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Coming Soon to NJ - 12.35 kW Hanwha DUO-G5 + SolarEdge Inverter/Optimizers by GPE

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  • Coming Soon to NJ - 12.35 kW Hanwha DUO-G5 + SolarEdge Inverter/Optimizers by GPE

    Greetings all, my name is Tony, a.k.a "NJTurtlePower" on this and many other forums, and I'm excited to share the details for our soon-to-be installed solar system here in Flemington, NJ.

    I've been lurking here for a few weeks/months during my initial solar research phase and now that our system design is finalized, financing is settled, and the utility interconnection plans are approved, it's time to share all the juicy details and how this all came to be.

    First, I would like tag a few forum members that I discovered browsing and searching the forums here that are from my area (NJ) and/or are related to our installer Green Power Energy. In some way or another I may have used your solar experiences, system advice or comments in my own planning, so thanks!

    Users: J.P.M. / jordgubbe / sunpoweredev / JSchnee21 / flowing / macaddict


    I guess you can say I've been interested in solar for many years now and even did my senior thesis on the subject during my undergrad at NJIT. Last year kinda got me thinking hard about solar again after the long awaited delivery of my Tesla Model 3, as well as the deadline and changes to the NJ SREC program. So, I started where many of us do, Google...which led me to EnergySage and eventually a few site visits/consultations with a handful of local vendors as well as Tesla Solar, and as they say, the rest is history.

    Over the course of my journey I dealt in detail with Tesla, Sun Run, Evoke Solar and Green Power Energy. As the title suggests, I settled with GPE in the end, but in one way or another tried to use all the quotes, system designs and Q&A sessions, etc. from all the vendors in some way or another in the decision making process. If anyone has any specific question about the OTHER vendors or their quotes feel free to reply, but for sake of time and boredom from reading my lengthy drawn out posts, I'll just keep my focus here on GPE and our soon-to-be-built system.

    As many others have already attested to, both here and on other mediums online, GPE has been top notch in all phases of this project to date. My initial and main contact at GPE has been Tim DeSevo, but I also dealt a bit with Sara Thorpe from the Design Team. Basically all my communications have been via EnergySage messages or direct email besides the site survey (Mark Taylor) which I prefer overall. Tim's responsiveness and patience (in all my endless questions/concerns) has been all I could ask for as he would literally respond within 2-5min of every exchange. GPE's partner roofer (we'll get into that later) is C. Costello Roofing out of Ventnor City, NJ and they have a very similar reputation as GPE, and so I'm told, the reason they have decided to partner up on projects as needed. Damien Correa has been my contact at Costello and has also been super helpful, honest and again very patient getting back to me on anything I asked of him and I'm very much looking forward to dealing with their end of the project hopefully in the next 2-3 weeks to get the ball rolling.

    Energy Usage Background/History:

    Utility Provider: JCP&L
    Pre-EV Annual Energy Usage: 9,385 kWh
    Current Utility Rate: $0.1440 per kWh
    September 2019 Current Annual Energy Usage: 14,205 kWh

    Solar Design, Details & Specs: Nameplate: 12.350 DC kW (STC)

    First Year System Output (Estimate): 14,354 kWh
    Lifetime System Output (Estimate): 273,850 kWh
    Solar Panels: 38 X Hanwha Q-CELLS Q.PEAK DUO-G5 325w Modules
    Optimizers: 38 X SolarEdge P400
    Panel Layout: 3 Arrays - 20 Panel (South) / 12 Panel (East) / 6 Panel (West) *See Attached/Below
    String Layout: 3 Strings of 13/13/12 *See Attached/Below
    Inverter: 1 X SolarEdge SE11400H-US
    Mounting/Flashing Hardware: IronRidge XR10 Rail / Quick Mount PV (QMLM/QMLM-2)

    SOLAR ONLY - System Cost & Financing: Total System Cost: $36,590

    Price Per Watt (Pre-Incentives): $2.96
    Financing Partner: Sungage Financial
    Financing Terms: 18-Month 0% APR for FTC Portion / 2.99% APR for 60-Months on Loan Balance
    Monthly Payment: $460.01
    Return on Investment (ROI) Estimate: Approx. 5 1/2-Years

    GPE Solar Layout EDIT.jpg

    GPE Solar String Layout ABC.jpg


    Roofing Project:
    So this was not a part of our original plan, but unfortunately a reality of our current situation. As the more recent owners of an early 1980's home (approx. 2,400 sq ft) we knew little about the history of the roof besides the current condition explained to us by GPE/Costello as well as the other guys who conducted physical site surveys. After a little further digging I was able to find a Sellers Disclosure document that listed the age of the re-roof (2nd layer) and by adding the time we have now owned the home puts it at approx. 21-years. The re-roof workmanship/install is also questionable at best, so to eliminate the concerns and to avoid potentially spending several thousand in extra labor to remove and reinstall the solar system a few years down the road; we are tackling this project head on with help from Costello Roofing. They will be installing a new 30-Year Tamko architectural shingle roof in preparation for the GPE solar system, all rolled into the existing Sungage Solar loan which is super convenient and affordable given the 30% Federal Tax Credit. Costello's roofing pricing was already highly competitive regardless of the FTC based on others who have looked at the roof due to the added expense of the near vertical "barn style" sections of our 2nd story.


    GPE System Timeline.jpg
    IMG_1359e.gif

    Well, that's the plan as it stands guys.... feel free to comment, question and critique. I'm interested to hear updates from recent GPE install owners and/or any last minute details to be on the lookout for with my install coming up soon as well. If I left out any pertinent details let me know, as I will be updating this thread as the project evolves.

    Thanks again all!
    Last edited by NJturtlePower; 04-01-2020, 10:14 AM.
    12.35 kW - https://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?sid=67749

  • #2
    I would personally request that they remove the external revenue grade meter and add an internal SolarEdge revenue grade meter as well as a consumption meter.
    The benefit is one single monitoring with revenue grade data, one less external box, one less external monitoring service, and cleaner install.

    OutBack FP1 w/ CS6P-250P http://bit.ly/1Sg5VNH

    Comment


    • #3
      I guess my math is not as good as yours or you believe what the installer gave you for the ROI in savings.

      Based on the yearly output of 14354kWh (or ~ 1200kWh / month) the cost per kWh from your POCO would have to be > 38 cents/ kWh to just pay for that monthly $460 payment.

      How do you figure a 6 year ROI?

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by ButchDeal View Post
        I would personally request that they remove the external revenue grade meter and add an internal SolarEdge revenue grade meter as well as a consumption meter.
        The benefit is one single monitoring with revenue grade data, one less external box, one less external monitoring service, and cleaner install.
        I'm not sure this is an option per the NJ SREC program or my utility JCP&L, but worth the inquiry...thanks!
        12.35 kW - https://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?sid=67749

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by NJturtlePower View Post

          I'm not sure this is an option per the NJ SREC program or my utility JCP&L, but worth the inquiry...thanks!
          Yes it is. Some installers just continue to install the same equipment because that is what they know but the SolarEdge Revenue grade meters are supported in almost all states including NJ: http://njcleanenergy.com/renewable-e...projects-srecs
          OutBack FP1 w/ CS6P-250P http://bit.ly/1Sg5VNH

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by SunEagle View Post
            I guess my math is not as good as yours or you believe what the installer gave you for the ROI in savings.

            Based on the yearly output of 14354kWh (or ~ 1200kWh / month) the cost per kWh from your POCO would have to be > 38 cents/ kWh to just pay for that monthly $460 payment.

            How do you figure a 6 year ROI?
            NJ has a decent SREC market https://www.srectrade.com/srec_markets/new_jersey
            OutBack FP1 w/ CS6P-250P http://bit.ly/1Sg5VNH

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by SunEagle View Post
              I guess my math is not as good as yours or you believe what the installer gave you for the ROI in savings.

              Based on the yearly output of 14354kWh (or ~ 1200kWh / month) the cost per kWh from your POCO would have to be > 38 cents/ kWh to just pay for that monthly $460 payment.

              How do you figure a 6 year ROI?
              The current NJ SREC program pays between approx. $180-$220 per credit (1MWh) generated and is currently guaranteed for 10-years (used to be 15-years) if the install is in place before 2019.

              14 X $180 (low SREC) = $2520 earned per year assuming historical credit pricing and ROI assumes utility rate increases (I'm not sure what value is used however).
              Last edited by NJturtlePower; 05-29-2019, 02:19 PM.
              12.35 kW - https://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?sid=67749

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by NJturtlePower View Post

                The current NJ SREC program pays between approx. $180-$220 per credit (1,000 kW) generated and is currently guaranteed for 10-years if the install is in place before 2019.

                14 X $180 (low SREC) = $2520 earned per year assuming historical credit pricing and ROI assumes utility rate increases (I'm not sure what value is used however).
                an SREC is created per 1MWh not 1,000kW (note the h)
                OutBack FP1 w/ CS6P-250P http://bit.ly/1Sg5VNH

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by ButchDeal View Post

                  an SREC is created per 1MWh not 1,000kW (note the h)
                  Corrected, thanks
                  12.35 kW - https://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?sid=67749

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Welcome to the club. Besides asking for the consumption meter as discussed above, I'd suggest (after your system is setup) to register your system in pvoutput.org so that we can compare our performance and brag about it.
                    https://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?userid=59404

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by ButchDeal View Post
                      Ah. I get it. Nice to have that kind of incentive.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Congrats on getting the project started. Mine is also on the way.... waiting for the town approval. I too have a M3 and an MS and cant wait to be able to partially power them via our Sun.

                        Any reason for the brand panels you're using? I too will be using GPE but with Panasonic panels.

                        Peace!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by flowing View Post
                          Congrats on getting the project started. Mine is also on the way.... waiting for the town approval. I too have a M3 and an MS and cant wait to be able to partially power them via our Sun.

                          Any reason for the brand panels you're using? I too will be using GPE but with Panasonic panels.

                          Peace!
                          Very cool on your solar project and Tesla's! I looked back and saw you had a pretty large system planned...not sure if that is what you ended up with.

                          So you are all installed and just waiting on PTO or just in the permit phase?

                          Reasoning for the Hanwha panels... value really, they are a solid mid-range panel. The Panasonics would have been about 34-cents more per watt or $4200 overall which would add about 2 extra years for ROI in my case. I don't need the higher power density either since even with the 325w panels I'm expected to be over 100% of my usage. Also comparing panel efficiencies (19.3% vs.19.7%) and 25-year expected degradation (85% vs. 90%) are very close between the two overall, the Panasonics just offering a longer warranty which is usually not a common point of failure anyway. Like most tech/electronics an extended warranty IMO is nothing more then expensive fine print you'll never use.

                          :: Fingers Crossed ::
                          Last edited by NJturtlePower; 05-30-2019, 09:04 AM.
                          12.35 kW - https://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?sid=67749

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Congrats! Same here, much of the information I sought were posted by JSchnee, JPM, ButchDeal et al here to which I'm most grateful. Had it not been the info they provided, I would've either gone with a questionable installer or not at all.

                            You and I have a very similar situation, down to the vehicle of choice I'm also redoing my roof with Costello, on which I delayed the whole project by almost a month while I pondered whether to do the roof (and also shopped around) being that it's only 15yrs old. Decided to go ahead and do it since my roof suffered blown off shingles on couple of occasions, and the repairs are not very pretty, plus the fact that the roof is builder's special super cheap shingles. Costello also defaulted to use Tamko shingles on my initial quote. I requested to go with GAF Timberline HD shingles instead for an additional $500. Probably not much of a difference from the Tamko since neither will be as good as the best Certainteed, but I went with it since it's only $500.

                            To my surprise, it took less than two weeks to get the approval on the permits after I gave the final go-ahead after deciding on the roof. We are scheduled for 3rd week of June for the solar installation. We have a very similar system, only difference is I went 37 Panasonic 330-watt panels. Everything else is the same.

                            I first approached Tesla for our solar install which did not go well, at all.. I then signed up at EnergySage and received a few quotes which I wasn't completely happy with, so my search continued until I stumbled onto this forum and found GPE. I'm not sure why EnergySage didn't connect me with GPE, but after I met with my sales rep, I signed with them soon after. Other than my sales rep shoving the SolarEdge cellular connection kit on me, I'm quite pleased with their service so far.

                            I wasn't aware that SolarEdge has an internal meter option until ButchDeal pointed out here, or else I would've asked about it. I did ask GPE about the consumption meter to which I was quoted an additional $800 and I declined. Perhaps you can get a better deal on it than I could.

                            I'm nowhere near up and running yet, but my biggest regret so far is not looking into it last year when the SREC term was 15 years up until October. That extra 5 years would've easily earned another $10k, and I don't think the PV system cost would've amounted to an extra $10k just 7 months ago.

                            The race is on - lets see which of us gets the PTO first
                            https://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?sid=69875

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              BTW, I'm still undecided on whether to mount the inverter in the garage or outside. GPE is willing to go either way. My reasoning is that even though it is designed to be mounted outside, it will be better protected keeping it out of the elements. Plus I like to be able to read the LCD screen on the inverter without going outside. Only concern is if it gets loud or gets too hot in the summer if mounted inside. It actually would be great if it can heat up my garage in the winter, just not in the summer. Yes I want it both ways
                              https://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?sid=69875

                              Comment

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