During the past year, southern Maryland has had several power outages, most recently one at the beginning of July which lasted 4 days. A handful of the neighbors have invested in ginormous diesel backup generators which cost $30,000 and burn 30 gal of fuel per day.
So I wondered aloud if solar couldn't be an optimal solution. And thus began my journey.
The Clift notes version goes: PV Panels go for about $1 to $1.50 per watt. Tesla makes a battery backup system. Credits and rebates are a minimum of 30% credit for all materials and labor, in addition to state rebates and energy credits. In Washington DC you could almost break even in the first year.
The first thing I noticed was that NO solar installation company posts their prices on their website. It's as frustrating as it is transparent, and probably accounts for the reason why panels cost $1 per watt but final installations go for $6 per watt. That just isn't right. Two master electricians each making $100 an hour for two days would only cost $3,200. My gut tells me this markup is because 95% of the people who start out researching this kind of project (myself included) don't have the necessary electrical knowledge to effectively comparison shop, become overwhelmed, and go with the first qualified contractor who gives us an estimate. That doesn't mean you shouldn't arm yourself with knowledge. If you want to be as hands on in the decision making process as possible, demand that you be able to separate the materials bid from the labor.
Solar panels (a.k.a. pv modules) are made up of solar cells (a.k.a. wafers) arranged in an array and encapsulated in glass. Most panel manufacturers are not cell manufacturers, the latter falling into the realm of semiconductor nano technology. Most cells are at least 14% efficient, with 19% being the new bar. Some run 30% efficient and one claims to have hit the 50% mark.
Soaring efficiency has led to plummeting prices. I don't know if this is a good place to buy solar panels, but it's a great place to shop for them. Keep in mind that in 10 years, you'll probably be able to buy twice the wattage at half the price, which is why most consumers are dragging their feet on early adoption.
Enter the credits and rebates. Until 2016, a tax credit of 30% the total cost of materials and labor is available for all residential solar installations, even those not on your primary residence.
