With more people becoming increasingly aware of the need to use environmentally friendly energy sources, solar power has stood out as one of the best options.
In addition to not being harmful to the environment, solar energy helps you significantly cut down on energy costs. Due to those benefits, you most likely have considered making the switch.
But before you get to start using solar energy, one question you’ll need to ask yourself is how much it would cost you to have solar panels installed. There’s no simple and definitive answer to that because the installation fees usually vary depending on the circumstances. Here’s a list of the different factors that may affect how much you’ll spend:
Table of Contents
1) Type And Size Of Solar Panels
Solar panels come in two main types: they can either be made from polycrystalline or monocrystalline cells. Those with monocrystalline cells usually produce more energy than the ones with polycrystalline cells.
Even though the former is initially more expensive, it does a better job of generating solar energy, so it’ll save you money in the long run.
The installation cost is also related to the size of the solar panels. This is usually the case because a solar panel’s price is computed by dollar per watt, depending on the amount of power you wish to produce.
In addition, installing a bigger solar panel requires more work. If you’re a startup owner and wish to utilize solar energy on a limited budget, you can try applying for solar power rebates for small businesses.
2) Ease Of Installation
Installation can be done a lot faster when it’s done on an angled or flat roof facing a direction with great exposure to the sun’s rays. As a result, you won’t spend a significant sum of money as the work required will be mostly straightforward.
However, the same task becomes a lot more complicated if the area has challenging angles, irregular rooflines, and skylights. Due to this, the cost of installing solar panels will be a lot higher.
You’ll also need to pay more when installing ground-mounted solar panels. This is because a lot of preparation—which may even include pool fence inspections should there be a pool on the property—has to be done to make the area suitable for the solar equipment.
3) Roof Angle And Roof Type
You must always consider the angle that the solar panels will be installed to ensure optimal exposure to the sun. This can be a problem if your property’s roof is flat rather than slightly angled. If this is the case, you’ll need to build a rig for support.
But before doing this, see to it that you examine your roof to find out which type of installation would be best suited for it. Due to these matters, your solar panel installation costs may rise dramatically.
The type of roof also affects how much money you’ll spend because the different kinds of roofs—be they flat, shingle, or metal—require varying labor as well as different components. Therefore, you might need to pay more depending on the roofing material as some may entail extra costs.
4) Structural Issues
If the solar panels are placed on the roof, some structural adjustment might be necessary. This is especially the case if the roof is old and might not be capable of withstanding the weight of the solar panels. Therefore, you’ll need to first fix any structural issue before the installation to avoid damage to the wiring and solar panels.
It’s also vital to address such problems to avoid the scenario where you’ll need to remove the already installed solar panels to repair the roof. This will not only be inconvenient but also increase your expenses. A much better strategy would be to replace or make changes to the roof prior to the installation of the solar panels.
5) Installation And Labor Costs
Solar panel installation is a labor-intensive activity. The labor cost varies widely, and it’s dictated by several factors such as:
- The location of the solar panels
- Inclement weather conditions
- Your property’s geographical location
- Roof orientation
- Roof size
- Size and type of system
Those are just some of the aspects that installers take into account when calculating how much they’ll charge you for the installation. So before choosing a specific installer, compare the prices of several service providers to get a good deal. This is crucial as some established solar companies will charge you more compared to smaller companies.
Takeaway
Knowing the cost of solar panel installation is essential if you’re thinking of using solar energy in the near future. However, there are no set prices for that kind of service. With that said, keep the factors discussed above in mind so you’ll be able to get a clearer estimate of how much money you have to prepare for solar panel installation.
