In the future, the whole idea of getting energy from non-renewable sources is going to be a bizarre notion. In fact, we might not even see our solar panels as they continue to get more efficient and more transparent.
Your cellphone and other devices might not even have charge ports or receive electrical charges from external sources.
Until transparent solar cells come properly onto the scene, though, the question about what the solar panel installation price tag is will continue as a hot topic.
To combat the confusion that constant innovation sometimes brings, we’re here to tell you how much to expect from a typical solar panel installation.
DIY or Use a Company?
You might be thinking that you can install your solar panel to save some cost. You’re absolutely right — you can! The better question is: “Should you?”
If you DIY you’ll have to submit your own permits and do a ton of research that a top solar company can do for you instead.
Let’s face it, you probably aren’t an expert in picking products that are high quality, high efficiency, high durability, fare well in your climate and sun exposure, and are compatible with other parts of the solar power generation system.
If you’re going to do grid-tie systems you’ll need to have your utility sign off and have a good relationship with their inspector, not just the city or state inspectors.
Oh, and did we mention that if you’re going to go off-grid that you’ll need to know which mount, wiring, battery, and inversion system you should use?
You’ll also need to tie into your home’s main fuse or breaker box. Really, only trained electrical professionals should be doing such potentially dangerous work.
In the end, you won’t be saving as much as you think (or maybe spending more) by doing DIY. You’ll also be adding frustration and risk of damage to property and life into the mix.
For these reasons, we recommend always using a licensed and well-respected solar installer.
What’s Involved in Solar Panel Installation Price?
High efficiency means higher price, and there’s no way around this fact. The average cost of a solar panel is about $212. That said, the type of solar panel being installed matters a lot.
You can’t always go with higher efficiency due to economics or due to other factors such as heat. Some of the highest efficiency designs don’t manage high heat, while some of the lower efficiency panels manage high temperatures better.
This means that in a high heat situation such as in Arizona, Nevada, or Texas, your “lower efficiency” panel will have higher efficiency in the end. Inverters that match your type of panel will be cheaper if it’s a more common type of system.
Likewise, battery technology is coming along, but it’s also quite expensive. You’ll have to judge which is most practical and most economical for your particular case.
Depending on the complexity of the hardware that works best with your home, the installation price fluctuates. On average, it’s about 10% of the total cost of the system.
If the average system costs between $15,000 to $25,000 by the end (still quite a wide range), expect $1,500 to $2,500 of that price to be the actual cost of the installation.
The Price of Renewables
Solar panel installation price, like the price of installing other types of renewables, is dropping. It might be the right time to get in, especially since tax credits haven’t expired yet.
Need to know more about the technology in general and tax credits specifically? Keep browsing articles to learn more about solar and other types of renewables!
