Category: Uncategorized

How Many Solar Panels Would I Need for My EV?

You want to go all-in on energy efficiency with an electric vehicle (EV) and solar panels, but you’re not sure how many solar panels you need in order to charge your EV at home. If you don’t want to rely on public charging stations which could cost you significantly more than just investing in your own solar panels, the experts at Solar Bear Dallas can show you how to set up your house for the most optimal EV experience.

Kilowatt Usage and Electric Vehicles

Your EV needs kilowatts, or kWh, but what does that mean when it comes to the finer details? On average, a typical EV needs around 10 kWh for every 40 miles of range. Of course, each vehicle is slightly different in the same way that various gas-powered vehicles come with comparable mileage ratings.

EV Model	kWh Needed for 40 Miles
Nissan Leaf	12
Chevrolet Volt	11.6
Hyundai Kona	11.2
Tesla Model Y	10.4
Hyundai IONIQ 5	10

The Perfect Solar Panel Setup

Now that you have an idea of how much kWh you need in order to charge your EV, how do solar panels come into play? An average solar panel can give you around 1.75 kWh a day, so if you need roughly 10 kWh to charge your EV, that would be about 6 solar panels. If you drive more than 40 miles a day on average, a better recommendation would be 10 solar panels to ensure a longer range on a single charge.

Tallying Up the Savings

Gas vehicle owners use an average of 450 gallons of gasoline a year which can equal roughly $1,575 with the recent increase in fuel prices. Switching over to an EV will be cheaper than buying gas no matter how you charge it, but you can squeeze out even more savings with an at-home solar panel setup. You could charge your EV off grid power, but that can cost you up to 40 cents per kWh depending on your exact location. For comparison, it only takes around 11 cents or less to generate a kWh with a solar panel. Although public chargers are becoming more available by the year, relying solely on those stations to charge your vehicle could cost you almost as much as gas.

How to Equip Your Home with Solar Panels

Because of the dangers that come with walking around on the roof, it’s always best to leave solar installation to the professionals. Even if you manage to hook it up yourself, it takes specific knowledge and skills to connect those panels to your EV charging setup. To ensure the cleanest, hassle-free installation, contact your local solar panel contractors for the job.

Let Solar Bear Dallas Hook You Up!

If you’re ready to get into the all-electric and energy-efficient lifestyle, Solar Bear Dallas is the place to go for all of your solar panel needs! We have the best contractors on staff to handle any task including setting up your home for EV charging. Call us today to receive a free estimate!

EV Sales Are on The Rise, Here’s Why You Should Install Solar for Your EV

It seems that there is a new dream team in town: electric vehicles and solar panels. This dynamic duo is taking on the status quo with low monthly electric bills, no vehicle fuel charges and so much more. Solar Bear of Tampa explains why it’s a smart idea to install a solar system for your electric vehicle.

The combination of these two technologies is rapidly growing in popularity across the country. As the cost of grid power continues to rise due to infrastructure and logistics demands, many are turning to solar to cut costs and reduce carbon footprints. Pair that with consumer projections that electric vehicles will account for nearly 30% of all new car sales by 2030 and you can’t deny this brilliant union. Why not take advantage of all the benefits solar energy offers while simultaneously charging your electric vehicle?

However, if you choose to add a solar system to your home before purchasing an electric vehicle, there are a few advantages. The immediate savings from a monthly electric bill can help offset your zero-emissions vehicle purchase. Secondly, the initial solar system installation can include an EV charger and battery storage before any purchases. This setup allows any excess solar energy produced from panels to be stored in a battery that can charge vehicles after the sun has set. Additionally, another great benefit of installing solar is that if more energy consumption is needed, extra panels may be added. During a free estimate, the Solar Bear of Tampa team can recommend the best solar system setup for your home and electric vehicle.

If you are on the fence about going solar, now is the time to schedule an estimate! The Solar Bear of Tampa team can help you lock in solar energy benefits, recommend energy-saving solutions, and assist with financing. Get your free estimate here or call us at (727) 471-7442 for more information.

What Are Solar Renewable Energy Credits & What Are They Worth?

Of all the incentives that are available to homeowners who install solar panel systems, solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) are some of the most beneficial. Yet, they can be complicated to understand.

Our team at Solar Bear Orlando explains solar renewable energy credits and how they can provide sizable income for owners of solar systems in eligible markets.

What is an SREC?

Solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) are a performance-based incentive that allows solar owners to earn additional income from solar electricity generation. You can earn one SREC for every megawatt-hour (MWh) or 1,000-kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity that your solar panels generate.

SRECs exist because of state regulations known as renewable portfolio standards or RPS. These regulations require utilities to produce a specific percentage of their electricity from renewable resources. To meet these requirements, utilities purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) that serve as proof that they have produced renewable energy themself or paid someone who is producing renewable energy for the right to count it as their own generation.

SREC markets only exist in states with a solar carve-out. As the name suggests, the policy “carves out” a set portion of a state’s renewable portfolio for solar technology, and mandates that a set amount needs to be met by solar energy.

Keep in mind that only seven states have SREC programs in place as there is no solar carve-out, and unfortunately, Florida is not yet one of them. We are hopeful that it will be adopted soon in our market.

States with SRECs include:

• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Ohio
• Virginia
• Washington, D.C.

Making Money with SRECs

Some states with solar carve-outs have an established SREC market to facilitate the sale of SRECs. Most often, if you live in a state with an SREC market, you don’t sell your certificates to the utility company directly, rather, you’d work with an aggregator or broker to monetize your SRECs. 

The value of SRECs varies from state to state and depends on these factors:

Supply and Demand

Buying and selling SRECs is a lot like investing in the stock market. The price of an SREC changes over time depending on the supply and demand in a state’s market. An oversupply of SRECs leads to lower prices, while an undersupply results in higher-value SRECs. Simple.

Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP)

Alternative compliance payments (ACPs) are payments that the utility companies have to make if they don’t meet the specific renewable energy goals set by the state.

ACP values are set by the state and help drive the prices for which SRECs sell.

How Much Can be Earned Selling SRECs?

A 10 kilowatt (kW) solar panels system produces about 10 to 13 MWh of electricity per year, earning about 10 to 13 SRECs annually.

What Happens to My SRECs if I Move Out of State?

If you sell your home that is equipped with a solar system, you may be able to retain the rights to sell your system’s SRECs even after you move. It is most common to transfer the SREC rights to the new homeowner. Many homeowners use this as a negotiating chip when trying to sell their property for more money.

Florida Solar

If you are ready to join the solar revolution here in Central Florida, call our team at Solar Bear Orlando at (727) 471-7442 for a consultation! We are ready to help you start generating power from the sun!

What Is Solar Power Efficiency and How Important Is It?

Solar panels can drastically reduce your monthly expenses and carbon footprint. Pair this with the increase in financial incentives and property values, and it seems like a no-brainer. But before you dive into the solar panel lifestyle, make sure you consider the efficiency of your panels. Solar Bear of Tampa explains why efficient panels translate into better financial benefits for you.

Solar panel efficiency is defined as the measurement of energy output in a given surface area. The more efficient a panel is, the higher the energy output and the less surface area it takes up on a roof. Most solar panels provide an energy efficiency rating of 16 to 22 percent. This percentage equates to the amount of solar energy that can be converted into usable electricity. Though this may seem low to the outside user, modern panels more than cover the energy requirements of most owners.

During most energy audits, solar companies will review many factors to ensure that a solar system is the right fit for your home or business. These may include geographic location, roof design, the amount of shading, and others that will contribute to a solar system configuration. But, perhaps the most important design decision is efficiency. Not every system has the most efficient panels or inverter that best serves your energy needs. For example, if you need to squeeze out the most energy for a small space, high-efficiency panels are obligatory.

A professional team assesses several variables to determine what solar panel efficiency is best for your needs. From panel positioning to temperature, this comprehensive list can ascertain what system is most appropriate for the amount of roof space available. While the initial investment of a solar system can greatly depend on what size and style are installed, the overall savings will surmount that amount quickly.

If you want to learn more about the most efficient solar panel system for your needs, schedule a free estimate with Solar Bear of Tampa. With the help of our professional team, making these improvements could be easier than you think.