Going Solar

This is my story.

I first looked at solar power in 2012. I requested a consultation from One Block Off the Grid but then became overwhelmed by career changes; the company has since been acquired by Pure Energies, so perhaps it was a good thing I didn't follow through. Oddly enough and slightly tangential, Pure Energies contacted me via email after my system was installed.

I don't know why I started looking again.

A friend of mine had gotten solar panels and the technology piqued my interest. I also liked the notion of reducing my energy footprint, my impact on the surrounding grid, and not having large electric bills.

This time around I followed through.

If you aren't interested in the story or contract details, the system specifications, price, and ongoing costs are detailed in The Bottom Line.

On with the story...

The Story

There's also a list of frequently asked questions.

The Talk

I was invited to speak about my experience with solar energy at the O'Reilly Open Source Convention in 2016. The presentation slides and video are available.

Parting Thoughts

From signing the contract it took 90 days before I could throw the breaker and start generating electricity.

One of the things I liked is that the process was very hands-off. Aside from signing the contract, writing a few checks, and sending an email here and there, Solar Energy World took care of everything else: filing for permits, interconnect application, SREC registration, etc. If you're in the market I'd recommend giving SEW a look (and let 'em know I referred you). You can also go directly to SunPower to see what options are available in your area.

Given the expected reduction in my utility bills and all the incentives, the expected break-even point is 6-7 years, after which point I have a fixed effective price per kWh for the bulk of my electric needs. Like any investment, there's the possibility it might not pan out, but I'm hoping. We'll see.

Next: Many Options

Last Modified: 2021-01-17

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