Price paid per watt

[J.P.M.]

I was actually very much surprised as I thought it would cost me at least 50% more. My roof is fairly simple, so there were no extra costs involved. It's just a fair, long established and fully accredited local company with electrical background, rather than nowadays 'renewable specialists' that would charge you much more for the same service (also because of their greedy salesmen). It's typical here to get quotes for value panels & value inverter that is exceeding what I paid for sunpowers.

However, they're electricians - they know how to install the system safely, but won't configure your monitoring, won't tell you about OptiTrac, you won't have a chat about renewables with them, they don't have salesmen on payroll, etc. Which is fine for me, as I know this all

Should I wanted typical system (Samil+REC/SolarWorld/Chinese Tier 1) I'd pay $1.93/W.

Moreover, the tax rate here for renewables is only 5% rather than standard 20%. I don't think the labour here is any cheaper, although the team of 3 guys did the job in ca 9 hours.

I'm a bit surprised by the price(s). I'm not surprised by what you describe in terms of what sounds like value and intelligent use of financial resources, given your Scottish address. Does my ancestors proud.

[rdo]

I was actually very much surprised as I thought it would cost me at least 50% more. My roof is fairly simple, so there were no extra costs involved. It's just a fair, long established and fully accredited local company with electrical background, rather than nowadays 'renewable specialists' that would charge you much more for the same service (also because of their greedy salesmen). It's typical here to get quotes for value panels & value inverter that is exceeding what I paid for sunpowers.

However, they're electricians - they know how to install the system safely, but won't configure your monitoring, won't tell you about OptiTrac, you won't have a chat about renewables with them, they don't have salesmen on payroll, etc. Which is fine for me, as I know this all

Should I wanted typical system (Samil+REC/SolarWorld/Chinese Tier 1) I'd pay $1.93/W.

Moreover, the tax rate here for renewables is only 5% rather than standard 20%. I don't think the labour here is any cheaper, although the team of 3 guys did the job in ca 9 hours.

[SunEagle]

A price I just paid in the UK, good to compare:

12xSunPower E20 327W + SMA 3600TL-21 + complete installation incl. warranty

£6358/3920W
£1.62/W which is $2.53/W as per today's £/$ exchange rate (1.56)

Do you feel that the lower installed price for your system is a reflection of the labor wages in the UK as compared to the US?

[rdo]

A price I just paid in the UK, good to compare:

12xSunPower E20 327W + SMA 3600TL-21 + complete installation incl. warranty

£6358/3920W
£1.62/W which is $2.53/W as per today's £/$ exchange rate (1.56)

[J.P.M.]

Not really - that's in the right range - I had a quote for 10.2KW with 270W LG Mono $36K and SE Optimizers, but ended up with a 7.2KW system with 24 LG300 Neon, SE Optimizer and Inverter for $3.65 a watt.

Around here Sunpower 327's are about $.60 to $1.00/Watt more than LG 270's or 280's which seem to be running $3.50/Watt +/- some around here. The LG 300's seem to be a bit more. The cheapest S.P 327 quote I've actually seen recently is about $4.54/Watt to the vendor. Others claim to have paid less and I'm not doubting them - I just have not seen one that low and I usually see 1 or 2/month, but that's CA and not elsewhere.

[HX_Guy]

Pending how it turns on in the end, my figures are:

$2.77/watt pre-tax credit
$1.86/watt after tax credit

40 Canadian Solar 310W panels, SolarEdge optimizer, Quick Mount PV mounts on tile roof.

[Carl_NH]

$3.50 a watt.
38 Sunpower 327 watt panels, Solaredge optimizers with two main Solaredge inverters. PV Mount racking system, installed on asphalt roof. Located in CT.

Not really - that's in the right range - I had a quote for 10.2KW with 270W LG Mono $36K and SE Optimizers, but ended up with a 7.2KW system with 24 LG300 Neon, SE Optimizer and Inverter for $3.65 a watt.

[J.P.M.]

$3.50 a watt.
38 Sunpower 327 watt panels, Solaredge optimizers with two main Solaredge inverters. PV Mount racking system, installed on asphalt roof. Located in CT.

Before or after tax credits/rebates ? That's kinda cheap as full retail.

[Craigswardmtb]

$3.50 a watt.
38 Sunpower 327 watt panels, Solaredge optimizers with two main Solaredge inverters. PV Mount racking system, installed on asphalt roof. Located in CT.

[Bikerscum]

Would any of you guys in the Bay Area, PM let and let me know who you went with for solar installation and tips on panels etc?

I am new to the forum and am trying to make a decision by the end of this week so I can get the 2014 tax credits.

I think I need what Dat basically got.

An upgraded main panel from 125 to 200. Around 10 kwh hour system with either LG or Canadian Solar Panels. I have gotten bids from one installer that range over 30k for the high end to less than 20k for less efficient panels and inverters.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

My understanding is that the system has to be permitted, installed, inspected, and approved by the power company by Dec. 31 to claim the credit for this year. You have about zero chance of getting that done, so take your time & get lots of info as well as quotes.

You have started at the right place.

[J.P.M.]

Different racking system -

Plus maybe a bit more time/$$ and PITA care busted tiles.

[solarbayarea]

Would any of you guys in the Bay Area, PM let and let me know who you went with for solar installation and tips on panels etc?

I am new to the forum and am trying to make a decision by the end of this week so I can get the 2014 tax credits.

I think I need what Dat basically got.

An upgraded main panel from 125 to 200. Around 10 kwh hour system with either LG or Canadian Solar Panels. I have gotten bids from one installer that range over 30k for the high end to less than 20k for less efficient panels and inverters.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

[Sabo]

Let's try this again. I posted yesterday afternoon but it disappeared not long after that. I got an email notice today that advised me someone else replied to the thread so my post must have been here at one point if I got auto-subscribed to the thread.

Anyway, I'm a new member but have been lurking and reading for quite a while before I decide to join up.

I'm in Gilbert, AZ USA. (metro Phoenix area) and my purchased system should go online tomorrow around noon.

6.63kW
26 255W Hanwha panels.
Power One PVI-6000 Inverter w/monitoring installed inside garage.
Cement tile roof with 48 stand-offs.
22 degrees tilt facing south, no shading issues.
Salt River Project utility grid-tie system
System should produce 120% of my current needs, I over-bought on capacity as I know my electrical needs will increase in the next 2 years. Estimated break-even is just over 8 years.

$2.71 per watt before incentives, $18,000 paid up front.
$1.68 per watt after all incentives and discounts applied. ($11,170 final price)

SRP is scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning to sign-off on the system and I’ll be producing electricity soon!


---Mod Note: Some posts which contain URL links or otherwise trigger a filter are now automatically listed for "moderation", which means that the post will not be visible to regular members until approved by a moderator.
Both of your posts were diverted to moderation. You will just have to be patient in the future.
This was a necessary measure to reduce spam load on the forum.
PS: A moderator or admin would still be able to see your post and reply to it, without releasing it from moderation first. That might explain the email you received.

I live in Phoenix AZ and I am in the process of getting quotes ...would you mind sending me a pm with the companies info?...It would be greatly appreciated...thanks so much!

[russ]

The quotes I initially received assumed an asphalt roof. When I mentioned a cement flat tile roof, the price increased about $800.

Different racking system -

[solarx2]

Tile vs asphalt roof

I mentioned a cement tile roof install in my specs earlier. I always assume (maybe erroneously) that all installs mentioned here are all typical roof mounts (with no upcharges in that region) unless called out otherwise by the person reporting the specs.

My installer offered the same price for standard asphalt shingles as they did for cement tile. Not sure if that difference is an upcharge in other areas but tile roofs are very common here so they probably just hide the install cost differences in the overall price.

The quotes I initially received assumed an asphalt roof. When I mentioned a cement flat tile roof, the price increased about $800.