So you have a few quotes, sit down to evaluate them, and notice something right off the bat: installer A and installer B have proposed different sizes for your solar panel system. Why is this? And how can you truly compare apples-to-apples in this scenario?
In this article, we’ll review why this might happen – and what you can do about it!
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Home solar systems have now been around for quite some time, reliably powering homes across the country with clean, renewable energy. If you were an early adopter, your system is likely getting up there in terms of age. Although solar panels last for 25 to 30 years on average, with an older system you might be encountering some defects, general wear and tear, or a drop in electricity production brought on by age. Whatever the reason, if your solar system is no longer producing the kind of energy you need, we’re here to show you some of your options.
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Solar panels are incredibly reliable, and have proven to be not only great for the environment, but a superb investment as well. Their reliability comes from the fact that they are solid state electronic devices, meaning that there are no moving parts. This nearly eliminates the risk of mechanical failure and allows panels to be extremely low maintenance for long periods of time. However, nothing is perfect, and solar panels can develop defects over the course of their lifetime. We’ve put together a list of the most common problems that can occur with your solar system.
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The farming industry has been hit hard by the impacts of climate change. From increasing temperatures to severe droughts, farms are facing new challenges that will likely increase with intensity as climate change progresses. Fortunately, a new solution is arising that can both benefit farmers and help reduce emissions: agrivoltaics (also known as dual-use solar).
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Have you ever wondered how much electricity you could produce from solar? In this article, we’ll walk through how to calculate the amount of solar power you could technically generate on your roof, as well as why our calculations aren’t all that helpful for any single homeowner.
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When you evaluate solar panels for your photovoltaic (PV) system, you will encounter two main categories of panel options: monocrystalline solar panels (mono) and polycrystalline solar panels (poly). Both types of panels produce energy from the sun, but there are some key differences to be aware of.
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Over the past year, in the face of constant and unprecedented headwinds, ranging from COVID-19 to an unfriendly presidential administration, the solar industry has proved incredibly resilient, with home solar installations growing 7 percent in 2020. But what does 2021 have in store for solar? Will this growth continue? In this article, we look at the three areas that will determine the industry’s fortunes in the coming year: business trends, technology, and government policy.
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Most of the solar panel options currently available fit in one of three types: monocrystalline, polycrystalline (also known as multi-crystalline), and thin-film. These solar panels vary in how they’re made, appearance, performance, costs, and the installations each are best suited for. Depending on the type of installation you’re considering, one option may be more suitable than the others.
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For those looking for the most efficient solar panels for their solar energy system, the first thing you need to know is how to compare efficiency metrics for different manufacturer brands. Solar panel efficiency is one useful metric used to determine how much power a solar panel produces compared to other products.
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One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners considering a solar panel installation is “how long do solar panels last?” It’s hard to understand the upfront cost of going solar without knowing how long you can expect your rooftop panels to produce ample energy. Your solar panels will be able to offset your electricity use for decades, but it is also important to understand industry projections and degradation rates.
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