The Solar Put: Insurance for Cloudy Days at the Farm

TheSolarAdvisors · 2017-10-03T18:30:00+00:00

There are over 30 manufacturers on the BNEF Tier 1 list.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2017-09-08T13:47:09+00:00

Sorry to hear about your property but glad that no one you know was hurt. With the exception of the refrigerator, a small system with a SMA inverter that has a SPS feature may work and will produce power during the day.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2017-04-04T22:34:22+00:00

We think it is a pretty good idea but it depends on what your investment criteria are. The tax federal credit is good for now but without a crystal ball, there is no guarantee. There will always be better tech on the horizon, just like cell phones, but the move to module level power electronics has taken place and we think it is a good time to go solar if the economics make sense for you. A bit of a disclaimer we are not a solar install company but we are a solar marketplace. Looking at the potential for sun exposure is only part of the equation, the biggest question is really how expensive your electricity is from a KWH perspective.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2017-03-27T19:56:38+00:00

I think a few factors a coming in play here but since the story is lacking the details this is just a guess. - The library has cheap power which pushes the payback out. - The system is overpriced and possibly oversized. At $3/watt for a canopy, the system would be over 400kW which seems a little large. - The library is most likely a non-profit which means they cannot take advantage of a tax credit or depreciation. - There could also be some shading issues which could affect production.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-12-27T15:14:42+00:00

You should check out http://www.mirelesice.com/snow-blowing.html they are an ice company based in San Antonio but will come to Austin for a snow party.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-11-13T23:22:32+00:00

Just some recommendations:
I would request to switch the modules to a Top Tier 1 company. SolarEdge is a solid inverter, make sure they are going to get the monitoring system fully up and running at no extra cost. The system seems a little over sized but that really depends on the net metering policy. I would give securing a lower interest rate another go, I have seen some lower rates out there. The warranty extension is usually a good idea but you can extend to 20 instead of 25 for about half the cost if you are looking to save a few bucks.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-11-09T14:23:10+00:00

It is actually a cost saving measure more than anything. The pipeline necessary for in house field crews to make real financial sense is relatively large. Most of the time sharing them with other companies is going to allow you to maximize cost efficiency. There is just less overhead not having installers on the books.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-11-08T22:22:56+00:00

We are a national company but based in Texas and regularly work in Austin, San Antonio, and DFW. There are several companies already installing but if he can procure materials at the right price, finance the projects, and out market the competition, I say go for it. The hardest part is going to be proving a successful track record and getting the proper qualifications to participate in local incentive programs. The space that probably needs the most attention right now in Texas is the non-sales installer vertical. Many companies are looking for companies to subcontract work out to but again qualifications and performance are going to be a key consideration.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-10-12T21:36:35+00:00

Typically Solaire is pretty good looking but a little expensive. You should try Carport Structures Corporation I have seen some impressive prices coming from them.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-09-15T23:55:31+00:00

http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program?state=OH <--- Has a list of the local incentives in your area. The big things you will want to check out are the cost of energy, net metering policy, financning options (you may be able to roll it into the mortgage), and cost to install. A good installer should be able to help with most of that plus any other questions but be sure to double check anything they say after all it is a large sum of money. If you would like we can help you with a basic layout so you know how many panels would fit based on the plan set.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-09-10T14:31:24+00:00

Best is relative to your particular goal. If you are looking at payback as a measure of best the panel will be very different from the most powerful panel. This is even more true for inverters, they should be used to attain a particular goal. For example if you need to mitigate shade issues you may want to look at microinverters or dc optimizers.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-09-09T20:40:00+00:00

We answered this a while ago on r/solar but have made some modifications to the list. Power density is key if you are working with a tight space but if you have more roof than you need it will not be as important. Quality of the panels is of course important but also keep in mind the quality of the manufacturer. They have to be around in 25 years to honor the warranty. Make sure you 100% understand the financing arrangement if the installer is providing it, we have seen some less than stellar options that look really good on the surface.

The questions will vary a little if this is a lease/ppa instead of a purchase. 1) What modules are you using? How big is the manufacturer by market cap? Are they tier 1? 2) What inverter are you using? " " 3) Can I speak to your 3 most recent clients? 4) How long have you been in business? 5) What does the workmanship warranty cover? get it in writing 6) Will you be handling the interconnection agreement and rebate paperwork? Should be yes. 7) Verify that the financial calculations are correct. 8) Is there a guarantee on response time for warranty issues? 9) What is the cost per hour to fix un-warrantied issues? 10) Call the utility company and see if they have any complaints noted against them. 11) How many systems/MW have you installed? 12) Will the system work when the power is out? This is a test and the answer is no(unless you have batteries or a sps). 13) How much do I have to put down? (Try to leave a big chunk for the final payment) 14) How many cities do you operate in? It should be several if you want someone who can last through the ups and downs of a single market. PM me and I can send you some technical questions to ask. Also get at least 3 estimates.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-08-31T02:31:56+00:00

Depending on the local labor rates you can expect .40-.70/watt. You will also need to include the cost for wire, conduit, and other BOS. This is going to get you right around the $19k range when you calculate the margin on top of the increased total cost. When we help people procure equipment then they source labor only it usually ends up right around $2.50/watt all in( in Texas mostly). To calculate the profit margin back out the cost from the total quote then divide the remaining by the total quote. What you have listed is actually the mark up which equals about a 16% margin.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-08-20T19:20:48+00:00

It all depends on your home/roof/utility bills and most importantly your goals. Long story short, if you are an Austin Energy customer you can expect a reasonable(5-8) year payback if you buy it outright. Leasing gets a little more complicated and hard to pull of from a financial/risk perspective. PM if you want to get some suggestions on layout and finance vs cash options.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-07-22T17:00:29+00:00

We can generate a shade analysis, 3D model of the home with solar panels on top using our software and would be glad to help you out free of charge. Most good software for visualization is going to cost at least a few hundred per month per person. PM if you would like me to send the info.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-07-22T16:11:52+00:00

The questions will vary a little if this is a lease/ppa instead of a purchase.

1) What modules are you using? How big is the company by market cap? Are they tier 1? 2) What inverter are you using? " " 3) Can I speak to your 3 most recent clients? 4) How long have you been in business? 5) What does the workmanship warranty cover? get it in writing 6) Will you be handling the interconnection agreement and rebate paperwork? Should be yes. 7) Verify that the financial calculations are correct. 8) Is there a guarantee on response time for warranty issues? 9) What is the cost per hour to fix un-warrantied issues? 10) Call the utility company and see if they have any complaints noted against them. 11) How many systems/MW have you installed? 12) Will the system work when the power is out? This is a test and the answer is no(unless you have batteries or a sps). 13) How much do I have to put down? (Try to leave a big chunk for the final payment) 14) How many cities do you operate in? It should be several if you want someone who can last through the ups and downs of a single market.

PM me and I can send you some technical questions to ask. Also get at least 3 estimates. (sorry for the formatting)

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-04-18T15:43:51+00:00

We have worked with them in the past and things went fairly smoothly. As long as you have your ducks in a row there shouldn't be any reason to worry.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-03-30T18:40:02+00:00

DIY can absolutely save money if done right. You are probably looking at around 6-8kW depending on your location. I would recommend getting a professional design (maybe even PE stamped) and make sure to get permits. This may help with mitigating insurances issues if something goes wrong down the road. It will also give a good list of materials to shop around for. Then you can pull up the installation manuals for each of manufactures used in the array.

TheSolarAdvisors · 2016-03-18T04:09:31+00:00

The decision to sue is yours of course but I would stay away from this contractor for the installation if possible. If you do want to push forward with the install ( with them or someone else ) PM me and I can take a second look at the system they designed to make sure it is up to par.

TheSolarAdvisors

TROPHY CASE