Amazing New Solar Panels Are Completely Transparent

Just so we’re totally clear, this is a huge deal. (Get it?)

posted on Aug. 27, 2014, at 3:51 p.m.

Kasia Galazka

BuzzFeed Staff

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kasiagalazka/transparent-solar-panels#.ou6byrdMk

NET ZERO HOMES

NIST test house exceeds goal; ends year with energy to spare The net-zero energy test house at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in suburban Washington, D.C., not only absorbed winter's best shot, it came out on top, reaching its one-year anniversary on July 1 with enough surplus energy to power an electric car for about 1,440 miles. Despite five months of below-average temperatures and twice the normal amount of snowfall, NIST's Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility (NZERTF) ended its one-year test run with 491 kilowatt hours of extra energy. Instead of paying almost $4,400 for electricity-the estimated average annual bill for a comparable modern home in Maryland-the virtual family of four residing in the all-electric test house actually earned a credit by exporting the surplus energy to the local utility. A net-zero energy house produces at least as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. A number of states are taking steps toward encouraging or even requiring construction of net-zero energy homes in the future. For example, California will require that, as of 2020, all newly constructed homes must be net-zero energy ready. Both a laboratory and a house, the two-story, four-bedroom, three-bath NZERTF would blend in nicely in a new suburban subdivision. But it was designed and built to be about 60 percent more energy efficient than houses built to meet the requirements of the 2012 version of the International Energy Conservation Code, which Maryland has adopted. The 2,700 square-foot  test house is built to U.S. Green Building Council LEED Platinum standards-the highest standard for sustainable structures. Its features include energy-efficient construction and appliances, as well as energy-generating technologies, such as solar water heating and a solar photovoltaic system. Despite 38 days when the test house's solar panels were covered with snow or ice, the NZERTF's sun-powered generation system produced 13,577 kilowatt hours of energy. That's 491 kilowatt hours more than used by the house and its occupants, a computer-simulated family of two working parents and two children, ages 8 and 14. First year energy use totaled 13,086 kilowatt hours, which was about 3,000 kilowatt hours more than projected usage in a year with typical weather. In a normal year, a comparable home built to meet Maryland's residential energy standard would consume almost 27,000 kilowatt hours of energy. In terms of energy consumed per unit of living space-a measure of energy-use intensity-the NIST test house is calculated to be almost 70 percent more efficient than the average house in Washington, D.C., and nearby states. From July through October, the facility registered monthly surpluses. In November, when space-heating demands increased and the declining angle of the sun reduced the energy output of its 32 solar panels, the NZERTF began running monthly deficits. Through March 31, when the house's net energy deficit plummeted to 1,800 kilowatt hours-roughly equivalent to the combined amount of energy a refrigerator and clothes dryer would use in a year-temperatures consistently averaged below normal. Starting in April, the energy tide began to turn as the house began to export electric power to the grid on most days. In terms of cost, the NZERTF's virtual residents saved $4,373 in electricity payments, or $364 a month. However, front-end costs for solar panels, added insulation, triple-paned windows, and other technologies and upgrades aimed at achieving net-zero energy performance are sizable. In all, estimates that incorporating all of the NZERTF's energy-related technologies and efficiency-enhancing construction improvements would add about $162,700 to the price of a similar house built to comply with Maryland's state building code. Planned measurement-related research at the NZERTF will yield knowledge and tools to help trim this cost difference. Results also will be helpful in identifying affordable measures that will be most effective in reducing energy consumption. And research will further the development of tests and standards that are reliable benchmarks of energy efficiency and environmental performance overall, providing information useful to builders, home buyers, regulators and others.

GOOD SOLAR NEWS

Kyocera Solar reduces cost and increases efficiency with new 1000-volt modules

Kyocera Solar Inc. is now offering new 1000-volt solar photovoltaic (PV) modules designed to significantly reduce labor and materials costs while simultaneously increasing overall system efficiency.

The US electrical code was only recently amended to allow 1000-volt solar modules, following a similar development in Europe that enables wider use of high-efficiency 1000-volt inverters.

By specifying a 1000V system instead of the previous 600V standard, installers can reduce total system costs by a substantial amount — up to 20%, according to Kyocera engineers, depending on the individual project.

The cost reduction is achieved in several ways:

• Because 1000V PV systems incorporate more modules per string, materials and labor costs are minimized by reducing the total number of strings and combiners the system requires. 
• String cable used for 1000V modules is thinner and uses less copper, making it less expensive to purchase and install. 
• 1000V inverters are likewise smaller and less expensive to install than their 600V counterparts.

A more long-term advantage of the 1000V system is its ability to minimize resistive losses, also known as “voltage drop” — which is typically about 0.75% lower in a 1000V system than in a comparable system of 600V. This increase in efficiency results in significant energy retention over the 20+ year lifespan of a system.

SOME ( A REAL LOT OF) ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

IKEA rolls out consumer solar panel systems in British stores

I'll take the Billy bookcase, the Karlstad sofa, and a pack of solar panels in black.

Don't laugh it may be true some day.

IKEA stores in Britain this week began selling rooftop solar panel systems, giving the industry a boost after rounds of feed-in tariff cuts and freezes.

The Swedish retail giant confirmed Monday it would roll out the systems to 17 of its stores in Britain in coming months in partnership with Chinese panel-maker Hanergy Solar U.K. after conducting trial run this summer at an outlet in Southampton, England.

Believed to be the first time photovoltaic energy systems have been made available through a mass-market retailer, IKEA's move comes a year after feed-in tariffs paid to British panel owners were slashed from 69 cents per kilowatt to their current 23 cents.

IKEA announced the consumer roll-out after using solar panels extensively to help power its own facilities. Under its corporate sustainability program, the retailer has installed more than 250,000 panels across its stores worldwide and is aiming to produce as much energy as it consumes by 2020.

The price of a standard 3.36-kilowatt PV system for a semi-detached home would run about $10,800, including value-added tax, with 15-percent discounts available under IKEA's Family loyalty program.

Steve Howard, IKEA's sustainability chief, told The Wall Street Journal despite likely low profit margins, the retailer wants to build PV systems into "a real business."

They're becoming easier to sell thanks to the volatility of energy prices, he said, adding, "You don't have to care about the environment and climate change, you can just care about the finances."

After a surge of PV panel-buying when Britain first introduced its feed-in tariff scheme, the number of homes installing rooftop systems has dropped as the FIT has gone down. The British Solar Trade Association says the solar market is currently installing about 100,000 solar systems per year -- far below the projected 300,000.

It will be interesting to see which model prevails. Either way, IKEA's move represents a big bet on solar panels' potential to shake their reputation as boondoggles and become the latest sleek status symbols for the modern home. The company has already begun the work of recasting their aesthetic image, suggesting that its solar panels resemble "flat-screen televisions."

TO CLEAN OR NOT TO CLEAN...THAT IS THE QUESTION

Cleaning Solar Panels Often Not Worth the Cost

Don't hire someone to wash your dirty solar panels. That's the conclusion of a study recently conducted.

Researchers found panels that hadn't been cleaned, or rained on, for 145 days during a summer drought in California, lost only 7.4 percent of their efficiency. 

Overall, for a typical residential solar system of 5 kilowatts, washing panels halfway through the summer would translate into a mere $20 gain in electricity production. For larger commercial rooftop systems, the financial losses are bigger but still rarely enough to warrant the cost of washing the panels. On average, panels lost a little less than 0.05 percent of their overall efficiency per day. The study is focused on smaller systems, for very large installations, economies of scale may mean that washing panels is worth it.

Dust on PV panels does make a difference but it's not a big enough factor in Wisconsin to warrant cleaning. Researchers believe that this is the largest study quantifying losses of electricity output due to dirty solar panels conducted so far. Typically, particulate matter from air pollution, agriculture, construction and traffic accumulates on the panels, as well as pollen and sea salt.

Researchers also found that solar panels mounted at an angle of less than five degrees caused bigger losses in efficiency. That's because dirt slips off panels that are installed at a steeper angle. Here in SE Wisconsin we angle solar arrays at slightly less than 45 degrees.

But solar panels heavily soiled with bird droppings should be cleaned. That's because the droppings essentially block all sunlight and will not be washed away when it rains. Engineers also found that photovoltaic panels were dirty enough to warrant cleaning due to very specific and localized circumstances. For example, being directly next to and downwind of a highway, factory or agricultural field may generate enough dirt to warrant cleaning.

Next steps in the study would be looking more closely at the sites that did warrant cleaning and determine what caused the panels to get so dirty. Finally, researchers could add collectors at specific sites to determine what kind of dirt accumulates on the solar panels; whether special materials could keep dirt from accumulating; and whether special, less costly washing systems would do a better job at removing dirt from the panels.

USA SOLAR HAS RECORD GROWTH IN 2012

The United States experienced record growth in solar installations in 2012.

A total of 3,313 megawatts of capacity was added in the United States last year, bringing the national solar photovoltaics total to 7,221 megawatts. That's a 76 percent increase compared with 2011.

More new solar systems were installed in 2012 than in the three prior years combined. There were 16 million solar panels installed in the U.S. last year -- more than two panels per second of the work day -- and every one of these panels was bolted down by a member of the U.S. workforce. The report forecasts 4,300 megawatts of new PV installations for 2013, an increase of 29 percent over 2012.

Most credited supportive government policies for helping to spur the growth and called for longer-term policies to provide certainty to the solar sector. You need the same certainty that has been provided to the oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear industries.

The market value of solar installations reached $11.5 billion in 2012, from $3.6 billion in 2009.

Amidst this boom, the solar industry faced newly imposed import tariffs on Chinese solar cells and ongoing consolidation in the manufacturing space. Last year, the U.S. International Trade Commission imposed a 36 percent tariff on Chinese solar cell manufacturers, for dumping cheap products on the U.S. market. These tariffs did have the desired effect of barring Chinese cells from entering the U.S. market.

Average costs for residential systems dropped nearly 20 percent in one year, from $6.16 per watt in 2011 to $5.04 per watt in 2012.

California led the nation in the number of megawatts installed. An update Thursday from the California Public Utilities Commission indicated that the state has installed 1.5 gigawatts of rooftop solar. That's almost equal to the amount of power generated by three medium-sized coal-fired power plants. Under its "Million Solar Roofs" program created in 2006, California, with the help of $3.3 billion in incentives, aims to generate 3 gigawatts of solar power by 2016. The state had passed the 1 gigawatt benchmark in November 2011.

SOLAR PV INSTALLATION IMPROVEMENTS

Electrical Systems and Services, Inc is always looking at new and improved solar PV installation techniques. These improvements not only allow for better and longer lasting solar systems, but in most cases decrease the overall cost of the system, with quicker installation times.

No two solar sites are precisely alike; both the built and natural environments affect an installation’s specifics. A thorough site survey quantifies these factors, and a quality system requires tailoring the design to the site specifics. Working with PV rack companies can take much of the guesswork out of the process, as they will provide engineered designs to meet wind uplift forces, snow load, and soil or roofing material types. 

Roof-Mounted PV Arrays

Because of space limitations, ground-level shading, and the excavating and trenching required for pole and ground mounts, the least expensive and most frequent location for PV arrays is on a roof.

Roofs can be classified as either low- or steep-sloped—low slope generally means a roof with a pitch of less than 3:12 (less than 14°). Low-sloped roofs are often mistakenly referred to as flat roofs, but no roof is ever really flat, as a pitch is needed for shedding water. Even a roof that appears flat will have a pitch of at least 0.5:12.

Top-Down Innovations

On steep-sloped roofs, modules are almost always flush-mounted—mounted parallel to the roof plane. The most common technique for flush-mounting steep roof arrays is “top-down mounting.” Anodized aluminum rails are used to support modules, and stainless steel or aluminum compression clips hold the modules onto the rails, usually with a bolt and nut captured by slots in the rails. This speeds up installation, eliminating bolting through the mounting holes on the back of module frames as was once common. Now, installation is easily accomplished with the modules in position on the rails from above—thus, the description “top-down”. 

Recent design improvements in top-down mounting decrease materials and reduce labor. They include automatic grounding   and one-tool installation, all of the bolts have the same size head, so one wrench fits all bolts. Snap-in nuts attach standoffs and top-down clips, the rails are height-adjustable, and there’s a built-in channel for wire management. In addition, both the mid- and end-clips have a universal design, meaning that regardless of module-frame dimensions, a single clip works with any module and the clips don’t have to be specified in advance.

Structural Attachments

Structural attachments from the array to the roof are a critical part of the installation. The attachment type and method will vary based on the roofing type (shingle, metal, tile, etc.) and with the roof’s structural design (wood trusses, structural insulated panels, metal, etc.). 

Preventing roof leaks and meeting building codes for live and dead loads (including wind uplift, rack and array weight, and snow loads) are primary concerns. A properly installed array will meet these concerns and maintain the roof warranty. In nearly all installations, every roof penetration needs to be flashed for waterproofing. On a composition (asphalt) shingle roof, the metal flashing fits underneath higher rows of shingles, so water runs over the top of the flashing and around the roof penetration. For years, many installers relied solely on sealant for penetrations, but new structural attachments make installing flashed penetrations simple and quick. 

MORE SOLAR INFORMATION

Cell Type & Efficiency. 

If you have limited mounting space, PV module efficiency is a key consideration. Modules with crystalline silicon PV cells—as opposed to thin-film—will likely be required, since thin-film modules produce about half of the wattage per square foot.

Within the crystalline module category, there are variances in power density (watts per square foot). Average power density is about 12.7 W per square foot, but some modules have higher power densities:

Using a module with higher power density means getting more power out of your usable mounting area. For example, let’s say our shade-free mounting area measures 20 feet by 10 feet, for an area of 200 square feet. Without considering module dimensions, choosing a module with a 12 W per square foot power density will yield a 2,400 W array; selecting a module that yields 18 W per square foot results in a 3,600 W array—a 50% improvement.

The downside is that modules with higher power densities typically are more expensive per watt (about 7% to 12% more). Decreased installation and racking costs for higher-efficiency modules may—or may not—amount to much. In most cases, if you have plenty of installation space, you won’t likely want the more expensive modules.

Bifacial modules that produce power from both the front and back of the module  report two values for module efficiency. These modules have clear backing, allowing some light to pass through, and can generate some energy from the reflective light that hits the back of the module. These modules can be good choices for awning and carport installations that can take advantage of reflected light.

Module Size & Dimensions. 

This will determine array layout—how many modules can fit in the available space. Differing roof planes, such as trapezoids (created by hip roofs) require carefully choosing modules with appropriate dimensions, so that roof space is maximized without hanging modules off the roof’s edges. Required setbacks for local fire department guidelines, accessibility for maintenance, module mounting infrastructure, and module interconnections and string layout will also influence what size modules will work in an array at your site.

CONTACT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND SERVICES, INC.

TO SCHEDULE A FREE SITE SURVEY FOR YOUR SOLAR 

PROJECT.

NEW SOLAR TECHNOLOGY

Solar cells made from black silicon

Solar cells convert three-quarters of the energy contained in the Sun's spectrum into electricity - yet the infrared spectrum is entirely lost in standard solar cells. In contrast, black silicon solar cells are specifically designed to absorb this part of the Sun's spectrum - and researchers have recently succeeded in doubling their overall efficiency.

The Sun blazes down from a deep blue sky - and rooftop solar cells convert this solar energy into electricity. Not all of it, however: Around a quarter of the Sun's spectrum is made up of infrared radiation which cannot be converted by standard solar cells - so this heat radiation is lost. One way to overcome this is to use black silicon, a material that absorbs nearly all of the sunlight that hits it, including infrared radiation, and converts it into electricity. But how is this material produced?

Black silicon is produced by irradiating standard silicon with femtosecond laser pulses under a sulfur containing atmosphere. This structures the surface and integrates sulfur atoms into the silicon lattice, making the treated material appear black. If manufacturers were to equip their solar cells with this black silicon, it would significantly boost the cells' efficiency by enabling them to utilize the full Sun spectrum.

Researchers have now managed to double the efficiency of black silicon solar cells - in other words, they have created cells that can produce more electricity from the infrared spectrum.

This enabled the scientists to solve a key problem of black silicon: In normal silicon, infrared light does not have enough energy to excite the electrons into the conduction band and convert them into electricity, but the sulfur incorporated in black silicon forms a kind of intermediate level. You can compare this to climbing a wall: The first time you fail because the wall is too high, but the second time you succeed in two steps by using an intermediate level.

The researchers have already successfully built prototypes of black silicon solar cells and their next step will be to try and merge these cells with commercial technology.  They hope to be able to increase the efficiency of commercial solar cells - which currently stands at approximately 17 percent - by one percent by combining them with black silicon. Their starting point is a standard commercial solar cell: The experts simply remove the back cover and incorporate black silicon in part of the cell, thereby creating a tandem solar cell that contains both normal and black silicon.

The researchers are also planning a spin-off: This will be used to market the laser system that manufacturers will be able to acquire to expand their existing solar cell production lines. Manufacturers would then be able to produce the black silicon themselves and include it in the cells as standard.

JUST TO REMIND YOU

Here are the five most practical and popular ways that solar energy is used:

IN NO SPECIAL ORDER.

1.       Small portable solar photovoltaic systems.

      We see these used everywhere, from calculators to solar garden products; portable units can be used for everything from RV appliances while single panel systems are used for traffic signs and remote monitoring stations.

2.       Solar pool heating. 

      Running water in direct circulation systems through a solar collector is a very practical way to heat water for your pool or hot tub.

3.       Thermal glycol energy to heat water. 

      In this method (indirect circulation), glycol is heated by the sun's rays and the heat is then transferred to water in a hot water tank.
This method of collecting the sun's energy is more practical now than ever. In areas as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, solar thermal to heat water is economically sound. It can pay for itself in three years or less.

4.       Integrating solar photovoltaic energy into your home or business power. 

      In many parts of the world, solar photovoltaics is an economically feasible way to supplement the power of your home. In Japan, photovoltaics are competitive with other forms of power. In the US, new incentive programs make this form of solar energy ever more viable in many states. An increasingly popular and practical way of integrating solar energy into the power of your home or business is through the use of building integrated solar photovoltaics.

5.       Large independent photovoltaic systems. 

      If you have enough sun power at your site, you may be able to go off grid. You may also integrate or hybridize your solar energy system with wind power or other forms of renewable energy to stay 'off the grid.'

MANY TYPES OF SOLAR INSTALLATIONS ARE AVAILABLE

Solar Energy Systems Come In A
Variety Of Installation Types

The type of racking or mounting systems impacts how well your solar panels function. When shopping for solar for your business, or home these are the most common mounting options you’ll find on the market:

Flat Roof Solar Panel Installation  

A flat roof installation is the easiest way to go solar on your building. It offers flexibility for orienting and tilting the solar panels for ideal solar collection. This installation type is more common on commercial installations and is perhaps one of the least complicated. These are the three most typical mounting options in flat roof installations:

Ballasted Mount:

Some solar systems use weights (called ballasts) to hold the solar array to the roof instead of bolting it down. Ballasted systems are often preferable because they do not penetrate the roof, but only work for large system in low-wind zones.

Mechanically Attached:

Traditional rooftop systems are mounted to the posts secured in the roof beams. Special roof leak protection is added to each penetration to stop leaks. These attached systems work for any size, and hold tight even in windy areas.

Hybrid Mount:

Often referred to as a minimally attached system, the hybrid mount uses some structural attachments combined with typical ballasted design. This results in minimal roofing penetrations but a little more security where needed.

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Pitched Roof Solar Panel Installation 

Perhaps the most common type of solar panel installation seen in residential solar systems, the pitched roof mounting option means installing panels on non-flat (or angled) roofs. Due to the angle and complexity of solar equipment used to keep solar panels in place on a pitched surface like a residential roof, makes this type of installation the most difficult.

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Ground Mount Solar Panel Installation: 

Some buildings are not well-suited to solar installations because of location, size, or orientation. In these cases, where surface area permits, a ground-mounted system is an option. The installation for these types of systems involves a wedge structure made of steel that anchors the solar panels to a concrete foundation.

Electrical Systems and Services, Inc can work with you to determine which of the installation techniques would be best for your type of roof or property, and provide your system with the best results. Contact ESS to set up free, no obligation, building and property survey.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Cells

You may have heard the terms monocrystalline and polycrystalline used to describe photovoltaic cells, but what does that mean and how does it affect a cell’s performance?

Basic Anatomy of a PV cell

A lump of pure silicon

The main ingredient in most photovoltaic cells is silicon – the same element that makes computer chips possible.  Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, but unfortunately it is normally found in the form of silica – you might know it as sand.

Various methods exist to extract the pure silicon, but the most common is carbothermic reduction, where the silica is heated to 1700°C in the presence of carbon.  As the silicon cools it forms crystals.

The speed at which the silicon cools is one of the critical factors that determine the crystal size: the slower the silicon cools, the larger the crystals.  With care the silicon can be extracted as one large crystal.  As you might imagine, that’s more difficult, which means it’s more expensive.

The difference between monocrystalline vs polycrystalline solar cells is simply that one is produced from a single crystal of silicon and the other is produced from a piece of silicon consisting of many crystals.

Practical Differences

So what is the impact on cell performance?

Since polycrystalline cells contain many crystals, they have a less perfect surface than monocrystalline cells.  This means that they absorb slightly less solar energy and produce slightly less electricity per square foot. On the plus side, the process of creating the silicon for a polycrystalline cell is much simpler, so these cells are generally cheaper per square foot.

On balance, the cost of monocrystalline vs polycrystalline based panels per Watt of power output works out about the same, but the polycrystalline panels will be slightly larger than equivalent monocrystalline panels.  This is generally not a problem unless you have a very limited area available for the installation, in which case you will want to maximise the power output per square foot.

Monocrystalline and polycrystalline can also look different.  Monocrystalline cells will usually have a perfectly uniform appearance, but polycrystalline cells will appear “grainy” – think of how a granite worktop looks and you’ll get the idea.  From a distance this will not be noticeable, so if they are going on your roof this is unlikely to worry you.

 So which should I choose?

At the end of the day, unless you are very space constrained, your choice of panel will probably be dictated by factors other than whether they are made up of mono or polycrystalline cells.

The price per Watt is an important factor, and that is largely unaffected by the choice of monocrystalline versus polycrystalline cells.  In some circumstances, the area available for the installation may be a factor that pushes you to go for monocrystalline cells.

But the most important thing is to make sure that you choose a reputable installer and manufacturer.  Your panels will most likely give you many years of trouble free operation, but for your own peace of mind you will probably want to choose a manufacturer that is likely to be around for long enough to honor the terms of the guarantee – which may be up to 25 years!

Please contact Electrical Systems and Services, Inc should you have any questions or would like to schedule a site survey to see the potential your home or business could have with a solar system installed.

MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO THINK SOLAR?

U.S. SOLAR MODULE DEMAND EXPECTED TO DOUBLE IN 2012

The U.S. market for solar panels is likely to double in 2012, thanks to government policies and falling prices, although new tariffs on panels imported from China could contribute to slower growth in 2013, according to a new study.

U.S. developers are likely to install 3,300 megawatts of solar panels this year, nearly double the amount installed in 2011. More than 500 megawatts of solar power were installed in New Jersey, California, Arizona, Massachusetts and other states in the first quarter 2012 alone, in what is usually a slow time for solar installations due to winter weather.

The global solar power market has been turbulent for manufacturers, as prices have plunged amid an over supply of panels. But the falling prices, as well as faster development for large scaled solar powered plants, have driven strong demand for solar equipment.

Government subsidies, such as the federal rebate of 30% of the cost of each solar system, and state and local incentives have been driving growing demand for solar. The lowering prices have also played a role in the increase of interest for solar projects.

Average solar module prices fell by one- half in 2011, to about 94 cents a watt. That followed a 2010 drop of 27% in prices. The lower panel prices, combined with lower prices for other components, led to a drop in total solar systems installation costs. This was true in both large scale utility solar systems, as well as residential roof top installations.

Electrical Systems and Services, Inc is proud to be a NABCEP certified installer and part of this growing market. Now is the time to contact Electrical Systems to have a Free, No obligation assessment to your business or residence to see if this is the right time for you to go Solar.  Please contact us, so we can get yours scheduled.

QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT SOLAR......

5 Questions to Ask Before Purchasing a Solar Electric System

There are a nerve-wracking number of solar manufacturers and installers out there, so Electrical Systems and Services, Inc. came up with the 5 most important questions to ask before making the decision to install solar modules on your roof.

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 an NABCEP certification as Electrical Systems and Services does.

2. “Is the warranty on my solar panels 25 years?”
Most solar panels on the market are high-quality and will have a guaranteed output of not less than 90% after 10 years and no less than 80% after 25 years. Any brand panel should have this warranty, whether it’s made in China, Germany, or America.

3. “Is the warranty on your labor 10 years or longer?”
Some states require installers to warranty their labor for 10 years in order for the system to be eligible for state rebates. Any good installer should have no problem including this.

4. “How many kilowatt-hours will the system produce the first year?”
This is arguably the most important factor in comparing solar electric systems (other than price, of course). If you have solar panels warranted for 25 years, and labor guaranteed for 10, then the brand of solar panel – whether Canadian Solar, SunPower, Suntech, Helios or any other – doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is how much energy they are expected to produce in a year. Many times the cheaper, “less efficient” solar panels will produce more energy in a year at a better price than the pricier, “more efficient” solar panels. When warranties are the same, output is the money-maker, not brand or efficiency.

5. “How much will it cost? (…after parts, labor, installation and rebates)?”
Don’t compare the cost of the panels exclusively, or the labor exclusively. Compare the bottom-line cost after rebates. Whoever can give you the most output (kWh/year) at the best price, is the company you should chose. This is what Electrical Systems and Services, Inc. calls ‘solar value’.

SOLAR POSSIBILITIES