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Occasionally, people ask me how to choose the best solar pv system, or the best panels. Choosing the best solar system depends mainly on your energy needs, roof space, and budget. Most people really want to know how to choose the best solar value. For example, I was asked the following question on my “Help me help you” survey:
I got bid from 2 different installers. One was SunPower panels; the other Canadian Solar. The SunPower bid (for a 5.2 kw DC system) was $21,000 and the Canadian Solar bid was $14,000 - why so far apart?
Great question. There could be many explanations why there is such a gap in the price. Generally, SunPower’s superior efficiency allows for it/ necessitates that it price its solar panels higher. (They have to pay for the best engineers to get the best efficiency, right?) Each installer may be giving you the best deal he can with both brands of panels. What you should check on both proposals is not the DC system size (in this case 5.2 kw DC), but the kilowatt-hours output. Ask your installer(s) how much energy (in kwh) each system expects to produce in the first year. Read the rest of this entry »
Step 1: Look at your electricity bills and average out your usage to find “Your kWh/year”.
Step 2: Look at the US Solar Map below to get the number of hours per day the Sun shines on your house.
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Step 1: Determine your solar array size in kW and enter it into the calculator below.
Step 2: Decide which solar panels you want to use, and enter the DC Watt rating of the specific solar panel model you want to use into the calculator below.
This is an excerpt of an article originally posted on AOL Real Estate written by Audrey Tempelsman. Audrey asked me to help her on an article you can read in full here.
There are a nerve-wracking number of solar manufacturers and installers out there, so I caught up with Shawn Roe of SRoeCo Solar, a solar advice service, and asked him to share five questions that all consumers should ask before purchasing a system. I hope you’ll find his insight as helpful as I did:
1. “How many systems has your company installed?”
Due to the recent spike in solar panel installations, and the decrease in other construction-related businesses, many roofers, fencers, and builders are attempting to start solar installation companies with no solar experience and without proper solar installation knowledge. Look for a reputable installer with at least 50 installations and a few references. Read the rest of this entry »
Should I use Sanyo 200’s or Suntech 270’s? SunPower 210’s or Canadian Solar 240’s? Which size solar panel you use depends mainly on how much roof space you have available and how much electricity you plan to use (with solar power). Below are 6 steps to calculate which size solar panels you need for your building.
Step 1: Know Your Electricity Usage
Gather your old electricity bills for the past 12 months. Contact your utility company if you don’t have them and your electricity provider should gladly send you a printout with your past electricity usage. You’re looking for 2 things: (1) your monthly kW/h usage, and (2) your monthly cost.
Step 2: Know your Roof Direction
Grab a compass (maybe your car navigation, or check Google Maps) and figure out which way is South. Go outside, look at your roof and see how much roof space is facing South, Southwest, East and West. The more South the better, but West is actually okay.
Step 3: Measure Roof Area Read the rest of this entry »
This is a chart of the “Top 40 Most Efficient Solar Panels” available on the market today (11/01/09). All 40 most-efficient solar panels are from 2 companies: SunPower and Sanyo Electric. If you have limited space on your roof and budget is not a concern - these are the best solar panels on the market giving you the highest efficiency (greatest output) per area.
All of these solar modules are Monocrystalline clearly proving that this type of solar panel is the most efficient - more efficient than Polycrystalline and Thin Film. The panels listed at 290 kW and above all take up more than 17.5 square feet per panel. The solar panels rated at 230 kW and below take up less than 13.5 square feet. Read the rest of this entry »
Yes, some panels are more efficient than others, but that doesn’t mean that they are worth the additional cost.
Many people ask, “Which solar panel should I choose? Which panels are the best?” Though any salesman is going to tell you his panels are the best, the truth is that it is not easy to compare solar power panels and to firmly state that one brand stands out among the rest as the best.
The solar panel comparison chart I created below shows how difficult it can be to compare panels and brands. Listed are common panels between 190 and 230 watts of 5 common solar panel manufacturers (Canadian Solar, Kyocera, Sharp, SunPower, and Suntech).
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In a commitment to advancing the solar renewable energy movement, SRoeCo Solar created the “Solar Electric Cost Commercial” to promote the benefits of solar electric systems through creative marketing and advertising.
Calculations behind the “Solar Electric Cost Commercial” after the break.
Highlights from the Intersolar 2009 North America solar show in San Francisco, California that was held July 14-16 at the Moscone Center.
Michael Kanellos, Editor in Chief of Greentech Media, gives a short tour of the conference asking the question, “what’s the solar panel of the future - silicon or thin film?” View the video after the break…
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