Tag Archives: rooftop
Brazil: Solar Cheaper than Grid Electricity
It’s happening! The cost of electricity from rooftop solar power is becoming cost-competitive with grid-supplied electricity in Brazil—and sometimes cheaper. That’s according to a new report from the country’s energy department, Empresa de Pesquisa Energetica. As South America’s largest country and likely it’s wealthiest, having the price of rooftop solar come to parity with grid-based [...]
Is The Solar Leasing Model Flawed?
When Seattle-based consumer-rights law firm Hagens Berman announced last month that it was investigating SunRun in preparation for a possible class action lawsuit, some installers said it was a statement about the leasing model. Jeff Mayer, CEO of Soluxe Solar in New England, said he expects to see similar lawsuits filed against other companies that [...]
When is Residential Solar A Good Idea?
If you are interested in helping the environment or saving money, you may be intrigued by the possibility of installing solar panels on your home. In recent years, solar panels have become a lot more affordable for the average person, which has lead to growth in this industry. While it is more affordable than it [...]
The Difference Between a Solar Lease and a Solar PPA
What’s the Difference Between a Solar Lease and a Solar Power Purchase Agreement? For those of you who are comparing different options for going solar, your main choices are purchasing a system as an addition to your home, buying a new or upgraded home with solar already integrated as a feature, buying your electricity utility-style [...]
Solar System Purchase vs. Power Purchase Agreement
Long before there were any federal or state funds to help offset the initial investment of a residential solar system, installations were on the rise. Solar adoption has increased significantly since the inception of the federal solar tax incentive in 2006, which rebates 30% of the purchase price of the system. In 2007, the California [...]
Solar Investing Goes Mainstream
Thousands of Americans log in to online trading accounts every day to manage personal stock portfolios. Now, there’s a new option for individual investors. I recently took advantage of this option by creating an account with Solar Mosaic and investing a small amount of money, along with about 85 other individuals, in a 26-kilowatt rooftop solar [...]
Solar Growth: Mostly Rooftop or Utility?
Along with the emergence of three distinct ownership models (customer-owned, third-party-owned, and utility-owned), the U.S. photovoltaic (PV) market has grown, over the last ten years, at an average annual rate of approximately 70 percent, according to GTM Research. Just-released GTM Research numbers show no slowing of growth in the sector. Q1 2012 was solar PV’s [...]
How Clouds Affect Solar
While solar panels generate the most electricity on clear days with abundant sunshine (not surprisingly), they continue to work when the weather turns cloudy. On a cloudy day, typical solar panels can produce 10-25% of their rated capacity. The exact amount will vary depending on the density of the clouds, and may also vary by [...]
SolarCity Gets $250M in Funding from U.S. Bancorp
For the sixth time, U.S. Bancorp has put up major funding to partner with SolarCity in the rapidly expanding third-party ownership sector of the rooftop solar PV business. “It speaks volumes about the value of investing in solar,” noted SolarCity spokesperson Jonathan Bass about U.S. Bancorp’s re-investment. This funding, the bank’s largest in its three-year [...]