What is the cost of solar panels?

Let’s face it.  If you are considering a residential solar panel system, two of your biggest questions are probably (1) what it will cost to purchase it, and (2) how much will maintenance cost?

For the average homeowner, the retail cost of a solar array can range from $15,000-50,000, depending on your power needs.

But with tax incentives and rebates offered by many governmental entities and some manufacturers, your out-of-pocket expenses associated with installing solar panels can be reduced by 80% or more.

You can also reduce expenses associated with switching to solar power by cutting down on energy usage, or by choosing to offset only a portion of your electricity bill with solar.  The fewer panels you purchase as part of a solar panel system, the more you can save.  If your initial solar array is not enough, you can always add more panels to it in the future.

Some homeowners choose to lease solar panels instead of purchasing them outright.  There are a variety of contractual arrangements that may be offered by solar manufacturers whereby the solar array is installed on your property, but the company continues to own and pay for maintenance of the panels.  In turn, you purchase reduced cost solar electricity at a fixed rate over the life of the lease.

Financing solar panels is another option.  Property Assessed Clean Energy Loans allow you to pay for energy efficient upgrades like panels via a property tax increase – usually with no money down.

When it comes to maintaining a solar panel system, the cost is negligible.  Components are manufactured for a lifetime of 25-35 years.  As long as the panels are kept clean, they should continue to function without issue for many years.

The bottom line is that the answers to questions related to solar panel system costs can be summarized by: “it varies.”  Yet, homeowners should not be dissuaded from solar power by potential costs. Over the long run, switching to solar electricity will save money, protect against rising energy costs and also cut carbon footprints.

Group discounts for solar power?

Group discounts for solar power, offered through companies like One Block Off the Grid, are an especially smart move for a number of reasons.  First, the cost of solar panels is often off-putting to homeowners.  Second, the idea that other people in your neighborhood or region also are installing solar panels may give you an idea of community, or belonging, especially where some people still regard solar power as a “fringe” idea.

Dave Llorens, founder of 1BOG, comments:

“The idea was to put this online and deliver it to thousands of people at a time.  No one wants to have a salesman in their living room, they just want the numbers.”

In order to obtain group discounts for solar power for its potential customers, One Block Off the Grid screens solar contractors in regions that already offer solar subsidies.  The company then works with approved contractors to get them to offer a percentage discount when and if 1BOG brings a large enough group of customers.  If a deal is reached, it is offered on the One Block Off the Grid website.  The only “catch” is that the estimated number of people must agree to buy the panels in order to get the deal.  Usually, people looking to buy solar panels can realize a discount of about 15% in addition to a $500 rebate.

The cost of solar panels is usually much less using group discounts.  Mr. Llorens states that 1BOG only offers deals with a return on investment (ROI)  of 10 years or less.

Grape Solar CEO Ocean Yuan

A few weeks ago, we told you about how you could buy Grape Solar solar panels at the major warehouse company, Costco.

Now, this Oregon-based company is taking its product to a wider range of homeowners who want to go solar.

Residential solar panels from Grape Solar are available online at Amazon.com.  The ease of ordering these solar panel kits is matched only by the convenience of doing so.

Grape Solar panels are high-powered and reliable.  The kits at Amazon.com all include photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, racking system and inverter.  They are designed to be a grid-tied system.

Nine different sizes of solar panel arrays for homeowners are available at Amazon, ranging in price from $549 to $19,999.

The cost of solar panels is not the only consideration, however.  Consumers are encouraged to talk to a professional solar contractor to get an idea of how many solar panels to install on their home, and also to hire installation experience.  Not only can you save hassle and potential frustration, but a professional can help you maximize solar electricity output from your solar panel system.