experiences frequent power outages, a battery will help keep your solar-powered home running when the grid goes down. Also, if your utility company has demand charges or time-of-use rates, installing a solar battery can help you save money.

When it comes to solar panels, the price tag can be a bit of a shock for companies. However, there are several factors that contribute to the cost of solar panels and knowing these factors can help you understand the true cost of going solar.

The first factor is the size of your company. The larger your company, the more roof space you will need to cover with solar panels. This means that you will need more panels, which will increase the cost.

The second factor is your location. Solar panel prices vary depending on where you live. If you live in an area with lots of sun, you will likely pay less for your panels than if you lived in a cloudy area.

The third factor is the type of solar panel you choose. There are two main types of solar panels: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient, but they also tend to be more expensive.

The fourth factor is the quality of the solar panels. The better the quality, the higher the price tag. However, it is important to remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to solar panels. The better the quality, the longer they will last and the more energy they will produce.

The fifth factor is the installation cost. Installing solar panels can be a costly endeavor, but the cost will vary depending on the company you choose and the complexity of your installation.

The sixth factor is the maintenance cost. Solar panels require very little maintenance, but it is still important to factor in the cost of occasional cleanings and repairs.

The seventh factor is the warranty. Most solar panel companies offer warranties on their products, but the length and terms of the warranty will vary. Make sure to read the fine print before you make your purchase.

Solar panels are a great investment that can save you money in the long run, but it is important to do your research and understand all of the costs involved before making your final decision.

Choosing a solar installer is the most important decision you’ll make when it comes to going solar. A good company will make you wish you had another home to install solar panels on. If you have a bad experience with a solar installer, you could end up wishing you never started in the first place.

that operates in good standing, with proper licensing, liability, and worker’s comp insurance. You should also confirm that the person that is selling you the solar system actually works for the company that is licensed to do the work.

Anyone selling and quoting solar panel systems must be the contractor themselves or work for the contractor under a CA state home improvement sales license (HIS). You can check both by visiting thewebsite. You can search by Business Name or HIS Name (name of the salesperson). For more help, call the CSLB at

You should refuse to hire any unlicensed salesperson or contractor. It is also highly recommended that you hire the contractor directly. When you work through a third-party salesperson, they subcontract the work out to another company. When it comes time to get help with your solar panels such as repair from a warranty, all they will do is pass around responsibility.

When you work with a direct contractor, like Option One Solar, you can always rely on the work being done by us, and the warranties we back up with our own reputation. Our Option One salespeople are all expertly trained in helping customers like you understand their quotes and teaching our clients everything about their solar PV systems. Option One Solar has been voted as the best solar installer for50 years.

Comparing the cost-per-watt seems like an easy way to compare prices from different companies, but there are other factors that can have a significant impact on the actual cost of the solar panel system over the course of its life.

When comparing quotes from different companies, don’t just compare prices. While it is a very important factor for your decision, it’s hard to judge each quote in an apples-to-apples type of comparison. The differences between the installation contractor, the size of the system, and the quality of the solar equipment can vary.

Always look at the numbers. You want the highest-performing modules and inverters you can get at a fair price. If the price is very low, be careful. Quality work and equipment are not cheap. Solar companies that give low quotes will usually not be in business long enough to honor warranties or guarantees. You also have to consider that the equipment might not be the quality you want for your home. If the price is too high, simply ask and find out why. It is easy to tell if it is justified or just price gouging.

When you want to go solar, a few options are available to you. When solar energy was relatively new, many people got solar panel systems with a solar lease. Over the past few years, this option has declined in popularity. It seems people want to own what they pay for!

If you want to purchase your solar system, you can either buy it outright with cold hard cash or you can get a solar loan. Solar loans are very popular because you get to own your solar PV system with no money down, and the monthly cost is usually lower than the average monthly electricity bill. Each company has its own financing options, so make sure you understand the details of each one.

Make sure the cost of the entire solar system has a return on investment and years to pay back that make sense for you. Of course, you’re looking for the highest return on your investment with the fastest payback. Option One Solar systems usually pay for themselves in 5-6 years, and customers see a return of around 20%. The higher your electric bill gets, the higher your return on investment will be.

Solar is cheaper than paying an electric bill. All the money you invest in installing a solar system increases your property value and gives you an annual 10% to 30% back in annual returns! It’s a guaranteed investment.

Solar quotes are just initial offers. Solar Installers can change the system design, solar tech, and financing options to fit your needs. There’s no need to throw out a solar quote if it doesn’t match what you’re looking for. Don’t forget to negotiate and get the system you want. If the salesperson you talk to has a problem with negotiation, that’s a huge red flag.

If you’re still having trouble understanding your solar quotes,! We don’t mind reviewing your existing quotes and helping you decide which is the best option for your home.

Your system should have been designed to produce at least 100% of the electricity that you use. This way you will never be affected by rate increases or tier changes from the electrical utility company. Be careful! This is an area where shady solar companies will try to cut corners to offer you a better price. Make sure the size of the solar system you are buying is big enough for your needs. If it is too small, you could end up still having an electric bill every month.

Every Option One Solar system is built to provide 110% of the electricity your home needs, so all our customers can eliminate their electricity bills!

Going solar can reduce your utility bills—especially if you qualify for tax breaks and live in an area where solar panels are cheap. Homeowners with high electricity bills can potentially save tens of thousands of dollars throughout the lifespan of their system. However, you should still be prepared for a large up-front cost.

According to the Center for Sustainable Energy, the average cost for solar panels is $3–$5 per watt, totaling $15,000–$20,000 for a typical 5 kilowatt (kW) system. Learn which factors impact cost before reaching out to solar companies near you, plus get information about cost-saving tax credits and incentives.

Solar panel costs can vary widely from state to state, due in part to the average electricity bill in the area. Hawaii has the highest costs, while Louisiana has the lowest costs. The national average price is 10.53 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Keep reading for a breakdown of solar panel costs in each state.

Solar installation is a straightforward process. Your solar company will handle most, if not all, steps. A representative will begin by holding a consultation to assess your energy needs and home design.

Matt Johnson, co-owner ofNamaste Solar, says that a reputable installer should supply an itemized list of the costs for each aspect of the installation, including labor, permit fees, sales taxes, utility fees, the interconnection fee, and so forth. The installer should also include available tax incentives.

Labor: Labor costs vary by location and are more expensive in areas with higher costs of living. Different solar providers also charge different prices. Labor will be included in your initial quote.

Location: Solar panels cost more in some states than others, largely due to electricity costs in the region. Peak sunlight hours are also also a factor.

Panel quality: The equipment you choose has a big impact on your electricity production. You’ll want to find the most efficient solar panels that fit your budget. More expensive equipment doesn’t always translate to higher savings, while the cheapest option can sacrifice value. Find the right balance between quality and price.

Solar tax incentives lower installation costs. These incentives are offered by the federal and state governments, utility companies, and certain municipalities. Some common types include tax credits, cash rebates, Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), and property tax exemptions. These incentives vary by state in terms of availability and payout.

One exception is the federal solar tax credit, which provides a tax deduction equal to 30% of your solar installation costs. If your tax liability is lower than the deduction, it will roll over to the next year.

Solar panel installation requires a significant financial commitment, so any companies offer different payment options to suit different budgets. Here’s an overview of the typical financial options offered by solar providers:

Full payment: You pay for the solar system outright without a loan or payment plan. This option will save you the most money because you won’t pay interest rates. Full payment also grants you ownership of your system, qualifying you for incentives.

Solar loan: A loan allows you to make small payments over a longer payback period. However, you’ll pay more in the long run due to interest rates. Solar loans also qualify you for solar incentives.

Solar lease: This option allows you to make fixed monthly payments with little to no up-front cost. Your solar company retains ownership of your system and is responsible for its upkeep. These agreements usually last around 20 years. Leasing customers don’t qualify for solar incentives.

Power purchasing agreement (PPA): A PPA allows you to pay for only the energy you use. Similar to an electric bill, the rate fluctuates each month. Your solar company retains ownership of the system and is responsible for its upkeep. You will not qualify for incentives.

Solar panels can save you money on your electric bills, but the amount depends on your roof’s size and angle,  local electricity rates, and how much direct sunlight you receive. Compare your monthly electric bills to your projected rate with solar panels to get a sense of how much you can save.

Solar panels are also cheaper than ever before. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the cost to install solar panels has dropped more than 70% in the past decade.

The number of solar panels you need will depend on a variety of factors, including the size of your home, the amount of daily sunlight it receives, and more. Ultimately, the energy needs will dictate how many panels you require. You’ll need your solar panels to generate 100% of your home’s electricity needs to completely get rid of your electricity bill.

The typical solar panel produces roughly one kilowatt-hour per day. You can find out your kWh usage on your utility bill. It will be listed monthly, so divide it by 30 to get your daily use. If you use 50 kWh, you would need 50 solar panels. But there are other features outside your home that might require energy, like powering a guest home or heating a pool. That will increase the number of solar panels you need. Johnson says that certain issues with your roof can also increase installation costs, such as additional lumber to strengthen rafters.

It’s important to do your research on the best solar providers and equipment before investing in solar panels. You should also maximize any federal and state incentives whenever possible.

We recommend getting as many quotes as possible to get the best rate and avoid inflated prices. Weigh the equipment’s cost, financing options, and warranties. Use our tool below to begin your search for solar providers in your area.

Solar panels can save you money by reducing or even eliminating your energy bills. They increase your property value, giving you substantial return on investment and increased profit if you sell your home.

The amount of solar panels needed to power a house depends on the amount of daily sunlight your home receives, the types of appliances you have (electric vs. gas), the size of your roof, and more. Homeowners should consult an expert to ensure they get the right amount of coverage for their house.

No, solar panels do not generate power in the dark. However, solar panels can continue to provide power due to net metering—surplus power is transferred to the public utility power grid to offset the costs. You can also buy a solar battery that stores excess energy to use at night.

Net-metering is a billing system that compensates residential solar customers for excess energy. This energy is sold back to the grid in exchange for credits on your future utility bills or an annual payout, depending on the program. Net-metering policies are offered at the state level or through utility companies.

Quality solar panels can last 25–30 years, or even longer with regular maintenance and servicing. Your panels will continue to work beyond this time frame but their energy production will drop significantly.

Yes, a house can run on solar power alone with an excellent solar system and power storage options. However, you will need to invest in a high-quality system and panels, which requires a significant financial investment.

A single solar panel costs between $2.67 and $3.43 to buy and install.4 The price of the whole system is based on its capacity, measured in watts. How big a system you need will be based on how much energy you use, your roof’s sunlight exposure and panel efficiency.

The average payback period for a residential solar system is between six to nine years, depending on the cost of your system, incentives and savings from your energy bill.19

These figures are based on the average 6.2 kilowatt solar system. The cost of each system will vary based on panel manufacturer, inverter option, location and equipment.

Maintenance of solar panels ranges from routine cleaning to major repairs. On average, households pay $150 for one solar panel cleaning.11 Companies charge between $3 to $10 per panel based on roof slant, home height and system size.11 Some firms charge a flat rate fee for a system cleaning. If you clean your system twice a year, as recommended, you can expect an annual bill of about $300.

If your system is damaged, you may incur additional expenses. Repairs to your system will include the prices of equipment and labor. Labor is typically priced at $100 per hour. Materials for solar repairs could be as little as $180 but may also be greater than $1,000. Your combined, total bill may range from $200 to $3,000.11

When you own your system, you are responsible for the cost of maintenance and repairs. Your warranty should cover specific system failures; contact your installer before you begin repairs. A Sunrun solar lease, lets you save thousands of dollars in maintenance and repairs. You simply pay for the power, and we take care of the rest. Our comprehensive service package features the Sunrun Guarantee, which includes best-in-class monitoring, free equipment replacement, and system repairs including parts and labor, and routine maintenance.

If you’re set on buying your own home solar system, you can also purchase our full-service package, Protection Plus. While the system is yours, we’ll give you the same comprehensive support that comes with our Sunrun Guarantee.

The price of your panels will depend on the manufacturer. Sunrun partners with LG, a world leader in solar technology and panels. Striking the right balance between quality, efficiency and affordability, LG offers some of the best solar panels on the market today.14

Another factor in determining your total home solar system cost is where you live. Here are the states with the lowest and highest average solar system costs:*

Just because a residential solar system costs more in a given state doesn’t mean it’s any less cost effective.5 Local incentives can make a huge dent in solar installation costs even in the most expensive states.

It may be tempting to think that higher-wattage solar panels are more efficient or higher quality than lower-wattage solar panels. Isn’t a 420-watt panel better than a 360-watt panel? Not necessarily. With solar panels, higher wattage does not equal higher efficiency. The physical panel size also needs to be considered.

Solar panels come in a variety of physical sizes. Higher-wattage panels tend to be physically larger (such as a 390 watt, 72-cell panel, 3.3’ by 6.5’ panel) while lower-wattage panels tend to be smaller (such as a 330 watt, 60-cell panel, 3.3’ by 5.6’ panel). Higher-wattage panels aren’t necessarily higher-efficiency or “better” panels, they are likely simply physically larger panels.

Many solar installers, ourselves included, use smaller panels for residential installations because the smaller physical panel size allows us to rearrange panels into more configurations to better fit each roof. By using smaller panels we are actually able to fit morepower production on each roof. This isn’t always the case; when the roof geometry allows, larger panels may be the right choice for your home.

There are higher efficiency panels on the market. These panels produce more energy while staying physically smaller in size. But the trade-off for efficiency is cost. For example, the REC 370-watt panel is a premium 60-cell panel that’s only 3.33’ x 5.65’ in size but costs 40% more per watt than the 3.45’ x 5.75’ Qcell 340-watt panel. Since these higher efficiency panels cost more, we only recommend them to customers with limited roof space that need to squeeze out every watt of power production they can with their limited square footage. Generally, the more cost-effective way to produce more power is simply to add another standard-efficiency solar panel rather than switching to more expensive high-efficiency panels.

Every solar company needs to make several assumptions when calculating how much electricity a solar array will produce. How much shade from surrounding trees and buildings will cover your array throughout the year? How much snow will cover the array in the wintertime? How much production will be lost due to system inefficiencies, temperature fluctuations, and weather? At Drews Solar, we tend towards more conservative estimates when making assumptions. This means our estimates and quotes may show our arrays producing less power annually than our competitors. Other companies make more optimistic assumptions about how much electricity their systems will produce.

The solution? Hold the energy-production and annual-offset estimates loosely. Compare the kW size of the solar array, not the amount of power the solar company tells you the array will produce. If you receive two estimates for a 6 kW solar array and one tells you the array will produce 6000 kWh of electricity per year and the other tells you it will produce 8000 kWh of electricity per year, know that you are likely to get production somewhere in that range, but that there are too many factors for a perfect prediction to be made.

At Drews Solar we tend to be more conservative in our estimates because we want our systems to produce at least as good as we predict. While our ultimate goal is to be as accurate in our assessments as possible, we’d prefer our customers to be pleasantly surprised that their systems produced more power than their quote estimated rather than be disappointed it is not producing at the level they expected.

When trying to assess the quality of panels, inverters, and other components of your solar array we recommend looking at independent testing and data. PVEL, an independent testing group, offers scorecards for both panels and inverters that may be worth consulting when choosing your array.

One note when comparing panels and other components: don’t get caught up in looking for the “best of the best.” There are a lot of quality, reliable panels and inverters on the market that will dependably produce power for you across the lifetime of your solar array. Just like cars, a Honda may not have the highest specs when compared to a BMW or an Audi but will just as reliably get your family where you need to go. We recommend high-quality panels and inverters but find chasing the highest-end specs often results in just higher prices with very little additional electricity production or reliability. The same goes with choosing consumer-name-brand panels. While customers may know the names LG or Panasonic more than they know Silfab, Qcell, or REC, within the world of solar panel production, consumer-name-brand panels are not necessarily better than name brands known only within the solar world.

Your home is likely your largest investment. You want a solar company that takes care of your home, your roof, and your electrical system. You also want to choose a solar company that will take good care of you throughout the process, making it easy to go solar without causing you headaches and confusion along the way, and will provide quick and quality service to your system if it is ever needed. There are many quality installers in Wisconsin, but we highly recommend reading online reviews before choosing your solar installer to make sure you choose one that will take good care of you and your home. The highest quality panels and components mean little if they are poorly installed or your home or roof is damaged in the process.

Return on investment and savings over the lifetime of your solar array are both great indicators of the value of your solar array, but there are two assumptions that need to be made when calculating these numbers: (1) the amount of energy your solar array will produce each year and (2) the projected rise in electricity costs over time. As outlined above, each solar company needs to make several assumptions when calculating the amount of energy your solar array will produce each year, and therefore the return on investment and savings over the lifetime of your array may end up being overestimates or underestimates, based on the assumptions the installer made. Drews Solar tends to make conservative assumptions that may lead to underestimating the savings over time. Other companies may tend toward optimistic assumptions that may lead to overestimating the savings over time. Electricity costs also tend to increase over time. The more a solar company assumes they increase over time, the most cost effective going solar will look on paper. Drews Solar assumes the more conservative 2.2% yearly rise in electricity rates based on historical data. Other area solar companies assume electricity costs will rise at rates as much as 4% a year, which makes going solar look even more economically advantageous on paper than our 2.2% increase projection.

Some solar companies offer in-house financing. It may be the right choice for certain homeowners, but we recommend considering at least one other option, such as a loan from your own bank or credit union, when financing a solar array. You may find that your system may end up costing you double when choosing to financing through a solar company rather than paying for it outright or financing your solar array through an independent bank or credit union. We recommend considering the total costs of going solar and not just the monthly savings to see which option will be the most cost-effective choice overall.

At Drews Solar we are committed to integrityand quality. We want happy customers over the whole lifetime of their solar array, which means we are committed to the highest quality installation and materials, we sweat the details to get it right, and we communicate with honesty and integrity every step of the way. These aren’t just words- it’s who we are.

In the residential solar industry in America, high pressure, in-home sales tactics are the norm. However, you can beat these tactics and get an excellent deal if you are armed with the right information.

Solar companies know that users of platforms like SolarReviews have been given access to accurate pricing information; to win your business, they will have to make you an excellent offer.

Our quote platform has the largest collection of solar panel installation cost data in the US. More than 350 solar companies submit estimates through this site, providing solar quotes to over 350,000 homeowners per year.

The volume of quotes generated through SolarReviews means that we have access to the most accurate and up-to-date solar panel cost data available anywhere.

The problem with official data sets, however, is that they include Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) jobs. PPAs are often reported at inflated prices by vendors to maximize their tax credit claims, which makes the cost of installing solar in these states higher than they actually are.

SolarReviews, by contrast, displays data from across the United States. More importantly, we only show data for residential solar panel installations, which allows for an apples-to-apples comparison of solar costs by homeowners.

Tier 1 solar panels are high-quality modules made by large, established manufacturers. Large-scale projects such as solar farms use Tier 1 solar panels almost exclusively.

Tier 2 and Tier 3 solar panels are made by companies that are either new or small, and thus lack a proven track record. A large project will struggle to raise financing if they use one of these brands.

The reason is simple: solar panels are built to last at least 25 years. As such, you want reliable solar panels that are unlikely to fail. Moreover, you want a manufacturer that is highly likely to still be in operation 20 years down the line, so if there is a problem then, the company can honor the warranty claim.

Luckily, finding consumer reviews of solar equipment is easy. SolarReviews has the largest collection of solar company reviews on the internet. You can check them out here:

The installation company you choose to install your solar power system is as important as the specific brands of solar panels and inverter you choose.

Most solar companies will offer to connect you with financing. However, we recommend that you first check if you are eligible for a HELOC (home equity line of credit). HELOC rates are lower, at around 4.5-5.5%, whereas unsecured solar finance offered by solar companies is around 6-8%, or higher.

An informed decision about solar involves many factors because it is a very long-term investment. One of the most important is factoring in your potential financial savings before you commit to install solar panels.

Checking the figures for your monthly electric bill savings, as well as the total savings over the life of the panels is easy thanks to our solar savings calculator. You can use it just to see an estimate based on cost data data from your area, or you can choose to take the next step and use it to get live pricing from local installers.

The calculator will show lots of other relevant information, such as how many solar panels you need and the monthly loan repayments if you finance your solar panels.

When you use the solar savings calculator, it will show you what incentives and rebates are available to you and how to go about claiming then. There is an almost overwhelming number of incentive programs out there, but the calculator uses a filter to only show the incentives that apply to your address and for customers of your specific utility.

A key assumption determining the return you will make from your solar system will be the amount of power it produces. This varies depending on the location, the direction of the roof (south is best) and the tilt angle or slope of the roof.

If you are concerned, then the best calculator for working out the exact production from a specific roof is a government solar calculator called PVWatts.

In states with Time of Use and feed-in tariffs, you may be better off with a hybrid system (solar panels plus battery storage). These systems allow you to store the surplus power produced during the day in a battery, for use at night.

Solar quoting websites provide you, the homeowner, with a much-needed platform where you can find out everything you need to know about solar before negotiating with a solar company.

It is easy to get a quote through this site. You enter your details, utility, and monthly power bill and it displays an online estimate of how much solar you need and the market pricing based on the average pricing of the installers that service your area. It then gets three of those installers to provide their live prices and an accurate bid for your house.

There are significant variances in cost between the cheapest and best solar installers, and the cheapest and best solar equipment. SolarReviews allows you to access the benefit of feedback from approximately 30,000 consumers who have already gone solar and have been generous enough to share their experiences with SolarReviews. The ratings of installers and solar panels give you an easy way to compare quality.

SolarReviews offers consumers highly accurate and unbiased information about both price and quality, the two biggest factors a consumer needs to consider when considering a purchase of solar.

A sign of a professional installer or installation company is a comprehensive solar quote. Here is the information that you can expect to see on each of your quotes:

The installation warranty covers defects in the installed system that are not specific to the solar panels or inverters, for example, if a cable becomes disconnected, an isolator fills with rain and fails, or the racking system comes loose.

It is important to itemise each separate solar panel array because it shows that the installer has accounted for the expense of cable penetrations through the roof at every array. An install done on the cheap might only have one roof penetration, with the arrays connected with ugly electrical conduit going all over your roof like spaghetti.

If your roof has any shade at all, the solar quote should include how the installer has calculated these losses. This post explains how I believe it should be calculated: solarquotes.com.au/shade.

Any solar seller who has confidence in the systems they’re selling should be happy to put your estimated savings in writing. Your actual post-solar electricity bills will depend on how much energy you use after the system is installed. If you throw caution to the wind and use twice the electricity after the install, your bill may not improve or may even get worse. If you keep your consumption the same, it’s easy for an installer to predict your savings.

Self-consumption ratio: As we’ve learned, the biggest thing affecting projected savings is your self-consumption ratio. That means it’s important for any projected savings to show the self-consumption ratio they’ve assumed. Check this is close to the one you calculated in Step 2. If the ratio is based on 100% self-consumption, that’s a red flag. I don’t know any household that consumes 100% of their solar electricity.

Figure 6.6 demonstrates a good way to present total savings. Be sure that the  solar quote shows the inflation of electricity prices they have assumed and make sure you agree with it.

Bill before and after solar: This is the most important projection for most people. What can you expect your post-solar bills to be? After you get solar, you’re unlikely to maintain a spreadsheet and track your internal rates of return, but you will get an electricity bill every quarter – and if it’s low enough, you’ll be happy.

Energy graph: The final thing that’s nice to see on a well-presented solar quote is a graph of your solar production and usage. They’ll need to have estimated or measured your hourly energy-use profile to create this graph, and it gives you a good feel for how the solar power system will work with your usage.

On this graph (for a winter’s day), we can see how the solar system easily covers the average load of the house. It will cope with small spikes in demand and have plenty of energy to charge a battery in the future.

If you’re preparing to get quotes for solar power, this guide provides detailed and valuable information on the star component of a system installation – the solar panels.

Before we delve into the wonderful world of PV modules and which are the best solar panels to choose – we need to make sure we are talking about the right product. So let’s get any confusion out of the way for starters. The information on this website is focused on photovoltaic solar panels; also known as “solar PV” or “solar electricity” modules.

There’s another type of solar panel that is used for heating water (as opposed to generating electricity). This type is called a “solar hot water panel” or “solar thermal collector” and is a completely different beast.

Solar panels are the most critical part of any solar power system installation. Choosing the best panel brand or module type to buy for your circumstances is just as important as ensuring the solar panels are installed by a competent accredited installer, at the best angle and pointing in the optimal direction.

Unfortunately, most salespeople aren’t going to be much help when it comes to choosing the best solar panel brand! Why? Because, despite my best efforts to persuade them otherwise, most of them will use the sales strategy of insisting that their solar panels are the best quality and everyone else is selling crap modules.

They can’t all be right! So what’s the truth? How do you make a real solar panel comparison and a purchase choice that is best for your circumstances? Let’s find out…

When shopping around to get the best value from your solar panel rebate, one of the points that will set different installers apart is the type and brand of PV module they recommend to use in the installation.

When I talk about efficiency, I am referring to the ratio (as a percentage) of the solar energy that hits the panel surface to the electrical energy generated by the module.

For example, if a solar panel captured half the energy in the sunlight, then the module’s conversion efficiency would be 50%. In real-world conditions, good conventional solar panel efficiencies range from about 19% up to just over 22%.

Why is a high efficiency good? Well, the higher the efficiency, the more watts of electricity you will get per square meter of panel. So, the higher the efficiency – the smaller that solar panel becomes for the same electrical output and the less roof space required.

So if roof space is at a premium, or you just want super-duper PV technology, look into higher efficiency modules as your best choice; but be prepared to pay a bit more. Otherwise, as long as the solar panel efficiency is over 19%, don’t worry about conversion efficiency.

When weighing up how much solar panels cost, the obvious calculation you need to make is: How many watts of power are you getting per dollar of module, or alternatively, dollars per watt?

Good quality solar panels cost from 67c to $1.60 a watt currently; and that’s inclusive of GST. This is just for the panels and doesn’t include other system components or installation.

As a general rule and like most things in life, you tend to get what you pay for – so be cautious about choosing solar panels solely on price, as low cost could translate to poor performance and reliability. However, there are often bargains on good quality products to be had, special deals and some suppliers are just more competitive. Just ensure you’re comparing apples to apples in terms of warranty, service, product quality and so on.

It is not easy to determine the quality of solar panels, inverters and installation service from a quote – and as mentioned, salespeople tend to be biased.

The first thing I would do to rate a panel brand is to look at the thousands of solar panel reviews I have collected from Australian customers over the last 11 years. By reading reviews you can get a good idea of how various modules perform in local conditions. The reviews are only from Australians who have had the panels installed for at least 12 months.

You can also take a look at our solar panel comparison table to view specifications and pricing of various popular brands and models currently available in Australia side-by-side. There’s also my chart of brands of solar panels I trust for my recommendations from the choice of modules currently available in Australia.

The next thing to understand is warranty statements, and conformance to quality standards can provide a pretty good indication of a solar panel’s quality.

As an absolute minimum, insist on at least a 12 year manufacturer’s warranty (also called product warranty) on the solar panels, which covers defects in workmanship and materials.

Be aware this is a different guarantee to the 25 or 30 year “performance guarantee” that every module out there carries. Without getting into details, the performance guarantee is iffy because it may be easy for a company to wriggle out of. The manufacturer’s guarantee is the one  you need to look at and it needs to be at least 10 years. This blog post covers solar panel warranties in detail.

Finally, make sure the warranty isn’t tied to an expensive service contract. You don’t want to be compelled to shell out $500 a year for a bloke to hose down your solar panels just to keep your warranty. By the way, this sort of warranty stipulation is likely unenforceable under Australian Consumer Law!

Some people insist the best solar panels are made in Germany and all Chinese solar panels are crap. Follow that previous link for a deeper discussion on this, but frankly I find that talk borderline xenophobic.

Like most products, solar panels can have different specifications indicating their technical attributes. This can be a rather confusing area, but some specifications to take particular note of when making your choice:

The voltage rating and coefficient of temperature. Panels should be rated to 100V DC minimum for safety. A good temperature coefficient rating can indicate a solar panel that performs slightly better in higher temperatures.

Who is the original manufacturer? Some companies buy solar panels and self brand them. You should find out who the original manufacturer is and how will the company will support you.

Some people choose the look of certain types of solar panels to others – this is just down to personal preference. As a general rule, thin film panels look more uniform and some feel these look best. However, they take up much more space due to their lower conversion efficiencies – and aren’t widely installed in Australia nowadays anyway.

Some suppliers can integrate the panels into your roof, others can supply solar roof tiles. And if you’ve got a whacky, curved roof, you can even get flexible solar panels! However the sleek aesthetics of building integrated solar power (BIPV) comes at a price of course.

Here are the brands I currently recommend. You can find reviews from Australian owners of all these brands (and others) in my solar panel reviews section.

I also asked installers in the SolarQuotes network for their recommendations – what they would install on their own rooftops in terms of both high-end and budget products? Discover what they voted the best solar panels in 2023. You’ll notice all the brands installers voted the best also appear on the chart above.

Next up I’ll go through the different types of solar panel technology currently available. If you would like a simple answer to the question “how do solar panels work?” before we get into the different technologies, then that link should satisfy your inner geek.

Otherwise let’s move on – or if you’re ready to get pricing on a system, you can get up to 3 solar quotes via my service from Australian installers I have personally pre-vetted and trust that I will match to your requirements and location.

Many people switch to solar because the system typically ends up paying for itself. It cuts (or downright eliminates) electricity bills, and there are reimbursements and performance-based incentives that put money directly in your pocket. Also, while additions like building a pool, renovating your bathroom, or putting a new porch in your backyard hike your tax rates, Massachusetts solar installations are exempt from property taxes. With so many financial incentives supporting the transition to clean energy, it’s crucial you choose the right company to partner with to secure your investment.

The solar process begins with your initial request for a quote. Many national or non-local solar installers partner with EnergySage and other online marketplaces to give quotes to interested parties. To expedite the process, these marketplaces use automated systems to assess how much it would cost to equip your home with solar and how much money you’d save over time. However, there are a multitude of reasons these quick, computerized solar assessments are not the most precise.

Constructing solar projects involves patience, care, and attention to detail. A proper assessment is needed for accurate energy production rates and a personalized solar design. Otherwise, your quick quote from an online generator might be grossly inaccurate.

Solar savings calculators or online quote generators are the current buzz in the solar industry, and this popularity leads many prospective customers to assume they’re reliable. These tools, like those on EnergySage and Google’s Project Sunroof, quickly spit out potential savings from installing solar panels. They’ll also show you presumptuous quotes from solar companies that haven’t even visited your home yet. With little time and effort required from the user, it’s no surprise that this method has soared in popularity.

The problem is that solar savings calculators usually aren’t reliable. These systems are often coded with outdated satellite images (courtesy of Google Maps) and disconnected third party data about your energy costs. On top of that, they make broad assumptions about your home based on general location data. While receiving a free quote is a critical step in thesolar process, these quote generators are often vague or downright defective.

Solar calculators typicallygeneralize financial incentivesassociated withthe project, which is problematic since incentives vary by state and even city. For instance, theincentive rateswithin Massachusetts’ current incentive program, SMART (Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target), can vary daily. Under the SMART Program, Massachusetts utility companies (Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil) directly compensate you for every kilowatt-hour of solar energy that you generate monthly. Each of these utility companies have designated “blocks” of solar energy capacity (in megawatts), and solar owners are placed in a block for 10 years based on when they signed up for solar.

It’s important to note that SMART is structured as adeclining block model. Each block has a limited capacity, and, once that threshold is met, new solar customers are placed in the next block and receive a reduced incentive rate. The value of the incentive, as well as the amount of megawatts allocated in each block, decreases by 4-percent (recently updated to 2-percent as aresponse to COVID-19) between each block. This poses an issue for online generators because they are unable to factor in the changing daily incentive rates. Calculators often assume you’ll be placed in a larger, more profitable block, so they tend to overestimate the money you’ll receive from the state, or, to the opposite effect, state incentives won’t even be factored in because of their inconstant nature.

Google claims that their tool creates solar estimates by factoring in roof size, shape, and shading as well as local weather, local electricity prices, and local incentives. Yet, if you compare different estimates on Google’s Project Sunroof, you can see that the resulting savings are not customized much at all. Often, your quotes will be the same or extremely similar to your neighbors’, regardless of your home’s unique roof size and style.

We used Sunroof’s online calculator to compare solar quotes for three distinct houses with similar solar exposure on Wolcott Street in Newton, MA. These unique properties greatly varied in size; one house had a 1,885 square foot roof, another had a 493 square foot roof, and the third had a 881 square foot roof. These variations in roof sizes should have produced vastly different quotes. When you have more roof space, you have more room for solar panels, which increases your long-term savings. Furthermore, bigger homes (which, logically, have bigger roofs) have higher electric bills and, therefore, more potential savings. Despite these factors, the solar calculator projected very similar savings estimates, demonstrating the inaccuracy of the quotes.

Online solar calculators and quote generators paint an approximate picture of your home based on limited information. With a maze of factors influencing return on investment, there is ample room for mistakes. The variation in zoning codes from town to town, the unique qualities of a home’s roof, and the property’s access to sunlight are frequent causes of error for online quotes. For example, if parts of your roof are in poor shape or the number of trees on your property has changed, then the quote could drastically differ from actual costs and savings.

In 2015, Anatol trusted an online calculator that considerably complicated his solar installation. He browsed online to explore his options and received a free quote. Based on pricing estimates, he selected a solar company to begin the solar process.

However, the quote and plans didn’t consider the specific limitations of his neighborhood, delaying his project over seven months. Naturally, Anatol was quoted for a system on the south-facing side of his roof, which happened to face the street. A zoning mandate from his homeowner association prevented him from placing solar panels on the street-view side of his home, so they rejected his design and proposal. Disappointed by this setback, he ditched the company that EnergySage endorsed and did more research on solar installations. He eventually found RevoluSun.

RevoluSun worked diligently on our solar panels and installed them quickly so we could still go green, save, and lead by example.Anatol | Plymouth, MA

Bill started his solar journey in June 2019. Like Anatol and many other interested parties, Bill joined EnergySage to get the answers he was searching for. EnergySage led him to numerous national solar installers who didn’t have clear answers for him regarding project financing.

A month or so later, Bill met with Dan, one of RevoluSun’s Project Developers in late September 2019. Dan walked him through the solar process, explained all the financing options available, and answered all of his questions. Bill noted that Dan was not like other salespeople he’s encountered who can be pushy to get the sale. Instead, Dan was responsive and straight-forward on exactly what a solar project would be like for Bill. A few months later in October, Bill signed his solar contract with RevoluSun.

I did a lot of online research and joined EnergySage.com. I received six different quotes and contacted a few of the installers who were local. EnergySage includes a lot of national installers which is not what I was looking for. One came to my house, looked at my roof and confirmed the estimate. I did some additional research on this company and found that they hadn’t done a lot of solar jobs in Massachusetts. They also didn’t provide any financing.Bill | Winchester, MA

A site and roof evaluation, calculated shade reports, andguaranteedsolar production numbers. Additionally, if you don’t produce within a range of what we quote you, we’ll cut you a check for the difference.

When it comes to solar quotes, quality and ease are not mutually exclusive. The feasibility of an online quote is enticing, but choosing a solar assessment from us is just as simple. Our team digs into local zoning codes, your monthly energy use, site and location, and the latest incentive data to give you a solar quote you can trust. Unreliable calculators only add to the many misconceptions surrounding solar and often result in negative customer experiences. To get a well-rounded understanding of how solar panels will work for you, choose a full-service solar installer to guide you through the process and provide you the legitimate information you deserve.

Get guaranteed power production and incentive information.We’ll provide athorough assessmenttosee if solar panels make sense for you. No obligation, just transparency.

People often ask themselves ‘Why is solar energy good?‘ and, as a result, fail to realise the importance of solar technology. Solar power has evidently become the trend in renewable energy. Homeowners around the UK installed solar panels on their roof, managing accordingly to reap all the solar energy advantages.

The most commonly known fact about solar energy is that it represents a clean, green source of energy. Solar power is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. There’s nothing about solar power that pollutes mother nature. Solar power doesn’t release any greenhouse gasses, and except for needing a source of clean water to function, it uses absolutely no other resources. Hence, it’s safe and environmentally-friendly. Yet, people are still in doubt why solar energy is good.

Solar power is self-sufficient and installing solar panels on your roof is a safe and easy path to contribute to a sustainable future. Starting on your home is a great way to show you care about the environment.

Solar electricity boosts your electricity independence! By investing in a 4kW solar system, which is the most common domestic size, you can easily protect yourself against unpredictable increases in utility prices, and enjoy cheap electricity throughout the entire day – the sun will never increase its rates and it gives you energy security.

Once you have solar panels up on your roof, you’ve technically reached an energy-independent status. Solar battery storage systems can also help store electricity for nighttime and rainy days.

You may continue to wonder why solar power. With the increasing need of solar energy, it’s become easily accessible to most of us. Across countries, there are vast land that are far away from big cities or capitals, and are not used for anything at all.

With solar power, we can actually make use of the land and subsequently generate great value; solar energy provides a source of power for everyone. In this way, we don’t need to use high priced land that might be better suited for other applications.

You might have heard of solar farms – panels used to harvest solar energy in large numbers. This highlights perfectly how solar power makes use of underutilised land. For instance, a 45 acre solar farm has been recently built in the UK, and it’s able to power 2,500 homes.

Electricity needs to be transported from big power plants to end-consumers via extensive networks. Long distance transmissions equal power losses. Ever wondered what are solar panels used for? They’re on your roof to get energy from the sun. Rooftop solar power is helpful in increasing electricity efficiency, considering the short distance. Your energy becomes domestic and as a result you’re in control of your own bills and energy usage. Furthermore, solar power systems are durable, thus chances of service interruption are reduced.

When there are many of us switching to solar power, we are less likely to experience blackouts or brownouts. Every household in the UK that have solar cells installed, functions as a small power plant. This, in turn, provides us with a greater electricity grid security, especially in terms of natural or human-caused disasters.

Our national economy can be helped by solar power. The more people who opt for solar, the more needs will be for companies to install solar panels. This creates additional jobs for skilled workers, and consequently keeps the economy growing.

In 2015, for instance, the UK become the second-largest solar employer, with 35,000 people, and the continent’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installation market.

The sun provides us with more energy than we could ever use, and no one can monopolise the sunlight. Your solar power system will start saving money from the moment it’s turned on, however, the advantages of solar power are best visible in the long-term. The longer you have your solar power system, the more you enjoy the benefits of solar technology and support the environment.

Aside from solar electricity, solar energy has a second application. We often associate solar energy with electricity, which is acquired through PV panels, but it’s also possible to use the energy generated by the sun for heating purposes. This process is accomplished by deploying solar thermal systems that simply convert the sunlight into heating solutions.

We are here to help you and best match your needs! Whether you’re interested in solar energy or solar thermal or simply not sure which option is the best for you. Let us know your needs and preferences by filling in the contact form on the top of this page. We will then contact you to ask some further questions and connect you with our professional suppliers. You will get up to 3 non-binding quotes for free!

Powerwall RequiredNew luxury roof with integrated solarPrices include potential incentives, discounts, and Powerwall. Excludes future energy savings.Next

The world of solar energy is rapidly expanding. Alongside the exponential growth of technology in general. New innovations in solar power and technology are poised to make impacts on the future of renewable energy. But many of these technologies, like an app to monitor solar panels, are much more accessible than you think. You solar panel data in the palm of your hand.

In such a connected society, it’s no surprise that solar customers would want to have an up-close-and-personal relationship with their solar energy systems. Our smart phones and watches have allowed us to track, monitor, and analyze nearly any kind of personal data imaginable.

And your solar panels are no different. While solar panel monitoring apps may not tell you how many steps you’re taking or how many hours you’re sleeping, they can still provide valuable information. Like how much money you’re saving by going solar.

“The EMA APP is a mobile energy monitoring application designed to be used by owners of APS microinverter products. Users can check the real-time performance, historical power output, and environmental benefits of their PV system from their mobile device.” —APSystems

The Energy Monitoring & Analysis (EMA) App is one that many of our KC Solar customers love. It’s great for tracking their solar array performance in real time through their mobile devices.

Not only can you see a graphic representation of your solar panels and their individual performances. But you can also track your system’s output at a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or even lifetime level.

“The monitoring platform provides enhanced PV performance monitoring and yield assurance through immediate fault detection and alerts at the module level, string level and system level.

No hardware or wiring is required to transmit data from the power optimizers to the inverter: the monitoring sensors and transmitters are built into the SolarEdge power optimizer and solar inverter, and measurement data is transmitted over the regular power lines.” —SolarEdge

The SolarEdge monitoring application is another popular app when it comes to tracking your solar system’s output and energy production. It’s also easy to access from any internet-enabled devices, including computers or tablets.

Key benefits of MySolarEdge include the robust reporting and analysis tools, which even gives users the option to schedule automatic reports. Plus, you can set up automatic alerts on any system issues.

In addition to having full visibility to your solar system’s performance — from a technical and financial perspective — MySolarEdge can even help customers detect excessive energy usage. Which can help you get in front of a bigger electric bill.

Enphase’s main solar monitoring application is web-based. Meaning it’s meant to be viewed from a desktop or laptop computer. But they recently launched a mobile app which is able to do many of the same actions. And help customers monitor their solar system from the palm of their hand.

See how much energy you’re consuming and storing, and check out each panel’s individual production. With a real-time, in-depth view of your solar system, it’s easy for system owners to make informed choices about energy use.

“The Fronius Solar.web App is the mobile version of the Fronius Solar.web online service. You can keep a constant eye on the energy yields of your PV system by simply installing the app on your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Apple Watch, Android smartphone or tablet. Use the Fronius demo systems for a sneak peek at what the application can do.” —Fronius

Even if you don’t have your iPhone on you, the Fronius Watch App can provide information about your solar system from your wrist. See your system’s current output, current consumption rate, and even the current state of charge. Not too bad for a watch screen!

The SMA Sunny Portal app prides itself on being a user-friendly option for solar system owners. With easy-to-understand reporting and desktop access as well as the app. Customers are able to find all t