What Factors into The Cost of a New Solar System?
If you are interested in installing a solar panel system, there are many things to consider including the size of the system, your energy needs, and ultimately, the price. But what factors into the cost of a new solar system?
We’re glad you asked! Learn how the cost of your solar system is calculated from our team at Solar Bear Orlando!
System Size
The most important metric to pay attention to when installing a solar system is the cost per kilowatt of DC capacity (kWdc). Typically, solar panel systems are sized accordingly to their “DC capacity,” which is the amount of electricity the system is forecasted to produce.
When discussing cost, a common metric used in the solar industry is $/kWdc, which is the ratio of capital invested in the system relative to the capacity installed. This is like what architects and contractors use to determine the price per square foot ($/sq.ft.).
One of the best aspects of installing solar is that it is easily scalable. Systems are cost-effective at any size, and the price of installation can be scaled to fit any budget, large or small.
The cost of solar regarding $/kWdc will go down as the system gets larger and will produce electricity at a lower overall cost the larger it is. It is important to remember not to install an oversized system, as too much power can lead to waste and an unproductive return on investment (ROI).
When our team at Solar Bear quotes a new project, one of the first things we look at is the current electrical load, and the area that is available for solar installation. Then we will conduct an energy analysis to ensure that the system we install is the optimal size for your needs.
Mounting Style
The most common ways that solar can be installed are rooftop or ground-mounted. Rooftop systems are mounted to your home’s roof, and ground-mounted systems utilize vacant land.
Ground-mounted solar systems can involve higher project costs due to the equipment and planning involved to build the mounting system. There are more materials involved with these kinds of systems because the mounting system provides the entire foundation for the solar system, whereas rooftop solar systems rely on the roof for their foundation.
If a large system is desired, ground-mounted systems have the potential to be more cost-effective than rooftop solar systems as they can often be built bigger.
The third type of solar installation, like a ground mount, is solar carports. These can be expensive to install, as they require extensive structural foundations to be strong enough to mount solar panels. If you already have a carport at your home, it might be able to be retrofitted for solar installation.
Learn More> Ground Mounts Vs. Roof Mounts- What to Know
Age of Your Roof
If you are installing solar panels on your roof, and it needs to be replaced, it makes sense to replace your roof before installing solar panels. This is because if you don’t, you will later have to have your solar panels removed so that the roof can be replaced. Rather than incur these added costs, consider replacing your roof when the panels are being installed.
At Solar Bear Orlando, we can do both! We offer expert solar panel installations as well as solar power!
Tax Incentives
Many cities and governments offer incentives for solar energy installations. In most cases, these will help to reduce the total cost of the installation. These incentives don’t apply in certain scenarios, so it is important to understand what is covered and what isn’t.
Keep Reading> How to Calculate the Solar Payback Period
Go Solar
If you are considering installing solar panels in Orlando, Florida, our team at Solar Bear is here to help! We have extensive experience installing solar systems in Orlando and the surrounding areas and will help you secure financing and tax incentives, so your solar installation is cost-effective.
Ready for a quote? Call our solar installation pros at Solar Bear Orlando to get started today; 407-904-7585!