Tweet
Ok, after much planning etc, we finally had our Solar System installed in April.
I'7m in MA, and we went with the MA Solar Loan program, where I'm paying 1.5% interest for 10 yrs on the cost of the system.
Its an 8.12Kw system, and with shading etc, is at about 75% efficiency. I thought that I had managed to take up all the "Solar usable" space on my roof. (ie, All the space on the roof that is/was South East/West facing).
My "original" (proposed in 2014) system was to be a 5.25Kw system, but then after I cut a large tree down to get the efficiency over 70% (to meet the MA Solar Loan program requirements), I was able to bump the system upto 8.12Kw.
This summer, I discovered that due to cutting that tree down, there's another part of my roof that I can put panels onto.
Now being in MA, in National Grid territory, I can only go upto 10Kwwithout a whole mess of paperwork/approvals (which I am not going to do/try and get). My original installer came over, and has given me a quote for another 2Kw system.
Yes, thats a 2.2Kw system. And because it will get installed next year, it will fall under SREC 2.5 rules, with a 20% reduction in SREC value.
The cost for that system is (upfront) is about $7500. Comes to about $3.75/Watt, which is higher per Watt than what I paid for my 8.12Kw system but thats understandable, given that its a small system.
I will be getting a $1000 MA Solar Tax Credit this year, for the 1st system (as well as the Federal Tax Credit). And because the 2nd system would be a new system in a "new year", I would be able to get BOTH tax credits again for the 2nd system.
Net payback time on the 2nd system would be about 6yrs, with SREC, Elec Savings, and State/Fed tax credits. And I can finance it thru the MA Solar Loan program, again.
Do I "go for it", and take my total Solar Capacity to 10Kw, or just be happy with the 8Kw system I have?
EDIT: PS, or another way to put it, is $7500 for a 2Kw system a fair price? I wont have to pay for the Enphase Enlighten Monitoring system again, as that is already in place....
I'7m in MA, and we went with the MA Solar Loan program, where I'm paying 1.5% interest for 10 yrs on the cost of the system.
Its an 8.12Kw system, and with shading etc, is at about 75% efficiency. I thought that I had managed to take up all the "Solar usable" space on my roof. (ie, All the space on the roof that is/was South East/West facing).
My "original" (proposed in 2014) system was to be a 5.25Kw system, but then after I cut a large tree down to get the efficiency over 70% (to meet the MA Solar Loan program requirements), I was able to bump the system upto 8.12Kw.
This summer, I discovered that due to cutting that tree down, there's another part of my roof that I can put panels onto.
Now being in MA, in National Grid territory, I can only go upto 10Kwwithout a whole mess of paperwork/approvals (which I am not going to do/try and get). My original installer came over, and has given me a quote for another 2Kw system.
Yes, thats a 2.2Kw system. And because it will get installed next year, it will fall under SREC 2.5 rules, with a 20% reduction in SREC value.
The cost for that system is (upfront) is about $7500. Comes to about $3.75/Watt, which is higher per Watt than what I paid for my 8.12Kw system but thats understandable, given that its a small system.
I will be getting a $1000 MA Solar Tax Credit this year, for the 1st system (as well as the Federal Tax Credit). And because the 2nd system would be a new system in a "new year", I would be able to get BOTH tax credits again for the 2nd system.
Net payback time on the 2nd system would be about 6yrs, with SREC, Elec Savings, and State/Fed tax credits. And I can finance it thru the MA Solar Loan program, again.
Do I "go for it", and take my total Solar Capacity to 10Kw, or just be happy with the 8Kw system I have?
EDIT: PS, or another way to put it, is $7500 for a 2Kw system a fair price? I wont have to pay for the Enphase Enlighten Monitoring system again, as that is already in place....