PV Gap

Kathryn Said:

How much does it cost to get solar panels to power your house?

We Answered:

Like so many other questions, the answer depends on what you want the result to be. And that has to start with a definition of the problem. I assume the problem is an electric bill that is deemed to high. So maybe you want to shave $100 per month from your bill. Check the cost per kilowatt hour on your bill, and see how much power you would have to generate to save the $100.

The amount of power you can generate is a function of your weather, the system size and the way it is mounted. For instance a fixed mount system is best placed on a south facing roof or mount. Where I live we get an average of five hours of effective sun a day. My system, rated at 6 kW gets about 4.5. This is typical, by the way. I get 20 to 25 kilowatt hours per day. Of course, on some days I get none. On others, maybe a bit more than 30.

The cost per kW will depend a lot on where you live, and how active the solar installation business is there. My system cost, after rebates, about $9,000 per effective kilowatt. There are additional tax benefits that may apply.

You need to learn as much as you can about solar power. Lots of information on the Internet.

Then you might look at heat pumps, to see if they might be a more effective way to save money.