Solar Panel Store Blog
Happy Holidays! 2022 is almost wrapped up!
Dear valued customers and partners,
As the holiday season approaches, we at SolarPanelStore.com would like to take a moment to thank you for your support throughout the year. It has been a challenging year for everyone, but we are grateful to have had the opportunity to continue serving you and helping you make the switch to renewable energy.
Renewable energy is more important now than ever before. As we work to combat climate change and protect our planet for future generations, the shift to clean, sustainable sources of energy is crucial. Solar panels are a key part of this transition, providing a reliable and renewable source of power that can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
We are truly grateful to have such wonderful customers and partners who share our commitment to a better, more sustainable future. Your support and partnership have been invaluable, and we look forward to continuing to work together in the coming year.
From all of us at SolarPanelStore.com, we wish you a happy holiday season and a prosperous new year. Thank you for choosing us as your partner in the transition to renewable energy.
Sincerely, Loren and Dan (Team SolarPanelStore.com)
- Loren Geist
- Tags: solar blog Solar Info
Which type of battery is best for solar applications?
There are several types of batteries that can be used for solar power systems, but the best type of battery will depend on your specific needs and circumstances. Some common options include lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and nickel-metal hydride batteries. Each of these types of batteries has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to consider factors such as cost, performance, and maintenance requirements when choosing the right battery for your solar power system.Lead-acid batteries are the most common type of battery used in solar power systems. They are relatively inexpensive and have a long life span, but they can be heavy and can lose their charge quickly if not used regularly. It's common to use sealed or wet style batteries for renewable energy applications.
The main difference between sealed lead-acid batteries and wet lead-acid batteries is the way in which the electrolyte solution is contained. In sealed lead-acid batteries, the electrolyte solution is absorbed into a sponge-like material, whereas in wet lead-acid batteries, the electrolyte solution is held in a separate compartment within the battery.
Sealed lead-acid batteries are also known as "maintenance-free" or "valve-regulated" batteries because they do not require regular maintenance or the addition of electrolyte solution. Wet lead-acid batteries, on the other hand, require regular checking and topping up of the electrolyte solution to ensure that the battery remains in good working order.
Sealed lead-acid batteries are generally more expensive than wet lead-acid batteries, but they are more convenient to use and require less maintenance.
Lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly popular for use in solar power systems because they are lightweight, have a high energy density, and can hold their charge for a long time. However, they are also more expensive than lead-acid batteries.
Nickel-metal hydride batteries are similar to lithium-ion batteries in that they are lightweight and have a high energy density. They are also relatively inexpensive, but they may not last as long as lithium-ion batteries.
The team here at SolarPanelStore.com has been working with batteries for off-grid and grid-hybrid systems for many years, and we have a lot of experience that we are happy to share with our customers. Please feel free to contact us for questions about batteries or to help with any kind of solar application!
Act fast! A Federal Solar Tax Credit Update and Reminder
Costs of solar electric systems have dropped dramatically over the past few years, but utility rebates, and incentives like the Federal Tax Credit can greatly increase your solar systems ROI. If you want to take advantage of the current 30% Federal Tax Credit (also known as ITC, or Investment Tax Credit), now is the time to start or complete your solar and battery projects. To be eligible for the tax credit, your solar project should be fully installed and paid for in 2019.Systems completed in 2020 will be eligible for 26% deduction of the cost of the system from federal taxes, down to 22% in 2020, and unfortunately right now it looks like 2022 and beyond, only owners of commercial solar PV systems will be eligible for a 10% tax credit, and residential owners will not be eligible for any tax credits.
One of our favorite websites for federal and local rebate programs and tax credit updates is DSIREUSA.org.
- Loren Geist
- Tags: Solar Incentives Solar Panel Rebates Solar Systems Tax Credit
Solar Home Grid-Tie System Sizing Part 3: Small System Economics
In this example, I'm using the parts list detailed below, which, aside from some site specific wire runs is a fairly complete package for a roof mounted grid-tie system.
6 - Peimar 310W Black Solar Panels
1 - SMA SunnyBoy 3000W Grid Tie Inverter W/SPS
1 - 30 Ft MC4 Solar Panel Cable Extension Wire
1 - Roof Top Junction Box / Combiner Box
1 - SnapNRack Roof Mounting System (4 - 122 Inch Black Rails / 2 - Rail Splice Bars / 10 - Black Mid Clamps / 4 - End Clamps / 4 - Black Rail End Caps / 8 - Black Mounting Feet w/Flashing for Comp Shingle Roof / 8 - Lag Bolts / 1 - Rail Grounding Lug)
This package would come in at 1.86 kW (1,860 W) and cost $3,000 or less depending on some of the specific components.
It's important to make sure that under different conditions an array this small will still work well with the inverter we are using, which is obviously over-sized in comparison to the array. Many inverter manufacturers offer "String Sizing" tools on their website, I also personally like to use the MidNite Classic string sizing tool just for the data it provides to double check with the inverter specs in all different kinds of systems, it's handy as I can get the following results for this particular set-up quickly.
Array Specs:
Number of Panels In Series: 6
Number of Parallel Strings: 1
Total Modules: 6
Rated PV Array Power: 1860 Watts
Anticipated Array Power @ 104 F: 1748 Watts
Rated PV Array Current: 9.51 Amps
VMP (Maximum Power Point Voltage): 195.6 Volts
VOC (Open Circuit Voltage): 244.2 Volts
VMP @ -22 F: 238.8 Volts
VOC @ -22 F: 287.4 Volts
SunnyBoy 3.0 Inverter Specs:
Max. usable DC power: 3100 W
Max. DC voltage: 600 V
Rated MPP voltage range: 155 - 480 V
MPPT operating voltage range: 100 – 550 V
Min. DC voltage / start voltage: 100 V / 125 V
Max. operating input current per MPPT: 10 A Max.
Short circuit current per MPPT: 18 A
For small systems like this, micro-inverters like Enphase Products are also a great choice, and you really don't need to worry about any of these little details as each solar panel uses it's own inverter, so a single panel system could even be taken into consideration.
As a side note, this SPS feature could be used to charge a battery bank for emergency use using a lower cost standard battery charger and low cost inverter, because not everybody really needs the best of the best for a quick black out scenario, and these types of systems can also be fairly cost prohibitive if you're on a tight budget.
Going back to the simple payback methods described in the last blog post, I'll be using PV Watts to calculate the predicted system payback time. Here are the specs I'm using for PV Watts:
System Info:
DC System Size (kW): 1.860
Module Type: Premium
Array Type: Fixed Roof Mount
System Losses (%): 14.08 (Default Loss Calculations)
Tilt (deg): 26.57 (6:12 Roof Pitch, See last blog post for a roof pitch to degrees chart)
Azumuth (Deg): 180
Retail Electricity Rate:
Rate Type: Residential
Rate ($/kWh): 0.11
Annual Average Daily Solar Radiation: 5.72 Hours
Annual Energy Value: $330.00
If we look at the most simple payback method of the original package cost divided by the annual energy value, we come up with 9.09 years to payback. Taking the Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit of 30% into consideration, that number drops down to 6.36 years. There could and usually are state, local, and utility rebates that Solar Grid-Tie systems would qualify for as well that would drop this even further! Check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
Thanks for reading, hopefully this inspires you to check into a system for your home, the sooner it's on the roof the sooner it's going to pay for itself! Our team is always here to help from designs to sale and into the future as a new friend of the solar crew!