energysage solar power international round up

Solar Power International 2018 round-up

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It is an exciting time to be in the solar industry. This week marks the solar industry’s largest annual trade event: Solar Power International (SPI). EnergySage sent a team to Anaheim to see the latest and greatest technological advancements in the industry, discuss how federal and state policies impact the cost of solar in your state, and hear predictions from industry insiders for what to expect from solar in the next few years.

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solar tariff cost impact 2018

How the 2018 U.S. Solar Tariff Will Impact the Price You Pay

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Update: a new section was added at the bottom of this article in September 2018 to show the tariff’s impact on residential solar prices

We’ve been receiving lots of questions about the new solar tariff from shoppers on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace. Here’s the bottom line for homeowners: this tariff will increase the cost of a typical home solar installation by $500 to $1,000. The good news is that comparison-shopping on EnergySage can save you between $1,500 and $3,000. For commercial customers, the savings could be even higher (more on that later.)

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advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy

Advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy

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Wind, geothermal, solar, hydro, and other renewable technologies are a widely popular source of energy throughout the world today. Countries, corporations, and individuals are adopting renewables for a number of reasons. In this article, we’ll dive into some of the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy.

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Arcadia_Power

Arcadia Power community solar program review

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Community solar provides access to solar for residential electric customers who otherwise would not be able to install solar panels on their property. To date, though, community solar has not seen the same levels of adoption as residential rooftop solar. We conducted a Q&A with Arcadia Power to learn more about how their new community solar offering helps lower barriers to participation. 

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lumeta stick on solar panels

Lumeta Solar: stick-on solar panels

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There are many property owners who hesitate in installing solar because of how the panels will look on their roof, or because they worry about possibly damaging their roof during installation. With this in mind, Lumeta Solar sought to create a product that sticks flat against your roof, while not requiring roof penetrations for installation: adhesive solar panels.

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what are solar panels made of

How are solar panels made and what are they made of? List of cell types and parts of a solar panel

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Solar has entered the mainstream as the world’s cheapest energy source, leaving many people wondering how solar PV can be so efficient and inexpensive while still providing “green” energy. Answering that question means understanding how solar panels work, how they are made and what parts exactly they are made of. Most solar panels available on the market are made of monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or thin film (“amorphous”) silicon. In this article, we’ll explain the different ways solar cells are made and what parts are required to manufacture a solar panel.

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solar panels roof damage

Solar panels and roof damage

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Many property owners worry about damaging their roof when installing a solar panel system. These installations will typically last around 30 to 35 years, so it’s important to make sure installing panels doesn’t cause harm to your roof. Fortunately, roof damage as a result of a solar panel installation is extremely rare because installers take precautionary steps while installing panels to prevent leaks and other damage from occurring.

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demand charges plus solar

How do demand charges work?

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In the past few years, utilities across the country — from Indiana to Massachusetts to Arizona — proposed mandatory or voluntary demand charges for residential customers. With the right resources and knowledge, it is definitely possible to reduce your monthly bill on a demand charge rate. But in many situations, including often for people with solar on their roof, demand charges can lead to more expensive bills overall.

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minnesota community solar

Everything you need to know about Minnesota community solar

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Thanks to consumer-friendly legislation, the Minnesota community solar industry gained serious momentum in 2017 and 2018, and it’s expected to grow exponentially in the years to come. For Minnesotans looking to take advantage of solar power without installing a solar energy system on your property, the options are promising.

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