Whether you're interested in solar panels because you want to fulfill your carbon-footprint-shrinking, sustainable-living dreams or simply because you envy solar users who can brag about their diminishing electrical expenses, an important place to start is to learn about the price of solar.
With its many benefits, it is clear to see why so many people are choosing to install solar panels right now. What is less talked about, however, is how people should make specific financial decisions to get panels on their roof.
In this article, we're going to be looking at what goes into the price of solar systems and how prices should be analyzed in the first place as you are researching companies and receiving quotes.
First, we'll look at the importance of price per watt, and then we'll go into the specific parts (panels, batteries, and inverters) of solar systems that can influence the overall cost.
With solar, it is essential to take things one step at a time, so when it comes to price, we need to break down the grand total and start with price per watt (PPW).
Often, those in the market for solar focus on the total price of a system. To an extent, this makes sense, because a total price is important for planning. It can be helpful to see how a company’s offer compares to how much you’re willing and able to pay.
However, when you're solely zoned in on solar's overall price, you've skipped several necessary steps that are going to empower you to make a wise financial decision.
Even analyzing a panel's wattage is an inferior metric to PPW because it doesn't factor in price. PPW is simply the cost of the solar system divided by the total wattage.
Although most solar companies claim to be "affordable," they don't emphasize (and often neglect to share) their average PPW. For many companies, PPW is incredibly variable and overpriced since solar salespeople are typically incentivized by commissions to charge as much as possible as long as they stay under what a customer is paying for utilities.
These abusive sales strategies are at the root of the confusion and lack of transparency that has created distrust between the solar industry and consumers.
Keeping this context in mind, it is important to remember PPW. No matter the size of your system, PPW will be an accurate and helpful metric to use for comparison.
You can think of PPW as an equalizer—a way to analyze the value of systems built with different equipment. For example, a system with higher wattage may seem like a better option, but when looking at PPW, you can discern that lower wattage panels could be the more cost-effective choice (if you have room for more panels).
Now that we have covered the importance of PPW, we're going to look at specific parts of a solar system and their prices so that you can understand what contributes to your PPW.
Up until now, perhaps solar panels have all seemed pretty similar. Here, we'll go through some of the differences between panels (such as the technology used, aesthetic, build quality, warranty, and wattage) which influence their pricing.
There are two main types of solar panel technology—monocrystalline and polycrystalline.
Monocrystalline panels are generally more expensive and more efficient than polycrystalline panels. By more efficient, we mean that there is more energy for a given surface area.
High-efficiency panels come in many different styles, whether they are all black, have a blue tint, or have a white diamond grid.
Polycrystalline panels are typically a blue-ish hue while monocrystalline are more commonly black--we recommend monocrystalline panels, as they're generally more efficient.
Generally, all-black panels are preferred when it comes to appearance, and they can be more expensive, especially when sourcing by yourself without large volume discounts. At Project Solar, however, this preferred aesthetic is our default panel.
Although panels can cost a pretty penny, when they are Tier 1 quality, they will have a 25-year product and performance warranties, which will guarantee over 80% of the original wattage value by year 25 (and cover any material defects). Most panels continue to function well after the 25-year mark, which is also a plus.
It is important to consider warranty when looking at price because cheaper panels will usually have shorter warranties, but you won't regret a solid 25-year guarantee even if it comes at a slightly higher price.
You can't go wrong with a respected and established brand that will supply quality materials and be around long enough to live up to its warranties. Some brands who live up to their excellent reputations include Q Cells, Jinko, Aptos, Silfab, LG, and Canadian Solar.
All of these manufacturers have high-quality builds rated to IEC 61215, the industry gold standard. With these ratings, you can rest easy knowing that your panels should be able to withstand wind, snow, and rain without issue.
All panels are given a watt rating which tells you how much energy your panel will generate in an hour of direct sunlight. For residential solar, most panels are in the range of 290-450 watts.
Watt ratings can be converted into a metric that shows the efficiency of the panel by taking into consideration the total size of the panel and the watt rating. Most panels are somewhere between 15-21% efficient. However, given that the majority of residential roof panels are the same size, the wattage is an easier metric to compare.
Wattage and efficiency, because of their connection, are often interchanged when comparing the production output of the panel.
Currently, Project Solar's default panels are around 400W. The quote that you receive through our solar quote calculator reflects the cost of these panels (and other necessary equipment). You can view our full pricing model here.
A solar racking system is needed to securely fix solar panels to a roof. The cost of racking only makes up a small percentage of a solar system's total cost. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), solar racking should cost approximately $0.10 per Watt (W).
Project Solar uses Iron Ridge Flush Mount Systems in their solar builds.
Name: Iron Ridge Flush Mount System | Rails: XR10 |
Rating: UL 2703 | Warranty: 25 years |
Engineering documents: YES | Roof Type: Shingle & Tile |
Wind rating: 90-120* | Snow: 0-40 PSF* |
Data sheet download
Rail spec sheet download
To buy a battery or not to buy a battery? That is the question.
Energy storage options for solar are excellent examples of why it is important to think through price.
Batteries appeal to buyers because homeowners naturally want to be able to store and ultimately use the power their panels are producing.
When the sun is shining, the panels produce electricity that can be directly used by the home. However, when the sun isn't shining, homeowners are often using more energy than during peak hours of sunlight because of how people typically schedule their day's activities.
Batteries are a solution to this issue because they can store unused energy collected during the day and then allow you to use it at night.
However, battery options are not cheap.
If you want to generally estimate how much battery capacity you will need, keep in mind that for every 5 kW of solar, you need about 10 kWh of storage. This number may be affected by other factors like amp load of heavy-duty equipment, especially on single 10 kWh battery systems.
At Project Solar, we offer Enphase IQ 5P batteries or the Tesla Powerwall 2 with the following pricing:
Product |
DIY Pricing (Before Any Incentives) |
Full-Service Install Pricing (Before Any Incentives |
First Enphase IQ 5P Battery + 1 System Controller (Backup Configuration) |
$6,500 | $8,500 |
Each Additional IQ 5P Battery (Backup Configuration) |
$3,500 | $4,000 |
First Enphase IQ 5P Battery (Consumption Offset Configuration)* |
$3,500 | $4,000 |
Each Additional IQ 5P Battery (Consumption Offset Configuration)* |
$2,500 | $3,000 |
First Tesla Powerwall 2 |
N/A | $13,500 |
Each Additional Tesla Powerwall 2 |
N/A | $9,500 |
Enphase's IQ 5P has a maximum power rating of 3.84kW and a 5.0kWh capacity. You can install up to 16 IQ 5P batteries, and they include an industry-leading 15-year/6,000-cycle warranty.
The Powerwall 2 has a maximum power rating of 5 kW and 13.5 kWh of usable capacity. It is modular, so if you want more storage, you can simply purchase multiple units. It also comes with a 10-year warranty.
Before you put money down to include batteries in your system, look into your location’s net metering rates. Net metering is another solution to the nighttime power problem; even though you wouldn't be able to store your panels’ unused energy (the way you would with a battery), the excess energy is sent to the utility company or “the grid."
In return for this excess generation, you can receive a credit from your utility company. This credit will help offset the times you need to pull from the grid because your panels aren't producing electricity.
If you’re still curious about storage options, check out Project Solar's article on solar batteries.
Alongside the panels and storage possibilities, we'll now look at price differences between inverters for your solar system.
If you’re new to solar, you may be wondering what role an inverter plays in a system.
The sunlight’s energy is converted to DC (direct current) electrical energy when it hits a solar panel. That DC energy is then converted to AC (alternating current) so that your home can use the energy being collected.
Inverters convert the sun’s energy into usable energy, track the panels’ stats, and are paired with the brains of the system. The two most common types of inverters offered by companies are string inverters and microinverters.
The types (or type) of inverters that a company offers is important to consider because string inverters may initially come at a lower price, but microinverters can help systems function more efficiently.
If you’ve heard complaints of malfunctioning or low-performing systems, it is likely that a string inverter was at the root of those problems. Solar systems typically used string inverters in the past, and companies like Tesla continue to use them.
However, a string inverter hooks up all panels to a single point of control, so like a string of Christmas lights, if there is a single problem with one of the system’s parts, it will affect the performance of the whole system.
These finicky inverters typically only come with 10–12 year warranties which can leave buyers out of luck and frustrated less than halfway through their panels’ warranty.
Microinverters, on the other hand, are generally preferred when considering performance and warranty. Although they come at a higher price, many solar users find microinverters worth the cost since it saves them from dealing with a low-performing system or purchasing replacements down the road.
Unlike string inverters, microinverter systems have an inverter on each panel, so if one panel is shaded or malfunctioning, the rest of the system can effectively operate regardless.
Microinverters give panel-level visibility and functionality. Enphase systems are paired with a combiner box and an Envoy system (the brain of the solar system).
Top microinverter manufacturers, such as Enphase, offer clients full refunds or replacements on their inverters for 25 years. With such a solid warranty, quality microinverters can relieve anxiety and ultimately enhance the performance of an entire solar system.
Enphase is widely regarded as the best of the best when it comes to microinverters, so this is what Project Solar offers its customers.
When it comes to price, microinverters are typically $1,000 or so more expensive than a string inverter on a standard 5kW residential solar installation. Fortunately, Project Solar already has the lowest price in solar, due to our no-commission sales model, which offsets this.
Once you have paid for your panels and they're installed, there aren't many costs that are going to surprise you down the road.
As mentioned previously, your panels will most likely have a production warranty--Project Solar's production warranty guarantees modules will produce at more than 80% of their life after 25 years.
If there are any issues within that time frame, you should be able to have them taken care of free of charge.
If there is an issue with the installation of the panels, most installers offer warranties. Project Solar, for example, requires their installers to offer 10-year warranties.
To sum it up, once you're installed, you will usually just start to benefit and save money from your panels—the big costs are out of the way.
There are a few exceptions. For example, if you plan on repairing your roof at any point while you have panels up, you would have to remove and reinstall the panels or pay to have that done.
Once panels have reached the end of their 25-year warranty production warranty, they can continue to function for several years, but when you want to replace your system, you will receive a new warranty from your installers and manufacturing company.
For microinverters, Enphase provides 25-year warranties (double the projected lifespan of string inverters, including those of Tesla, which have 12.5-year warranties) and fantastic customer support. To review Enphase warranty information further, click here.
In the event of a microinverter issue within the first 10 years, a new one will be installed at no cost for full-service Project Solar customers through the partnered installer. After 10 years, you can either swap the warrantied part yourself or hire a handyman.
For more information on warranties with Project Solar, check out our blog post.
We understand that choosing solar panels is a process. While you want to use quality equipment, you also want to get the best bang for your buck by saving money when you can.
As you make decisions, remember to use PPW as the metric for comparison. Also, consider the options you have when it comes to panels, inverters, and energy storage/net metering so that you can confidently take on your search for solar, knowing what you want and the costs that'll come.
With this in mind, you'll be able to get the solar you want on your roof for a price that makes sense.
]]>Off-grid energy solutions have caught the attention of people across the country due to recent power outages. Off-grid solar systems appeal to consumers primarily because of their reliability—it can be reassuring to know that you are self-reliant.
As the homeowners’ interest in off-grid solar systems grows, it is important to clear up some common misconceptions about off-grid. For example, just because you have energy storage doesn’t mean that your solar system is off-grid—if you have a solar battery, you would still be on-grid unless you completely disconnect from the grid and rely solely on your panels and battery storage.
To better understand the realities of off-grid living, we’ll discuss the following:
For some, off-grid is a necessity; people living in remote areas with limited or no access to the "local" power grid can definitely benefit from more reliable access to electricity.
Off-grid energy also appeals to those with life-support systems, important remote work, or any other serious dependence on electricity.
While the idea of energy self-reliance isn't new, interest in off-grid has expanded as a wider range of people has recently experienced the inconveniences and dangers of going without power.
For example, in February 2021, unexpected blizzards and icy temperatures shocked Texans. Days and days without power pushed many individuals' situations from uncomfortable to deadly.
Wildfires in California and other states also significantly affect electric utilities because the fires can threaten portions of the grid and the stability of the grid itself. Naturally, these threats affect customers' supply of electricity.
Since these natural disasters and energy dilemmas don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, people are looking to change their sources of energy since they can't change everything about their situations.
While the idea of off-grid solar appeals to many, people in the market for solar sometimes make the assumption that solar panels are an off-grid solution independently. This, however, is not the case--next, we'll discuss why.
Let's first define off-grid—this will help clarify its purpose and possibilities.
As was mentioned earlier, for a solar system to technically be off-grid and fully reliant on solar energy, it needs to completely disconnect from the grid.
However, this process isn't simple or cheap.
It's important to recognize that many states discourage off-grid living through local laws and regulations. Most solar installations connect to the grid for this reason and because grid connection is financially the best choice for most.
If a solar owner is cleared to go off-grid, then he or she will need to have solar energy storage, and solar batteries are expensive.
When you're connected to the grid, net metering allows you to have constant access to electricity, even if your demand at the moment is higher than your panels' production.
Net metering agreements are formed between utility companies and solar owners. When a solar system is connected to the grid, its excess energy generation is sent to the grid, and then solar owners pull energy from the grid when needed.
This is important because peak solar hours are typically in the afternoon, and households generally don't use much electricity during that time. The excess energy being produced needs to go somewhere if there is no battery storage, so it is sent to the grid.
However, once people are home from work and school later in the day, they're using appliances, turning on lights, etc. Unfortunately, there is usually less energy production during this time, so your panels' production may not fill your needs. Instead of going without electricity, you can pull from the grid.
Many locations have "one-to-one" net metering policies, meaning that power companies will allow you to later use the same amount of kWh that is sent to the grid (which is just like a battery but without the efficiency loss).
For homeowners with these kinds of favorable net metering policies, off-grid doesn't make financial sense because it will cost much more to purchase a solar battery.
1-3 batteries (10-30 kWh of storage) could certainly cover the majority of most people's energy usage. This would fulfill the same basic purpose of net metering and spread out all the energy generated into the evening and early morning when the sun is not shining.
However, for an off-grid system, you would need enough capacity to have your needs covered through a winter storm. While 1-3 batteries would allow you to be 90% + (weather permitting) energy independent, off-grid living typically requires more of an investment to guarantee energy in case of a situation where your panels don't produce for several days.
If an off-grid solar system makes sense and is possible for your situation, here is how you can size your system:
The rule of thumb when designing an off-grid system is to have 2-3 days worth of storage. To calculate this, simply look at your monthly kWh usage and divide by 30 to get your daily usage rate. Then multiply by 2-3 (days), and that is your storage need.
For example, if someone is using about 2,100 kWh a month, on average, his or her usage will be about 70 kWh a day. Multiply that by 2.5 (let's say the home is in UT, which is relatively sunny), and that equates to 175 kWh of needed storage. At about $1,000/watt, that's $175,000 of standard lithium-ion batteries.
For off-grid to be worth its current price, most customers would probably need there to be a pressing reason. Most people looking for true off-grid solutions do so for mountain homes or other remote locations where grid tie wouldn't even be an option if they wanted.
Off-grid homes are usually smaller, and most will opt for lead-acid batteries over lithium-ion. Because lead-acid batteries have shorter lifespans than lithium-ion, they are considerably cheaper.
At Project Solar, we currently do not install completely off-grid systems. However, our customers can certainly take advantage of net metering or purchase solar batteries if preferred.
Solar batteries are not required for our solar systems and we rarely recommend them because of the reasons mentioned earlier.
However, if energy storage is possible and a priority for you, we offer the Enphase IQ 5P batteries and the Tesla Powerwall 2.
We also offer the grid-independent Power Bank with optional Expansion Packs.
Check out Project Solar's free quote calculator for an estimate with or without batteries.
Off-grid solar is an exciting possibility that could make energy much more accessible and reliable for a certain group of customers. However, it is not for everyone, so it is important to assess its costs and limitations.
]]>Even though electric vehicles (EV) don't directly consume fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases, they are not 100% “green."
Electricity production can also create harmful emissions. Electric power plants generate most of the electricity used in the U.S., and these plants use turbines that are typically driven by combustion gases.
However, the pairing of a home solar system and an EV is an ideal, renewable solution.
Together, EV and PV form a mutually beneficial relationship.
Between living organisms, these kinds of connections are called mutual symbiotic relationships. Much of nature operates in a way where two parties benefit from each others’ unique capabilities. These perfect pairs include clownfish and anemones, flowers and bees, saguaro cacti and Gila woodpeckers, crocodiles and plover birds, and more.
Technology can benefit from mimicking well-established patterns of nature. EV and PV are a match made in heaven because of their complementary functions.
Here, we’ll look at both sides of the cycle: how solar panels can help your vehicle and how your vehicle can aid your solar system.
Researchers have been interested in the EV/PV connection for a while. In 2018, Solar United Neighbors surveyed solar owners in their community and found that 66% of respondents were more likely to own an electric vehicle than those without solar. While 18% of non-solar owners had an EV, 30% of solar owners had an EV, which is a significantly higher percentage.
Since Solar United Neighbors is an organization that is much more engaged in clean energy topics than the general U.S. population (25% of the surveyed Solar United’s community owns an electric vehicle while only 1% of the U.S. population owns an EV), the survey results don't necessarily represent the country as a whole.
However, these numbers still demonstrate that EV and PV naturally go together and can bring about long-term benefits for their owners.
3. The Future of the EV and PV Relationship
Let’s start with how a solar system could charge your EV.
If you’re planning on installing a solar system and want it to power your vehicle, then you’ll need to size your system accordingly. Having your system match your electric usage allows you to optimize your system’s return on investment.
When working with Project Solar, you will first need to inform your site designer that you would like your panels to power your vehicle and then share your estimated yearly mileage so your system can be sized accordingly.
Along with residential solar, efforts are being made to provide EV drivers with renewably sourced charging stations. For example, in April 2021, Tesla announced that they intend to power all their Supercharger stations with renewable energy this year by adding solar panels and batteries to stations.
With these advancements, you can still benefit from solar even if you don't personally own a system.
On the flip side, how can electric vehicles help solar systems?
There are a couple of ideas in the works.
Energy storage issues can plague solar owners. Solar batteries are extremely expensive add-ons, and in some locations, unfavorable net metering policies also complicate matters.
Many people would love to be able to store their excess generation in a more cost-effective way.
A team of researchers from Utah State University (and others across the country) have looked into the EV battery waste issue by trying to repurpose the battery as a solar energy storage unit.
Additionally, in Japan, electric vehicles have been used in battery capacities as a form of disaster response following natural disasters.
There’s another way that an EV could support a solar system— what if the electric vehicle itself could serve as a battery for a solar system?
This possibility could allow a home to draw from the vehicle’s energy during peak hours instead of having to depend on the grid.
EV batteries differ from solar batteries because they actually have much larger battery packs. For example, the Tesla Model S (an EV) has a 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) capacity while the Powerwall (Tesla’s energy storage option) has a 13.5 kWh capacity.
One recent example of this in practice is the 2022 Ford Lightning model. With some additional equipment, this truck can become a backup generator for your home. They call this "Intelligent Backup Power", and it's a very interesting glimpse into the developing EV/PV relationship.
Although it would be fun to take credit for making this connection between PV and EV, it obviously isn’t mind-blowing or new. Lots of people have been thinking about these possibilities for quite a while.
While EVs and solar systems used to seem like tech that was only accessible to early adopters with deep pockets, you can now see panels and EVs in all kinds of neighborhoods. Currently, not only can you benefit financially from going green with your transportation and energy production, you can also become more self-reliant by having your EV and PV support each other.
If you want to power your EV in the most earth-friendly way, you won’t regret installing solar panels.
]]>Since solar energy is the future, new solar technology will continue to develop as the industry matures.
Here we’ll go through the top 10 new solar innovations and briefly cover how these ideas work (or are intended to work), strengths and weaknesses of designs, and where their production and implementation are at.
These fresh solar solutions are at different stages: some are waiting for funding or improved designs, while others are being tested, manufactured, and distributed.
For this reason, don't expect to be able to order these solar products immediately—many are in the works and others are geared toward commercial or utility solar production rather than residential.
However, we want to share innovations that are taking form 1) to get you pumped and 2) to help inspire other ideas.
Usually, environmentalists are not enthusiastic about man-made materials floating in bodies of water. *cue pictures of sad turtles with plastic pollution*
However, solar ocean farms, also known as "floatovoltaics" (fun name, right?) are interesting energy solutions that are slowly starting to be implemented.
Traditional solar farms problematically take up a lot of space on land. Even when arrays are set up in lonesome deserts, some have concerns about how the presence of panels could disturb sensitive ecosystems.
Ideally, floatovoltaics are set up on calm waters like lakes, reservoirs, and basins. The systems are constructed of panels affixed to a buoy structure.
Floating systems also have lower installation costs than land farms and greater power production. Floatovoltaics can have up to 10% greater power production because of water’s cooling effect.
Additionally, floating panels can actually help with water management because they reduce water evaporation and prevent algae blooms that can harm humans, fish, and plants. This lowers water treatment costs and ultimately benefits the body of water.
On the flip side, we do not know the full environmental effects of the structures. For example, the shading could affect water temperature and concentration, which isn’t inherently problematic, but it could present some unknown consequences down the road.
Although the installation process could potentially be cheaper than installations on land, these systems would require more niche experience and knowledge.
If you’ve ever been stuck in stand-still highway traffic on a hot summer afternoon, you probably won’t be shocked to learn that transportation is the largest source of planet-warming pollution in the United States.
As electric vehicles are rising in popularity and accessibility (thanks to innovative companies like Tesla), customers are more open than ever to purchase EVs.
A California startup, Aptera, is offering a car that runs on solar energy. It is light-weight, aerodynamic, and definitely looks like something out of a superhero or Star Wars movie.
Aptera’s solar car is not technically a car, according to the company; they call it the world’s first "Never Charge Vehicle." It has three wheels and is made of carbon, kevlar, and hemp.
Being 172" long, 88” wide and 57” high with 25 cubic feet of luggage capacity, this solar car wouldn't be your vehicle of choice for a road trip with the fam, but the product's exciting possibilities have motivated many to get on the car's waitlist.
Even though packed cities seem to have everything in large numbers (sights to see, places to eat, pigeons) there aren't many open spaces. However, there are vertical surfaces: windows.
To take advantage of this space, several companies have looked into solar window technology.
Solar windows are classified as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and most designs for solar windows do not require the installation of an entirely new window; rather, the solar element is usually a coating that is applied to a window’s pane.
SolarWindow Technologies, Ubiquitous Energy, and Physee PowerWindow are some of the primary solar window companies leading the charge. Their products are under development and not currently available for sale.
Ubiquitous Energy’s idea is to coat windows with a substance that doesn’t change a pane’s physical appearance or transparency. The company doesn’t have a lot of project examples, but they installed their first window at company headquarters in January 2020.
I wasn’t able to find any pricing or installation information, so I’m assuming that it is currently being determined.
Physee PowerWindow is taking a different approach. Instead of adding something to the surface of the glass, Physee installs small solar panels along the edges of glass panes to generate electricity from the sun.
They also don’t have many installations yet; their first and only was at a Dutch bank, and the electricity produced from the project is pretty minimal.
This one definitely is thinking outside of the box. In fact, it’s thinking out of this world because one of solar’s major issues is that it requires physical space.
The idea of space-based solar has actually been around for a while, and China has announced that they have plans to launch a system at some point. If we need physical space, it makes sense to go to outer space.
An orbital solar power station could inexhaustibly produce clean energy because the sun always shines in space. The array would orbit 22,000 miles above Earth and then “beam” the energy back to the planet.
Understandably, this approach’s biggest hurdle is getting the system shipped out to space—the production cost would be pretty massive, and the system’s distance would naturally present some difficulties when the system requires repairs.
Tesla’s new Solar Roof demonstrates how the aesthetics of residential rooftop solar are advancing alongside panel efficiency.
While the Solar Roof's PV tiles replace your existing roof, Sistine Solar has developed SolarSkin, which is a "skin," that covers conventional solar panels to enhance their aesthetic appeal.
Usually, anything covering panels, such as dust or snow, will block panels from soaking up rays. Although SolarSkin covers the panels, the company claims that it minimally affects energy production.
The great thing is that the skin can help panels blend in with a roof’s pattern, materials, and color. Other decorative designs are also available.
SolarSkin uses color corrective algorithmic technology to develop their aesthetic overlays for any conventional solar-powered system.
There are a few possible weaknesses with SolarSkin. For example, a solar system with SolarSkin would cost 10% more than a typical installation without it.
Third parties are currently testing the product to determine how much the covering impacts solar efficiency. As far as aesthetically pleasing solar options go, however, SolarSkin boasts having 16-20% efficiency in comparison to the Tesla Solar Roof’s 8-10%.
Roads spread across the United States like veins—they connect cities, but they also could help connect people to more electricity.
Highways run over almost 4 million miles of land in the United States, and this available space makes solar roads an exciting solution. Currently, there are some major issues with the technology, but despite these weaknesses, we’ll go over the general idea and possibilities of this technology.
Solar Roadways is an Idaho-based company that has some installations under their belts. Looking at their website, it seems like they’ve taken many of roads’ issues into consideration.
For example, the site claims that the roads wouldn’t accumulate snow and ice, lanes and directions could light up, and stormwater could be captured and collected before contaminating waterways.
See why this is exciting? It sounds like an environmentally friendly Mario Kart course.
However, Solar Roadways has the challenge of balancing durability, traction, and production efficiency. Critics of the product state that it would probably be easier and more efficient to just install solar noise barriers on the sides of highways rather than the road surface itself.
Solar Roadways has still gotten a lot of attention and funding (including from the U.S. Department of Transportation). Their tech has also passed various tests performed by the University of Toledo, Norwich University, Savannah State University, and Marquette University.
The tests evaluated traction, impact resistance, moisture conditioning, freeze/thaw cycling, and how the road panels would hold up to heavy vehicles through simulation.
Understandably, Solar Roadways wants to get their design right on other surfaces (such as bike trails and sidewalks) before they move onto more difficult ones like highways. According to the company website, highways are their ultimate destination but will most likely be the last.
Currently, Solar Roadways is designing the SR5, which will be their first commercially available product. They are also planning on creating an in-house microinverter since other commercial models haven't worked well with their unique panels.
Early adopters can join the waitlist.
97% of the earth’s water is in the ocean. As human beings, we depend on fresh water to not only hydrate and clean ourselves but also to aid manufacturing, mining, electricity production, etc.
This dependency makes desalination very important. Fortunately, scientists have discovered that solar power can play a key role in desalination.
The proposed process is pretty simple and goes as follows: salt water in a desalination unit will be heated by the sun, which will cause the liquid to evaporate. The water vapor rises to the top of the unit and then collects and condenses as fresh water on the inside lid.
This process could either take place in a body of saltwater where floating panels could constantly and passively deliver fresh water through pipes to the shore, or the system could serve a single household by using a panel on a tank of saltwater.
It is estimated that one square meter of a solar collecting area could satisfy the drinking water needs of one person for a day, and a system built according to the needs of a family would be around $100.
While photovoltaic (PV) rooftop systems have come a long way, they're still kind of bulky. Even though most people are physically capable of installing their own PV systems with proper directions, simply painting a surface would significantly simplify the solar installation process.
Although solar paint is far off from being super effective when implemented, here is what innovators have come up with so far.
Currently, there are three types of solar paint being developed: hydrogen paint, quantum dot solar cells, and perovskite paint.
Hydrogen paint was developed by researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). The paint generates energy from water vapor.
Substances in the paint absorb moisture from the air and cause the paint to use solar energy to break down the absorbed moisture into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can then be used to produce clean energy.
Allegedly, this approach is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and could be implemented in a variety of locations.
Quantum dot solar cells (PV paint) were developed by the University of Toronto and consists of nanoscale semiconductors. The paint captures light and turns it into an electric current.
With this option, cost per watt is much cheaper, and potentially, these dots could be up to 11% more efficient than conventional PV panels.
Perovskite paint is known as spray-on solar cells. Perovskite solar cells can take liquid form and be applied to vehicles and roofs.
What if solar was portable, wearable, and even stylish?
A company called Solar Fabric has developed solar cells that can be woven into textiles for clothing, canopies, and more.
The solar cells used in fabric are thin film and organic polymer-based, making the fabric less efficient than traditional silicon cells, but they’re flexible and can be produced quickly and cheaply.
The fabric could potentially come in handy by keeping a phone charged or monitoring health and activity. A society dependent on smartphone communication could highly value these small affordances.
Solar fabric is not currently on the market, so prices are unavailable, but early on, prices will likely be quite high compared to non-solar fabric.
When I first saw this one, my mind immediately jumped to . . . the moon.
It turns out, however, that lunar panels are not the next big thing, but scientists are currently developing ways for panels to produce electricity when the day is done.
Here is one of the ideas: During the day, the sun will beat down on panels, and the solar cells are driven by radiative cooling. At night, panels release radiative heat built up over the day. That heat could be used to generate electricity.
If only similar technology could be developed to make something useful out of all the heated conversations on social media.
This night function for solar panels isn’t just a budding idea. New research on the topic was published in the January 2020 issue of the peer-reviewed journal ACS Photonics.
Jeremy Munday, an electrical and computer engineer from University of California, Davis, explained the concept in more depth:
“A regular solar cell generates power by absorbing sunlight, which causes a voltage to appear across the device and for current to flow. In these new devices, light is instead emitted and the current and voltage go in the opposite directions, but you still generate power. You have to use different materials, but the physics is the same.”
So panels would be producing energy in a different way, but it would help keep the panels producing when they would usually be useless.
As you can see, solar is powerful and it can be implemented just about everywhere.
Since PV rooftop technology has had time to mature, it has dominated the solar industry and become a financially realistic option for a wide variety of consumers.
Some of these innovations have a ways to go before they can become more widely adopted (or even implemented at all), but it is exciting to see the solar possibilities that await consumers
The more that people think, brainstorm, and experiment, the more successfully communities can transition to clean energy.
]]>It is just as important to learn about solar panel maintenance and durability as it is to understand the purchase and installation processes.
When selecting a solar company and system, obtaining the required permits and approval, and getting panels installed, you may not be primarily concerned about what happens after the job is completed.
...But let’s compare a solar installation to a wedding:
Leading up to the big day, there’s a lot of necessary preparation and a lot of excitement (hopefully), but a couple should keep in mind that the event is not the end goal—happily ever after consists of day-to-day living with its mixture of triumphs and problems.
With solar panels, the system design and installation processes require time and effort, but once the day has come and your system is up and running, you will be able to see amazing benefits that build over time.
However, there's another reality of both solar installations and marriage. Just as you wouldn’t ignore your spouse for months and then pretend that all is well, you shouldn’t just forget about the panels on your roof.
Problems can arise, so the purpose of this article is to help you be more aware of potential situations and their solutions. We’ll focus on some of the primary questions and concerns that solar owners have about keeping their PV systems safe and efficiently producing energy throughout their lifespan.
We’ll cover the following questions:
1. Should I install a critter guard?
2. What do I do when it snows?
3. Do I need to clean my panels?
4. Are wind, hail, hurricanes, etc., likely to damage my system?
The good news is that your relationship with solar panels should require much less maintenance than a marriage. At Project Solar, we provide customers with only the best panels that have 25-year production warranties. They’re built to last, and they shouldn’t require frequent meddling or tune-ups.
Even if you’re someone who mercifully allows the neighborhood vermin to chow down on your garden year after year, you don’t need to feel bad about drawing a line when it comes to your solar panels.
As Robert Frost wrote (clearly in reference to solar panel critter guards), “Good fences make good neighbors.”
There is a necessary space between a solar panel and your roof which allows for ventilation. This space does some really useful things like keep your roof from catching fire.
This space also creates a super cozy home to animals (or pests, depending on your perspective) looking for shelter.
Before you start envisioning a critter guard as an impenetrable fortress that will block rays, have no fear. A critter guard will not affect your solar panels’ efficiency because it just fences off that important space underneath the panel, keeping critters from creating messy nests or destructively gnawing in dangerous places.
Critter guards can also prevent debris accumulation (leaves, sticks, etc.).
A critter guard is typically constructed of metal screening, resembling heavy-duty chicken wire. The metal is coated with PVC to protect from the elements.
While many solar companies offer critter guards, it usually isn’t factored into your system by default, so you will need to ask for it specifically.
At Project Solar, we offer critters guards as an add-on for $0.15/watt.
Sunny, cool weather is actually a prime condition for producing solar energy (panels become less efficient if they overheat), so even if you live in a colder climate, solar panels can definitely still be a good option.
However, panels can’t produce electricity if they are covered by snow.
Snow is rarely heavy enough to damage panels since quality panels undergo pressure tests to assess durability and quality. Additionally, panels are installed at an angle, so snow will usually slide off on its own accord.
If accumulating snow is a persistent issue for you, there are other solutions to help you manually clear off your panels.
For example, there are snow rake tools made specifically for solar panels. A snow rake is essentially a rubber squeegee with an extendable handle so that in most cases, you can clear off your panels without mounting the roof (which is inadvisable especially when it is covered in snow and ice).
If the placement or height of your panels makes it impossible for your rake to reach, then you will have to take a different approach.
At all costs, avoid using tools that would scratch or damage your panels in any way. Even small scratches can cause the production efficiency of your panels to deteriorate.
There are a variety of potentially harmful techniques that you may find on the internet, like throwing balls on the panels to shake off snow, mounting an icy roof (especially without a safety harness), using a broom to sweep, and using snow-melting salts--we’d advise against these approaches.
Some strategies may seem ingenious initially, but many will cause damage that is not worth the instant gratification you may feel by clearing your panels.
Before you clean freaks jump on your roof with Windex to give your panels an extra shine or start scrubbing persistent splotches of bird poop with iron wool, remember this: while a level of cleanliness promotes your system’s efficiency, you don’t need to be cleaning your system super often.
Still, if you live somewhere with high amounts of dust, smog, dirt, sand, etc., then dirty panels might be a real concern. Layers of grime can slowly build up and lower your panels’ energy production.
When/if you do clean your panels, it shouldn’t be an intense process.
You do not want to do anything that scratches your panels, since any kind of surface abrasion or damage also decreases system efficiency. For this reason, also avoid using products with heavy chemicals on the panels.
When in doubt, play it safe. By incorrectly cleaning your panels, you slow down the production of your system more than a smidgen of dust would.
Here are some of the approaches you can take if dirty panels become a problem for you:
Even though your panels are expensive and sensitive in some ways, they definitely should be waterproof, so don ’t worry about getting panels wet when cleaning them. A panel’s solar cells are protected by a metal frame, specialized sealant, a layer of glass on the front side, and a backsheet made from durable, polymer-based material.
Let’s be real: there are some natural disasters that you’re not going to be able to plan for and that could potentially damage your panels (along with the rest of your house). Usually, if weather is able damage your system, it’s not because it's the weak link—it’s because you’re going to be dealing with other inevitable damage as well.
The unfortunate reality is that (like the Tesla Cybertruck’s windows) solar panels are not indestructible, and crazy weather and natural disasters are not typically covered in a panel’s equipment warranty.
Luckily, homeowners insurance usually will cover solar panels, though this is something you’ll want to verify with your insurance company.
Quality solar panels are built to last through harsh weather conditions. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that of the 50,000 solar energy systems installed in the country between 2009 and 2013, only 0.1% of all systems were reported to be affected by damaged or underperforming modules each year.
In most cases, solar panels are tested and guaranteed to withstand hail up to 25 mm (1 inch) in size, falling at approximately 50 miles per hour. Along with hail testing, engineers also consider winds and hurricanes. The typical aluminum and glass casings of a panel's cells also make the panel highly waterproof, and most solar panels are certified to withstand up to 140 mile-per-hour winds.
To contextualize this, there are 5 categories of hurricanes according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. A category 3 hurricane is the earliest category to be considered major, and characteristically has 111-129 mph winds. A category 4 has 130-156 mph winds.
According to the scale, when there is a category 4 hurricane, “well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls.” So, by the time a hurricane’s winds are severe enough to damage your panels, your roof itself may be gone with the wind.
There are additional measures that can be taken if extreme hail is a concern.
For example, automatic angle-changing devices are starting to be offered by some companies as a system add-on. These devices are handy when it comes to hail because moving the panels to a steeper angle would cause hail to only graze the panels rather than hit them head-on.
Currently, the price of these devices are quite prohibitive, more than $1,000/panel, so although they are an extra safety measure, they don’t make a lot of sense financially.
Another solution that some have used is to coat panels with methacrylate—a strong bond of polymer plastic that creates a protective layer.
Ultimately, it would be wisest to have a good sense of the weather you experience in your area and also understand the capabilities of the panels you select. Most are much more resilient than you may think.
Project Solar systems use Enphase microinverters, which means that you’ll be able to track the production of your panels through the Enphase App. After a storm, you can use the app as a tool to identify issues. Be sure, however, not to touch or clear damaged panels without a professional's guidance or assistance.
At Project Solar, we utilize 3rd party engineering firms to design and assess wind and snow load possibilities, and your design is tweaked to accommodate your weather needs. The city then reviews the plans and issues a build permit according to your area's code requirements. We source equipment according to your needs, and our #1 priority is making sure that you can have a rewarding relationship with your panels post-installation.
]]>Have you ever considered a DIY solar panel installation?
Many people think that they need to hire a professional to install solar panels onto their roof. However, you can install solar panels and save yourself thousands of dollars.
Don’t eliminate yourself as a potential installer. Solar installation is not just for people with electrical experience and a passion for everything DIY.
Even if you’re a little fuzzy on how to change a tire, even if you avoid IKEA furniture, even if the word “installation” makes your palms a bit sweaty and your heart a bit heavy with feelings of inadequacy, you are stlll not disqualified from becoming a DIY solar installation champ.
With the right preparation, guidance, and support, a do-it-yourself installation can be a great choice for all kinds of people in the market for solar.
In this article, we’re going to explore DIY solar solutions so that you can better understand the basic processes of a solar installation.
Admittedly, this is not a complete guide or tutorial—you will not be ready to jump on the roof and start pounding and drilling just because you have skimmed this article.
When you choose Project Solar’s DIY installation option, you receive an installation guide, including information on all the equipment and key tips needed for a successful solar install.
Naturally, the solar installation process takes some time, effort, and know-how-- but truthfully, it’s a lot more doable than you might think.
DIY installation also becomes a much more attractive option when you look at how significantly it can lower your system’s overall price (by $5,000-$10,000) and increase your return on investment (ROI).
You can have the satisfaction of learning something new, putting something together with your own two hands, and saving thousands.
An install consists of two parts: system design and physical labor.
Fortunately, Project Solar can take charge of your system’s design. You don't need to have a complex understanding of volts, amps, watts, circuits, photovoltaic sun potential, inner workings of the hardware and electrical components, wiring, etc., to successfully install a PV system.
Project Solar's AI calculator can give you an idea of an ideal system size for your home and electrical usage. Once you've started the process with us, we'll design your system with our industry-leading software to maximize efficiency of panel placement, aesthetics, and ROI.
While Project Solar takes care of the system design, the installation's physical labor will fall on your shoulders. You’ll be the muscles of the operation, but the great news is that you don’t even have to be particularly muscular.
If you can comfortably carry about 45 pounds, use a power drill to drive lags and run wires through your attic (no electrical background needed), and you feel okay moving around on your roof, then you got this!
Next, we’ll cover the basics of the following 7 steps:
1. Getting a Safety Protection System
5. Installing Microinverters and the Rooftop Junction Box
If you’re someone who expertly strings up Christmas lights and is unfazed by heights, you may have rolled your eyes and zoned out after reading this heading. Well, zone back in! This applies to you as well.
While we have full confidence in your installation abilities and physical agility, you will need to get a fall protection system before working on your roof if there is a 6-foot fall hazard or greater. If the professionals are using protection systems for these kinds of jobs, then you definitely should.
You can purchase a safety protection system from your local hardware store and then follow its installation instructions.
Throughout the solar installation process, you will be handling expensive equipment and materials, and your physical safety is even more valuable.
Safety first, amazing solar panel installation second.
In the first steps of the solar installation process, it is important to keep some of Benjamin Franklin’s wise words in mind: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Just as the builders of your home carefully measured and made markings before they started digging, pouring, and constructing, you should prepare with precision. You don’t want to eyeball your panel placement.
You will start by marking your roof’s fire lanes (as determined by your local code) with chalk. Then, measure the placement of your panels according to your provided plans and mark the corners of each array and each panel’s anchor zone.
Next, you will need to find your roof’s studs/trusses so you can install your anchors. You can accomplish this by either using a rubber mallet to strike the rooftop, getting in the attic and measuring from a fixed point, or using an electronic stud finder.
After you have located the center of a truss, you can typically measure from that point to find and mark the next. Most homes have trusses that are spaced 24 inches apart, but this can vary.
After you have marked truss locations, you can start to install the anchors’ flashings. Flashings are what ground the anchors, and the anchors will eventually ground the panels’ racking.
Anchors are the waterproof attachment fixtures that the rails are mounted on. To attach anchors, you first need to pre-drill anchor holes and then line up the anchors’ flashings with those holes.
To do this, you will need to slide the flashing under the surrounding shingles (or interlock with tiles, depending on the roof), and a lag bolt will hold it in place.
After you do this for every anchor position (as outlined by your engineering plans), the hardest part of the solar install will be done!
So far, you’ve probably noticed that the installation process requires a lot of drilling.
After reading about so many drilled holes, you may be feeling less enthusiastic about your money-saving panels and more concerned that you’ll have to hire someone to fix your punctured, leaky roof.
Don’t panic, though! When working on installation or repair jobs, roofers put thousands of holes in your roof. You just need to ensure that any penetrations are sealed correctly (like with our waterproof anchoring).
Besides--In terms of leak prevention, it is more important to ensure that your roof is conducive to proper water flow rather than completely unpenetrated.
For example: your rooftop junction box requires you to drill an oversized hole to allow wires to be woven through the roof to the attic space. When you attach the box to your roof, you will apply sealant in a “U” shape above the hole so that it is impossible for water running down the roof to leak into your attic.
Additionally, sealant can easily fill in misplaced holes and create a strong seal for the pre-drilled holes that will be used to screw in the equipment. These are quick and cheap solutions that can help you feel confident in water-tightness of your roof.
Next, you will need to attach the rails/racking for your system. They will support your panels and hold them fast through wind and snow.
Depending on the length of your array(s), some rails may need to be extended. You can accomplish this by inserting and drilling a bonding splice between the two rails.
The plans you receive from Project Solar will specify how long each piece of racking needs to be, and you can cut and size the pieces on the ground or on the roof. If you cut them on the roof, you’ll need to wait until they are well secured.
The rails can be attached to the anchors easily by sliding mounting screws into the racking, placing those screws on the anchors, and then tightening.
This step should only take about 45 minutes.
After you have the racking installed, you will need to attach the Enphase microinverters. The trunk cable connects all the microinverters together and terminates into a junction box that transitions into the roof.
Microinverters can be put on either the high or low rail, whichever allows the trunk cable to reach; just make sure they can be covered by the panels and that panel edges will not directly lay on microinverters.
Our microinverter systems include the Enphase App, which will give you directions on how to map out your system by scanning the barcode of each microinverter.
Project Solar uses a junction box called SolaDeck for most installs, which is a roof-mounted combiner and enclosure used for the installation and pre-wiring of solar panels. Each array on your roof will need a junction box.
You need to position this junction box under or next to the last panel where your trunk cable ends. For the sake of aesthetics, many people prefer to place it under an array, but it's important to remember that such placement could make future maintenance difficult.
Once you’ve chosen where the junction box will be placed, trace the box’s lid with chalk onto the shingles. Next, cut the outline out of the shingles and remove any nails that would interfere with the junction box's flashing.
Place your junction box on the roof and mark the various holes that will need to be screwed in through the deck.
You will need to drill an oversized hole underneath the tracing of the junction box so that a cord grip can fit through the roof later.
The junction box flashing will need to be screwed into place and then adhered to the shingles with sealant. You’ll waterproof this box with a “U” shape of sealant, as described earlier.
Getting the panels on your roof is one of the most satisfying parts of the install, but it can be helpful to have someone to assist you with this stage.
The best way to get panels on your roof is one at a time, holding the panel steady with one arm and holding onto the ladder with the other.
Panels weigh about 45 pounds, which is manageable for most, but working with someone else at this stage can ensure that you safely maneuver the bulky equipment. If there are harsh weather conditions, wait for a clear day to carry the panels up onto the roof.
Once on the roof, stand the solar panel up on the edge of the rail that is furthest from your junction box. Plug the panel wires into the corresponding microinverter (they clip in pretty easily).
Next, slide the panel onto the rail without tightening it. You'll need to make sure that the panel is straight and seated correctly on the rail so that you have space left for fire lanes according to your plans.
To ensure that the panels are straight, use the top rail as a point of reference by measuring the distance between the top rail and the top of the panel. Then, slide the panel up or down on the opposite side until it measures the same distance between the top of the rail and the top of the panel.
After everything is lined up, you can secure and lock the panels into place.
Wiring can be intimidating, but Project Solar's installation guide offers a step-by-step guide to walk you through what you’ll be expected to do. Most customers hire a local electrician to complete the final tie-in to your main panel, which is the only part of the process that deals with live wires. The rest of the wiring is relatively simple:
Each solar array will have its own junction box where the trunk cable connects to the Romex (orange/yellow wire).
You’ll need to run Romex through your attic to converge in the final junction box before forming the homerun: the group of wires from your last junction box to your main panel.
The homerun is made up of THWN wires (one pair of black/white wires for every string of panels) and one ground (green) wire for your whole system. So, if you are installing 2 panel arrays, you’ll have 5 wires: a pair of black/white wires for each string and a green wire to ground the whole system.
(Pro tip: THWN is harder to strip than Romex, so you’ll want to practice on excess wire. That way, you won't nick the copper wire, ensuring a stable connection.)
Thread the Romex through the oversized hole underneath the junction box. The end of the Romex wire will need to be unsheathed and the white (positive) and black (negative) wires will need to be separated and placed on their respective terminals in the junction box.
Before you close the box, there shouldn’t be any protruding wires.
In the attic, secure the wire using electrical staples without hammering them in too tightly (this can pinch and potentially damage the wires).
After running the wires through the attic, they need to exit the side of your house above the main service panel so that a local electrician can access them easily and complete the final system hook up.
As you can see, a lot goes into a solar install, but it's doable for most handy homeowners. We hope that you now have a better idea of what a DIY solar install entails.
Although this installation option is labeled "do-it-yourself," Project Solar won't leave you hanging-we hold your hand through the entire process.
Project Solar is there to design and engineer your system, sort out the paperwork and logistics for permits, and answer any questions that come up.
On install day(s), professional installers will be available for remote assistance through text, calls, and/or video chat. From system design to power on, we are with you the entire way.
]]>The fact that solar energy is good for the environment is not mind-blowing, groundbreaking, or new. But here, we’re going to cover exactly why solar is as environmentally desirable as people claim.
Sometimes it feels like the things that are good for you and good for the environment are bound to be pricey.
You can see this everywhere. For example, a meal of sustainably harvested wild Pacific salmon (high in Omega-3, Vitamin B, protein, and other nutrients) and organic, ethically sourced fruits and vegetables is going to cost more than a couple packets of Ramen, a can of Spam, a bag of potato chips, and a bottle of Mountain Dew.
When it comes down to it, it can be hard to choose options that are organic, ethically sourced, eco-friendly, green, etc., while alternatives are cheaper.
When quality and earth-friendliness are associated with high prices, being environmentally conscious is going to be seen as an exclusive luxury.
However, when it comes to energy production, solar panels are verifiably the cheapest form of energy while offering significant and direct environmental benefits. Solar panels are like the $3 salmon dinners of energy.
In the 21st century, energy production methods and energy consumption levels have changed and will continue to change. Renewable energy sources like solar are becoming increasingly accessible and sought after for several reasons:
The environmental health of our planet weighs on the minds of many—even outside of the purely scientific realm of climatologists and geologists.
In modern popular culture, the seemingly endless stream of films and works of literature that depict a futuristic, dystopian Earth is a testament of the environmental issues' prominence. Pollution and climate change are not simply fictional extremes—they're serious reality.
Public discourse surrounding climate change has shifted from debating “Is it real?” to “What can we do?”
Solar panels have taken their place as the golden child of renewable energy, and the great news is they’re only getting better from here (financially and environmentally).
The purpose of this article is to address the following questions:
The implementation of the federal solar tax credit, the ITC, the solar industry has boomed. Until recently, solar panels were not affordable to most and consequently, they were much rarer.
While solar has comfortably established itself as the cheapest energy source (renewable or nonrenewable), there are still significant price discrepancies within the industry.
Here at Project Solar, we believe that clean energy is for everyone. As a company, we price solar at half the national average. We are able to do this because we focus on e-commerce principles and do not employ any incentivized salespeople whose salaries ultimately bloat the price of solar.
This is a huge win for renewable energy. The more accessible solar is, the more consumers will install systems and do their part in creating a cleaner, more sustainable world.
You don’t have to have a deep understanding of environmental issues and energy production to see and understand solar energy’s green benefits. The green benefits of solar energy are pretty straightforward and very significant.
When a home pulls energy from the local utility company or “the grid,” the electricity that they are consuming was produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Power plants burn fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, to create heat which generates steam which then drives the turbines that generate electricity.
The burning of fossil fuels is not seen as “clean” or “green” energy because fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources. Although fossil fuel resources replenish over time, the rate at which they replenish is incredibly slow . . . and they are consumed at a much faster rate.
Fossil fuels also have harmful emissions. These emissions not only cause damage at a more local level by affecting air quality and respiratory health, but they are also known as greenhouse gases because they create a greenhouse effect in our atmosphere and are connected to global climate change.
As greenhouse gas emissions have dramatically increased over the past century, global temperatures have experienced dramatic changes which historically have taken place over much longer periods of time.
The problem is, however, that communities and countries are dependent on fossil fuels.
Anyone who has lost electricity temporarily in their home realizes how even the simplest tasks and routines require electricity to function. We are constantly flipping light switches, heating and cooling, driving, cooking, and more.
Innovations that require fossil fuels have simplified our day-to-day lives, so it is not realistic to propose a complete and immediate renouncement of fossil fuels; however, it is not only very important but completely reachable for modern society to search for and develop alternative energy sources.
With all these current concerns in mind, solar energy is amazing.
The power of the sun is reliable, strong, and the ultimate example of a renewable energy source because collecting energy from the sun doesn’t decrease the sun’s power in any way.
No matter how many people have solar panels, the potential amount of energy to be collected is not affected.
By replacing fossil fuels with solar, the negative effects of fossil fuel emissions are consequently diminished.
Since climate change and air pollution are intimidating issues, consumers may feel powerless in their ability to make a difference. However, the effect of transitioning one home to solar power from fossil fuels is equivalent to planting around 150 trees every year.
The energy choices of single people make significant differences. Along with shrinking your carbon footprint, switching to solar also improves air quality.
While the burning of fossil fuels increases greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2), producing electricity through solar power helps reduce harmful emissions.
Cutting down on emissions helps improve respiratory and cardio health on a global and local level. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has found that lower fossil fuel emissions result in fewer cases of bronchitis and lost workdays related to health issues.
By investing in solar power, you are investing in the planet and your personal environment. Solar energy is a significant step forward to creating a more sustainable life.
While there may be environmental issues that you can’t directly control, solar is worth it because it’s a way you can make a difference today.
Clearly, there are strong environmental advantages to choosing solar as your energy source, but it is important to recognize that there are still some weaknesses.
Humankind has not yet discovered an energy source that could technically be labeled as 100% "green." There are some environmental concerns surrounding solar panels' manufacturing and recycling/disposal processes.
Currently, solar panel disposal has not been a prominent topic of discussion since panels have robust 25-year production warranties and often continue to produce electricity for years beyond the warranty.
The vast majority of solar owners are still on their original set of panels since over 95% of PV modules deployed in the U.S have been installed since 2012.
Currently, in the US, the treatment of end-of-life panels isn't regulated and organized since it is up to the discretion of the states. However, the US has some good examples to follow when it comes to photovoltaic (PV) panel recycling.
The EU, Japan, and other jurisdictions around the world hold PV installers accountable for their waste.
While there are inconsistent practices across the country, there are states like Washington that have a PV module stewardship and takeback program, meaning that every panel supplier must submit a recycling plan by July 2022.
While Washington state has a plan, three of the top five solar states in the US (Arizona, Florida, and Texas) are only applying common waste regulation when it comes to panel disposal.
In the United States, there are a couple of PV recycling programs that have already been set into motion, such as Recycle PV, PV Cycle, and the SEIA National PV Recycling Program. There are also several manufacturers that help facilitate recycling such as SunPower and First Solar.
So, why is solar panel recycling not more straightforward?
Panels are composed of silicon solar cells, metal framing, glass sheets, wires, and plexiglass. Silicon solar cells are the most essential component to producing electricity and (unfortunately) the most difficult to recycle.
While more than 80% of a typical panel’s weight comes from glass and aluminum, which are both common recycling materials, hazardous materials can be in the panel’s wafer cells, thin-film cells, solder, cover glass, and backsheet.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory encourages manufacturers to avoid these materials because they complicate the recycling process. Many panel manufacturers, such as Hanwha Q-Cells ( one of Project Solar’s panel providers), do not pose any risk of hazardous chemicals.
Solar panels are difficult and expensive to recycle since their different components have to be separated.
In Europe, the requirement to recycle has created a market for panel recyclers, and a more unified push for the recycling process in the US will naturally create jobs and solutions that will help deal with recycling issues as more panels reach the end of their lifespans.
Currently, solar panels’ manufacturing process produces greenhouse gas emissions.
These gases are emitted as silicon is prepared for the panel. Silicon is a solar cell’s primary material and the most essential electrical component. It is derived from quartz, which has to be mined and heated in a furnace. This process causes sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide (CO2) to be emitted into the atmosphere.
In addition to sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions, there are also toxic materials within the thin-film panels, such as cadmium telluride and copper indium selenide. It is important to note, however, that thin-film panels are typically used in large commercial or utility solar projects, not residential.
These chemicals are commonly used while manufacturing cell phones, laptops, and other electronics. While they can be considered hazardous during the manufacturing stage, they aren’t so once the product is assembled and used.
This reality can be disappointing since many who are interested in solar energy want to lower greenhouse gas emissions. However, despite its few environmental weaknesses, solar still accomplishes this.
As solar panel manufacturing becomes more efficient, its carbon footprint shrinks significantly. To demonstrate this, a 2016 study reports that the overall emissions produced in this process have decreased by 17–24% every time install capacity has doubled in the last 40 years.
Additionally, the overall greenhouse gas emissions involved in solar energy are still much lower than coal or natural gas. Just because there are emissions does not mean that solar is a dangerous or bad option—it’s still a significant improvement when compared to fossil fuels.
A 2011 report proved this fact. It was found that solar’s carbon footprint averaged at roughly 85 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per gigawatt-hour (GWh), while natural gas averaged 499 CO2e/GWh and coal averaged 888 CO2e/GWh.
In closing, it is important to be aware of solar’s environmental weaknesses so that the industry can continue to improve.
However, it is also important to keep these weaknesses in perspective and not to disregard the many ways that solar is still a more environmentally conscious energy source than other nonrenewable resources and a cheaper option for homeowners.
Solar panels’ abundance and magnitude of green benefits make going solar an environmental no-brainer. Modern lifestyles require us to look forward to renewable energy solutions which will allow solar to be implemented in space-efficient and environmentally friendly ways. Although panels unavoidably take up space, installers can problem solve and find the most ideal locations for panels to minimally disrupt the natural environment. Roofs of homes, sheds, patio shades, parking pavilions, and other pre-existing structures can optimize for energy production and fulfill other needed functions.
Ground-mounted utility panels also take the flora and fauna of an environment into consideration to create as little disturbance as possible. Solar farms are encouraged to plant native grasses and wildflowers in low-maintenance areas to help create habitats for bees and other species to reduce long-term maintenance and emissions in the area.
Solar also outstrides other renewable energy sources when it comes to eco-friendliness and price.
For example, nuclear and hydropower require significant amounts of water. Water can be considered a renewable resource if usage, temperature, treatment, and release are carefully controlled, but often overuse can occur and cause harm to local environments.
Groundwater bodies are considered nonrenewable, and they are heavily relied on. Damming water for energy purposes can also have a significant impact on local ecosystems. Wind turbines’ huge blades are currently unrecyclable and often kill birds and insects when in use.
While we have seen that solar is not faultless, it shines in comparison to fossil fuels and other renewable resources, making it the environmentally smart energy choice.
Solar is an extraordinary energy source because it pairs incomparable environmental benefits with an accessible price.
The future of our planet is bright if solar energy implementation continues to increase in our communities.
]]>This is the tool that allows us to analyze your roof's sun irradiance potential as well as your electricity usage, local utility rates, and available state and federal incentives to give you a super accurate quote for going solar on your house. This advanced AI took us nearly a year to complete and is what enables us to cut out the solar salesperson and offer the lowest priced solar in America.
With just 2 basic questions (address and monthly utility usage), we are able to give a 95% accurate quote on your needed system and that system's price net of available incentives.
This is something that has historically taken a solar sales rep 2 hours to consult with you about after knocking on your door and getting invited into a sit down.
We've built a substantially more efficient business model, enabling us to cut the cost of solar by nearly 50% of the national average.
Unfortunately, our solar calculator is not perfect. Its biggest limitation is that it can't determine the max amount of panels that can fit on your roof. This is something that we still have to do manually, as some decisions require a lot of subjective analysis—i.e. aesthetics and efficient groupings for installation.
The good news for you however, is that you can simply request a custom site design. This is where we map your house in 3D using advanced design tools. We do this for free upon request, and a team member here in our offices in Lehi, UT, will manually design your home.
It looks like this (it's really cool):
Despite only asking two data questions (address and usage), we are able to calculate 7 different numbers that are pertinent to a solar quote. We offer numbers on the following . . .
To get these numbers, we pull from 3 different government APIs that tell us irradiance, local utility rates, and available incentives.
The irradiance, or amount of sun that your home gets, enables us to calculate how many panels or how many kW's you would need to offset your usage.
Your area's local utility rate allows us to calculate your usage in terms of kWh/month.
The incentives allow our calculator to update in real time based on the changing incentives on a state and federal level.
The Project Solar calculator is the most robust and accurate solar calculator of its kind and represents a massive improvement in efficiency for the solar industry.
]]>