Reading Time: 5 minutes The Golden State has always been a front-runner when it comes to solar energy. California is consistently ranked as the top state for solar when it comes to both jobs and installed capacity. Much of their original growth in solar has been due to the California Solar Initiative (CSI). Enacted in 2006, CSI was designed to provide upfront rebates for residential and commercial property owners purchasing solar panel systems. The rebates were available
Reading Time: 2 minutes In this week’s Solar News Roundup, Bill Gates’ energy fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures is in discussions with Alphabet to fund a new energy storage project, plus Massachusetts joins the growing list of states looking to set the bar at 100% renewable energy. Google’s parent company Alphabet is in discussions with Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures to fund a molten-salt storage project Alphabet is currently in discussions with Breakthrough Energy Ventures to expand on an
Reading Time: 5 minutes Once solar panels are set up on a property, they’ve relatively maintenance free. This is because the majority of solar panel systems have no moving parts; as long as they’re receiving sunlight and the products aren’t faulty, they will be a reliable source of electricity for 25 to 30 years. Because of their ease of use, most people don’t think about the actual setup of a solar panel system. What parts are required?
Reading Time: 5 minutes Many homeowners use their sheds for storage, greenhouses, or as a workspace, but have you ever considered your shed as a potential spot for a solar panel installation? Here are some questions to get you started if you’re looking into a solar shed option. Is the roof of your shed suitable for panels? One question you need to ask yourself is whether the roof of your shed is
Reading Time: 5 minutes Upsolar is a global solar panel manufacturer, established in 2006. Though they started out in China, the company manufactures panels in a variety of regions, including the U.S., Europe, and Asia. In addition to manufacturing solar panel equipment, Upsolar also provides solar loans and develops large-scale solar projects. Though relatively new to the market, Upsolar panels are becoming an increasingly popular option with shoppers on the
Reading Time: 2 minutes In this week’s Solar News Roundup, Trump’s panel tariff leads to cancellations and delays for large scale solar installations, and China has started testing solar panel roads with the help of Pavenergy. Trump’s tariff on imported solar products already causes up to $2.5 billion in losses Since the Trump administration levied a tariff on solar imported products in January 2018, many have been wondering what
Reading Time: 5 minutes More and more often, new technology in the solar industry is geared towards making installations as aesthetically pleasing as possible. This was SunPower’s motivation for their Equinox home solar energy solution, which was first introduced in 2016. This solar solution is an all-in-one packaged system where every component is made by SunPower. It’s designed to be as sleek as possible on rooftops by hiding parts of the solar
Reading Time: 5 minutes Solar technology continues to advance as time goes on, especially in the field of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Lately, solar shingles and solar tile technologies have become an increasingly popular offering from installers, and many large companies like Tesla are tailoring their offerings to include these specialized installations. When Tesla first announced their solar roof tiles in 2016, it was
Reading Time: 8 minutes You’ve probably heard about how solar energy can reduce your electricity bills, but how much do solar panels really cost? The easiest way to calculate the average cost of solar panels is to look at its price in dollars per watt, which is relatively consistent across the United States. How much do solar panels cost? In 2018, solar costs will range from $11,380 to $14,990 (after tax credits). Because price paid per watt ranges from $2.71 to
