Need a little help. I've got two vendors giving me what feels like conflicting info and I need some informed guidance like I find on this forum.
I'm trying to pick between two bids for solar on my new (almost done being built) home in sunny California. Given that it's new, I don't have a track record of consumption, but based on usage at my old home and some adjustment for other upcoming factors (electric vehicle, pool, etc.) I' ve asked them to assume I will use around 19,500 kwh annually. I talked to 5 vendors and ended up with these two bidders - one for SunPower and one for LG. Here's the rub of where I'm stuck:
Vendor A (Sunpower) - 11.52 Kw (DC) system with 32- X22, 360 Watt panels using their integrated micro inverter. They estimate this will produce approximately 19,167 kWh annually. Their cost (pre any rebates) is $45,800
Vendor B (LG) - 11.52 Kw (DC) system with 32-Neon R, 360 Watt panels using EnPhase IQ 7+ micro inverter. THey estimate this will produce approximately 15,576 kWh annually. Their cost (per any rebate) is $35,300.
Notice the overall power (11.52) is the same on both bids, but there's a big difference 3,500 kWh in estimated energy output. More importanly, there's a huge difference in cost! Is there some reason the Sunpower should put out a lot more energy? I assumed the power would dictate a roughly common output other than a slight difference in temperature coefficient. Also, the LG will likely have a slight bit more degradation down the road.
I asked both vendors to help me account for the difference. The Sunpower guy said the difference was because the Sunpower panel is much more efficient (I'm not sure why that enters into it) and that the SunPower inverter is much more adept. He says the LG guys is also likely underestimating output. The LG guy says he uses a fairly conservative, industry accepted estimating model (can be found at www.csi-epbb.com).
So what do I make of all this. If the LG guy is right about energy output and I go that route, then I save a bunch of money up front but still have a huge Electric bill each month (we're on Pacific Gas & Electric which just charge outrageously even at their lowest tier).
Is it right that they should both create about the same amount of energy day 1, regardless of what model you choose to estimate it? If so, then I think I'd be smart to go with the LG bid.
Thanks for the help
I'm trying to pick between two bids for solar on my new (almost done being built) home in sunny California. Given that it's new, I don't have a track record of consumption, but based on usage at my old home and some adjustment for other upcoming factors (electric vehicle, pool, etc.) I' ve asked them to assume I will use around 19,500 kwh annually. I talked to 5 vendors and ended up with these two bidders - one for SunPower and one for LG. Here's the rub of where I'm stuck:
Vendor A (Sunpower) - 11.52 Kw (DC) system with 32- X22, 360 Watt panels using their integrated micro inverter. They estimate this will produce approximately 19,167 kWh annually. Their cost (pre any rebates) is $45,800
Vendor B (LG) - 11.52 Kw (DC) system with 32-Neon R, 360 Watt panels using EnPhase IQ 7+ micro inverter. THey estimate this will produce approximately 15,576 kWh annually. Their cost (per any rebate) is $35,300.
Notice the overall power (11.52) is the same on both bids, but there's a big difference 3,500 kWh in estimated energy output. More importanly, there's a huge difference in cost! Is there some reason the Sunpower should put out a lot more energy? I assumed the power would dictate a roughly common output other than a slight difference in temperature coefficient. Also, the LG will likely have a slight bit more degradation down the road.
I asked both vendors to help me account for the difference. The Sunpower guy said the difference was because the Sunpower panel is much more efficient (I'm not sure why that enters into it) and that the SunPower inverter is much more adept. He says the LG guys is also likely underestimating output. The LG guy says he uses a fairly conservative, industry accepted estimating model (can be found at www.csi-epbb.com).
So what do I make of all this. If the LG guy is right about energy output and I go that route, then I save a bunch of money up front but still have a huge Electric bill each month (we're on Pacific Gas & Electric which just charge outrageously even at their lowest tier).
Is it right that they should both create about the same amount of energy day 1, regardless of what model you choose to estimate it? If so, then I think I'd be smart to go with the LG bid.
Thanks for the help
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