SunPower vs SolarWorld/others, price and quality?

[solarix]

Just so you know, the wholesale price of quality, mainstream solar panels is currently under $0.70/watt. Maybe was $4/watt eight years ago. So if you wonder why there are so many new solar installers these days, its because the public hasn't got the message that solar prices are dramatically lower than they once were and people are getting taken advantage of.

[ktran1]

Just send me an email.

[kgvenkatesh]

Hi Ktran, thank you. Sunworks seems Referral would be great, not sure how it works here. I will drop an email to your user name (yahoo).

[ktran1]

I have Sunworks, but my system is 6.4KW. If you need referral, I can help

[kgvenkatesh]

Hi Ktran1, I'm in SF bay area and getting quotes in $3.4-3.5 per W range for a 4kW system with Solar World 280 / LG Neon2 300 panels. Wondering if I should get a Sunpower quote since the quote you have seems attractive. Could you share the installer name please? (mod ok with sharing installer name if you link via solarreviews.com)

[ktran1]

Huevosman, I got $3.6/w for Sunpower 320E, 20 panels, with SolarEdge for $23000, $16100 after incentive. It seems yours is expensive $7/w

[darwin223]

thank you Noblesoft. I will try to get in touch and see if they service my area which is in the san fernando valley. can you also send me the other vendors mentioned in this thread? you can email me... my username @yahoo.com. thank you for all the help.

[J.P.M.]

Northern California - San Jose Area

Is it worth it for me to move forward? My current bill is only about 100 per month on the main house and 40 per month on the guest, planning on adding an EV in the next year though....

Such is the province of comparison of alternatives, time value of money number crunching and life cycle costing analysis. Every situation is different. As a SWAG only, if, after getting a good handle on how much electricity you use, how you pay for it and how you guess those two things will change in the future, if you can get your initial investment after tax credit back in about 5 years or less, it's probably pretty much of a go. On the other hand if it's in the 10 yr. range, maybe not or if you are pessimistic about rate increases, or you've got plans that entail energy use increases, those things may alter your numbers and thus the decisions. $1700/yr. or something like very approx. 7,000 +/- kWh/yr. isn't much of a bill. You are to be commended for such low use. Make sure on the EV and don't use that as a justification to talk yourself into an emotionally driven decision. As in " I want solar, so I'll use an EV to bump the usage, make the electrical demand higher and thus lower the payback time." Just sayin'.

[huevosman]

Northern California - San Jose Area

Is it worth it for me to move forward? My current bill is only about 100 per month on the main house and 40 per month on the guest, planning on adding an EV in the next year though....

[J.P.M.]

Hello

I am trying to do some research on the price quote that I got from a local company to install 11 Sunpower E20-327-C-AC panels on my main house and 5 panels on my guest house, they are on separate meters with PGE.

I have been quoted 25,500 with everything out the door, is this competitive or should I be looking elsewhere

Thanks

Two ways to answer that:

1.) For two separate systems probably about right for Sunpower stuff.

2.) You can probably do about $5K less for about equal output and quality by using other quality equipment from outfits like LG, SolarWorld, Canadian Solar and others. Sunpower's good stuff, but usually ~ $1.00/Watt more up front. You get bragging rights and not a lot more for the premium. So, S.P. is not as cost effective as other quality equipment. in terms of cost per delivered Watt by most reasonable cost analysis.

[rsilvers]

Depends on where you live.

[huevosman]

Hello

I am trying to do some research on the price quote that I got from a local company to install 11 Sunpower E20-327-C-AC panels on my main house and 5 panels on my guest house, they are on separate meters with PGE.

I have been quoted 25,500 with everything out the door, is this competitive or should I be looking elsewhere

Thanks

[Noblesoft]

darwin223 I actually got a lower price later on in the thread, for $4.32/watt. It was with Baker: https://www.solarreviews.com/install...lar-1-reviews/

[darwin223]

Pls share the vendor on that price. I'd like to get a quote from them also.

[rsilvers]

$4/W for SunPower for a small 7K system seems like a great deal to me, assuming a quality install.

I would ask - do they run conduit in the attic or on the roof? Do they relocate plumbing vents? Is the price all-inclusive to do a great job? Does it include enrollment in SRECs?

My installer specifically said he would run all the conduit inside the attic with it entering the roof under a panel, and all of the junction boxes inside the attic.