Cost of Solar Panels in Oregon
Solar panels in Oregon cost an average of around $2.50-$2.60 per watt. This is on the low end of average compared to the rest of the United States, which is a great sign up front.
Most solar panels are sold in 250 watt sizes, meaning an average solar panel is going to cost something like $600-$650. You are likely going to require something between 20 and 28 solar panels to be completely energy self-sufficient from the grid, meaning your cost for solar panels is going to be somewhere between $12,000 and $18,000. And yes, this is a lot of money, but never fear- there are various incentives, rebates and tax credits available out there that can bring down your costs significantly, long before you even start generating electricity.
The state of Oregon is one of the most forward-thinking states in the Union when it comes to green or renewable energy sources such as solar panels. They offer a variety of benefits for people looking to go solar, and here are a few:
How Much do Solar Panels Cost in Oregon?
One great thing about solar panels is that it is a well known fact among realtors that homes with solar panels tend to sell faster than homes without them. Furthermore, solar panels can be counted on to increase the value of your home anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000. Your realtor can tell you more about how to decide how much your home value has increased due to the addition of your solar panels.
Net metering is what allows your solar system to feed power back into āthe gridā and get you credit for it. States with strong net metering laws, such as Oregon, gives consumers a huge incentive for going solar, because every kilowatt hour of energy you feed back into the system will get you credits toward future electric bills- essentially, not only are you getting free electricity to use right now, youāre also getting free electricity in the future for months when your solar panels do not produce enough to fit your needs.
Every home is going to be different, and every person in every home is different. Two people living in the exact same home are going to use a different amount of electricity, so itās impossible to say exactly how much an individual will need without looking at past electric bills. Most American homes needs between 6 and 8 kilowatts of solar panels to be completely energy self-sufficient. Your solar installer will be able to look at your history of energy usage on your electric bills and give you a better idea of how much you will need your installed system to produce to fit your needs.
What are the benefits of going solar?
It is currently estimated that your solar panels will pay for themselves in between 7 and 9 years- which is very fast. What this means is that after rebates, incentives, credits, etc, your solar panels will have produced as much monetary value as they actually cost you within the first 10 years of you having them. This is a really fast turnaround, and the best part is that they will continue to produce monetary value in the form of free electricity and solar renewable energy credits for another 10-20 years after they have paid for themselves- meaning they will produce 3 times as much monetary value as they cost in their lifetime. So if for no reason other than this, you can expect to get more than your moneyās worth out of your solar panels before they need replacing.
Most solar panels are warrantied for 20-25 years by their manufacturer, and most solar installers offer a similar warranty on their work. This means that you can expect your solar panels to be fully functional for at least this long barring catastrophe, and you will likely have them for several years afterward.
There are currently two major types of solar panels used in home installations- Monocrystailline and Polycrystalline. Monocrystalline panels tend to be smaller and more efficient, allowing you to fit more panels on your roof, and they work with less direct sunlight. They also tend to last longer, though they are more expensive.
How much will the addition of solar panels increase my homeās value?
Polycrystalline panels on the other hand are bigger and need more space for installation. They require more direct sunlight and need to have very little shade over them. They donāt last as long as monocrystalline panels, but they are cheaper.
Inverters are the devices that actually turn your captured sunlight into electricity, and there are three basic kinds that are used by most solar installation companies- String inverters, Micro-Inverters and Power Optimizers.
String inverters are your standard invertersĀ you normally find in home installations. They need direct sunlight and need all your solar panels facing the same way, but they are usually the least expensive option
What are the Effects of Net Metering on a Solar System?
Micro Inverters on the other hand can work with less direct sunlight and work well with panels that are facing different directions. However, they cost more than string inverters.
Power optimizers are the most efficient inverters and are less expensive than micro-inverters. They also require more direct sunlight however, and do not do well with shade.
Before making a decision on solar panels, it is a good idea to consider your local climate.
How much solar power do I need to power my home?
* Fog / Cloud cover- Can cause your panels to only function at 10-30% their normal capacity on an overcast day
* Rain- Aside from the associated cloud cover, rain is actually beneficial to solar panels, as it helps clean off the grime that might collect on them over time.
* Snow- Accumulation of snow on solar panels is a big negative, as it blocks them from producing.
What is the āPaybackā period for Solar Panels in Oregon?
* Temperature- Despite popular belief, solar panels actually perform better in cooler temperatures. Any temperature above 77 degrees faerenheit actually decreases their efficiency.
The state of Oregon has quite a few reputable solar installers to choose from, and depending on your area of the state you might even be able to call on one just across the border in a neighboring state. For the purposes of this article however, we will focus strictly on those installers to be found within the borders of Oregon.
Company: Zamp Solar
How long do solar panels last?
Address: 63255 Jamison St, Bend, OR 97703
Years in Business: 11
Website: zampsolar.com/
Types of Solar Panels & inverters
Reviews: 4.5 / 5 Facebook (23 reviews), 4.7 / 5 Birdeye (37 reviews)
Business Quote: āOur roots at Zamp SolarĀ® came from humble beginnings where we sold off-grid solar kits from a small garage in 2010ā¦Ā Today, Zamp SolarĀ® is the premier manufacturer and innovator of off-grid solar solutions in America.āā
The Good: No complaints with the BBB, 11 years in business
How does weather affect solar panels?
The Bad: Not BBB accredited
Summary: Heartwarming story from their āAbout usā page. Looks like a very solid company, I canāt find anything to dislike about them. If you are in their service area, definitely give them a look.
Company: Sunlight Solar Energy
How do I get solar panels installed in Oregon?
Address: 50 SE Scott St, Bend, OR 97702
Years in Business: 23
Website:Ā sunlightsolar.com/
Final Word:
Reviews: 5 / 5 Facebook (4 reviews), 4 / 5 Yelp (3 reviews),
Business Quote: āSunlight Solar provides system design and turn-key installation of grid-tied solar electric systems for homes and businesses throughout Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. With over 30 years of experience, we offer premium designs and competitive pricing for solar electric systems backed by industry-leading warranties and equipment.ā
The Good: No complaints from the BBB, good reviews, 23 years in the business
The Bad: Not BBB accredited, limited web presence, not many reviews
Summary: Another very solid looking company, I canāt find any major red flags, but they do have a fairly limited web presence and a small number of reviews available to go on. Doesnāt mean the company isnāt good, just means you wonāt have a lot of outside opinions to judge them by. But again, with 23 years in the business there is no reason not to give this company a chance.
Company: True South Solar
Address: 125 Clear Creek Dr, Ashland, OR 97520
Years in Business: 11
Website: truesouthsolar.net/
Reviews: 5 / 5 Facebook (17 reviews), 5 / 5 Sunpower (3 reviews), 5 / 5 Yelp (5 Yelp), 4.8 / 5 Birdeye (57 reviews)
Business Quote: āTrue South Solar is the leading installer of residential and commercial solar electric systems in Southern Oregon. From tax credit assistance to easy financing, our experienced team of pros makes it easy to add solar to your home or business. Get your free quote today!ā
The Good: 11 years in business, lots of good reviews
The Bad: Not BBB accredited
Summary: So the trend Iām noticing for these Oregonian solar companies is that they tend to have very good reviews and not be BBB accredited. Iām not sure what thatās about. Either way, here is another nice looking company that says all the right things on their website and social media. The thing that may set them apart from the previous two Iāve reviewed however is that they have a ton of reviews out there (almost all of which are good). This might be the best looking one Iāve seen in Oregon so far, so if you find yourself in their service area, make sure to consider them for your installation.
So as weāve shown, Oregon is a state primed and ready for solar power. The state itself is a motivated seller- it has put out lots and lots of incentives to encourage citizens and businesses to consider switching to solar or renewable energy, and has set some lofty goals for how much of the stateās total power should be generated by green energy sources. We looked at just a small handful of the many, many solar installers in the state of Oregon that are ready, willing and able to get your home hooked up as soon as possible. So in the end, it comes down to whether or not you are financially able and committed to getting your home off the grid. If you are, then Oregon is a great place to do it.