Comments on: Solar panels: Measuring cost http://www.getsolar.com/blog/solar-panels-measuring-cost/1142/ Get the latest news on solar homes, solar panels & renewable energy Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:47:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Solar Maid http://www.getsolar.com/blog/solar-panels-measuring-cost/1142/comment-page-1/#comment-2527 Solar Maid Sat, 17 Apr 2010 07:40:10 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=1142#comment-2527 Nice article Adam, but for commercial and utility solar systems,(even residential) one must factor long term maintenance into the overall projections. Installers will not typically discuss this because of the added cost, but failure to do so will have a hugh impact on payback numbers. Solar Maid provides free consultation for anyone looking to include maintenance in their system figures, so it makes sense to pick up the phone during the planning stage and find out exactly what this added cost will be in the long term. Believe it or not, eventhough maintenance programs will add cost and time to the payback period, in the long term no maintenance will cost a lot more. Nice article Adam, but for commercial and utility solar systems,(even residential) one must factor long term maintenance into the overall projections. Installers will not typically discuss this because of the added cost, but failure to do so will have a hugh impact on payback numbers.

Solar Maid provides free consultation for anyone looking to include maintenance in their system figures, so it makes sense to pick up the phone during the planning stage and find out exactly what this added cost will be in the long term.

Believe it or not, eventhough maintenance programs will add cost and time to the payback period, in the long term no maintenance will cost a lot more.

]]> By: Colorado Solar Designers http://www.getsolar.com/blog/solar-panels-measuring-cost/1142/comment-page-1/#comment-2248 Colorado Solar Designers Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:40:17 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=1142#comment-2248 The <a href="" rel="nofollow">Colorado Governer's Energy Office (GEO)</a> is rolling our incentives in Colorado to help those not in XCEL or Black Hills territory. If they ever launch the program, it is supposed to be a $1.50 per watt subsidy for up to a 3KW system ($4500) for homeowners and a 10KW ($15,000) for commercial meters. Be careful of per watt pricing, to make sure you understand the difference between retail (about $7 a watt these days and going down, but not much more unless panel technology changes) and final "out of pocket" costs, which generally deduct the utility rebates and federal tax rebates. These days, you final cost for fully installed solar (don't talk panel pricing, talk system pricing) should be under $3 per watt. The Colorado Governer’s Energy Office (GEO) is rolling our incentives in Colorado to help those not in XCEL or Black Hills territory. If they ever launch the program, it is supposed to be a $1.50 per watt subsidy for up to a 3KW system ($4500) for homeowners and a 10KW ($15,000) for commercial meters.

Be careful of per watt pricing, to make sure you understand the difference between retail (about $7 a watt these days and going down, but not much more unless panel technology changes) and final “out of pocket” costs, which generally deduct the utility rebates and federal tax rebates. These days, you final cost for fully installed solar (don’t talk panel pricing, talk system pricing) should be under $3 per watt.

]]> By: CW http://www.getsolar.com/blog/solar-panels-measuring-cost/1142/comment-page-1/#comment-1852 CW Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:36:36 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=1142#comment-1852 Cost of solar panels I recently read an article in <a href="http://www.solarbuzz.com/Moduleprices.htm" rel="nofollow">Solarbuzz</a> called "Solar Module Price Highlights: January 2010" which states that from the January survey, the retail price per watt peak for solar panels is now hovering around $4.00 (125 Watts and Higher Module Index). Does this mean that 4kw or 4000 watts of solar panels cost on average approximately ($4.00 x 4000 watts) $16,000? I've priced a few systems on the internet and have found that many are now below the $4.00 per watt range (for panels) and include mounts, wiring, disconnects and the other required small electrical components in the price for the panels. Good article. Cost of solar panels
I recently read an article in Solarbuzz called “Solar Module Price Highlights: January 2010″ which states that from the January survey, the retail price per watt peak for solar panels is now hovering around $4.00 (125 Watts and Higher Module Index). Does this mean that 4kw or 4000 watts of solar panels cost on average approximately ($4.00 x 4000 watts) $16,000?

I’ve priced a few systems on the internet and have found that many are now below the $4.00 per watt range (for panels) and include mounts, wiring, disconnects and the other required small electrical components in the price for the panels.

Good article.

]]> By: How Much Does A Solar Installation Cost? | GetSolar.com Blog http://www.getsolar.com/blog/solar-panels-measuring-cost/1142/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 How Much Does A Solar Installation Cost? | GetSolar.com Blog Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:31:21 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=1142#comment-1134 [...] “Cost and Financing” category, and definitely check out Adam’s post on how to measure solar cost). But everyone once in a while it’s a good idea to review the basic factors, so let me lay [...] [...] “Cost and Financing” category, and definitely check out Adam’s post on how to measure solar cost). But everyone once in a while it’s a good idea to review the basic factors, so let me lay [...]

]]> By: Margaret http://www.getsolar.com/blog/solar-panels-measuring-cost/1142/comment-page-1/#comment-578 Margaret Wed, 20 May 2009 12:36:52 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=1142#comment-578 Great sum-up, Adam. That's about as clear as one can get it! If anyone out there is interested in a little background reading about solar markets and what's going to happen to the cost of electricity over the next few years in this country and how PV plays into and benefits from that, check out this PowerPoint on projected growth in the solar market from the DOE (2008): http://www.earthday.net/files/doe.ppt Make sure to take a look especially the graph on page 13, and the maps on pages 29-32. Cool stuff. Though I do wish they'd provided more data on their methods, apropos of Morgansolar's comment above. Great sum-up, Adam. That’s about as clear as one can get it! If anyone out there is interested in a little background reading about solar markets and what’s going to happen to the cost of electricity over the next few years in this country and how PV plays into and benefits from that, check out this PowerPoint on projected growth in the solar market from the DOE (2008): http://www.earthday.net/files/doe.ppt Make sure to take a look especially the graph on page 13, and the maps on pages 29-32. Cool stuff. Though I do wish they’d provided more data on their methods, apropos of Morgansolar’s comment above.

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