Calculator for solar panels

Take control of your energy costs by installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system


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Solar energy for home

Produce power for your home

Installing aesthetically pleasing and high-quality solar panels on your home should be easy and inexpensive. Converting your home to solar power is an environmentally conscious solution, puts money back in your pocket, and keeps CO² out of our atmosphere.
Innovate Solar photovoltaic solar systems use industry-leading components and are backed by a 25-year warranty. The longevity of these products is assured by our stringent quality control from the beginning of installation and years into operation. Every installer follows a strict guideline of quality control. With our solar power calculator, you will be able to estimate the possible use of energy and understand the cost for installing solar panels for your home.
Produce energy from sunlight
Less CO² in the atmosphere
Saving with solar power
Saving with solar power

Solar panel cost calculator — get an estimation of your solar system production

The Solar Power Calculator helps you determine the battery bank size, solar systems, and solar charge controller you require. The solar cost calculator also estimates the size of solar panel you need to receive adequate energy based upon the daylight for your region.

3 steps to installing solar panels

Step 1: Planning and Calculation

From your estimation utilizing the solar systems calculator, you can decide the suitable materials needed to install your system.

A few steps you can take to erect your system correctly include:
  • - Buying materials missing in your shipment
  • - Examining your shipment for loss or damage
  • - Evaluating safety rules for installing your system


Step 2: Wiring and Electricals

Wiring your electric run is a significant part of solar board installation, and functionalities differ based on the kind of panel you’re mounting.

This installation process involves planning the wiring run, grounding your board, and erecting a back feed breaker to link to the common grid, if required.

The wire length required for your design implementation will be outlined in your electric wiring diagram. As a general rule, the smaller the AWG number, the smaller the wire.

Step 3: Setting Up Your Solar Board and Battery Installation

Here are the five main steps you need to take to erect your system effectively:

  1. 1. On the roof area of installation, determine your roof pitch and mark the rafters.
  2. 2. Install roof attachments and racking rails
  3. 3. Lift panels onto your roof
  4. 4. Mount panels on your rails


When mounting your system, it is essential to factor in your solar board’s orientation. Pointing your panel in the most suitable direction helps your board receive direct light throughout the day.

Finally, ensure you consult the manufacturer’s instructions to erect your solar system properly. If you encounter any troubles, search for “solar installers near me” for professional help.

  • Purchase
  • Loan
TYPICAL SAVINGS IN FLORIDA
$44,124
savings over 30 years of solar panels
TYPICAL SAVINGS IN FLORIDA
  • $55,584
    Saving
  • $3,621
    Electricity Cost
The inflation rate of 3.5% is used for the calculations. Savings are based on the average amount of electricity a 8.95 kW system can produce and the average price of electricity in your state over 30 years
TYPICAL SAVINGS IN FLORIDA
$31,131
savings over 30 years of solar panels
TYPICAL SAVINGS IN FLORIDA
  • $31,131
    Saving
  • $119/mo
    Solar payment
  • $3,621
    Electricity Cost
The inflation rate of 3.5% is used for the calculations. Savings are based on the average amount of electricity a 8.95 kW system can produce and the average price of electricity in your state over 30 years
25 year warranty, 30 year usefull life
Our solar energy photovoltaic (PV) systems utilize industry-leading components and are backed by a 25-year solar panel power warranty.
Learn more
25 year warranty, 30 year usefull life

What are the typical savings when investing in a solar system?

The following steps will help you to effectively determine the savings when erecting solar on your property.

Determine average kWh consumption per month

You are likely to use more electric power in certain months of the year. Pick up your electricity bill for the past 12 months and use a monthly KWh calculator to evaluate your average consumption (kWh) over this period.

Evaluate your daily kWh consumption

Using a watt calculator, estimate your average daily kWh usage by dividing your monthly watt usage by 30. For example, if your average kWh per month is 1,200, divide that by 30 days (1 month), which results in 40 kWh per day.

You can then input this value into the solar systems calculator to estimate solar panel sizes that fit your home.

Estimate how much sunlight your solar systems receive

Sun exposure directly affects your solar power generation.

For photovoltaic boards, the calculator for solar panels’ angle tells you the optimum angle to get the most out of your solar cell.

Consider your potential kWh consumption.

What percentage of your present kWh consumption would you like solar power to offset? 50%, 70%, or 100%?

Multiply this percentage by your daily kWh consumption.

If you want your solar system to account for 70% of your kWh consumption, the estimator calculates it like this: 40 kWh per day x 0.70 = 28 kWh.

Determine how many solar boards required

A standard solar system produces about 1.24 kWh per day. Therefore, if you want to cover 100% of your daily kWh usage, you would require 30 solar boards (37 kWh daily consumption divided by 1.24 kWh per module).



Low-Interest Loans and Tax Credit are available

Typically, an 8.95 kW residential solar system will be eligible for Federal Tax Credit -26% off and the remainder is financed over 20 years. The resulting monthly solar payment is ~$119, and the electric bill savings are ~$130-150, creating immediate positive cash flow. Systems have a 25-year warranty on all major components.
  • Purchase
  • Loan
TYPICAL SAVINGS IN FLORIDA
Costs & Incentives
8.95 kW Solar Panels
$22,375
Federal Tax Credit (26%)
− $5,818
Price After Incentives
$16,557
TYPICAL SAVINGS IN FLORIDA
Costs & Incentives
8.95 kW Solar Panels
$22,375
Federal Tax Credit (26%)
− $5,818
Price After Incentives
$119/mo.
Creating immediate positive cash flow
$170 Current Electricity Cost
$10
Remaining Electricity Cost
$160
Save every month
Creating immediate positive cash flow
$170 Current Electricity Cost
$10
Remaining Electricity Cost
$119
Solar Loan Payment
$41
Save every month

What factors contribute to the solar panel system cost

When calculating solar power costs, there are several factors to acknowledge.

Equipment type

The two primary variables that affect solar costs are power density and color.

Power density is the amount of energy a solar board generates per unit of measure. The “denser” the panel, the costlier the price per watt.

Color is the other variable in solar systems.

A base panel has a blue cell, a white back, and a silver frame. Black frame modules have a black back sheet or black cell and are generally more expensive.

Roof type

Solar modules can be installed on metal, shingles, and flat roofs.

Roof shingles require a special fitting to fix the panel planks to the roof. With a grooved or seamed rooftop, you connect the planks directly to the metal. Or, mount the panels on a flat rooftop with a ballast holder.

Connection costs

Interconnection is the process of joining your solar power system to the area grid. Each local utility service provider has precise requirements for this.

Location

The cost for solar energy panels also differs by area. You will find a cheaper cost per watt in warm regions and a higher price per watt in cold areas.

In either case, the prices of solar panels will eventually match. Warm states demand larger system sizes but cost less per watt, while cold places have a higher price per watt but smaller solar board sizes.

System size

The installation costs for solar power boards also depend on the size and capacity of your panel. A bigger solar board costs more. Installers typically require about 75 cents to $1.25 per watt for their services.

It's important to recognize that larger panels are an investment.. You may spend more out of pocket at first, but you will save on your electric expenses significantly in the long run.

Solar panel costs per watt

Systems come in a variety of sizes, varying from small 5W systems to 400W + premium products. Hence, the cost per watt rating helps you compare systems on an equal footing.

The cheapest cost-per-watt prospects give you total performance for every dollar spent but are also less space-efficient.

Federal tax credit

When you buy solar power systems, you qualify for a state solar tax credit. You will gain a portion of your solar board expenses back as reimbursement for investing in your own, clean energy. The rate you will get depends on when you buy your systems.

If you buy a solar panel between 2020 and 2022, you will obtain a tax reduction of 26 percent. In 2023, it will decrease to 22 percent. The homeowner loan will expire in 2024 but will continue at 10 percent for commercial developments.

With the federal tax credit, the earlier you start, the quicker the solar panel cost goes down! However, it is essential to understand that the brand you select will also affect overall profit. American solar partners offer a variety of solar module brands, so you can buy the systems you need at your preferred prices.

3 steps to installing solar panels

3 steps to installing solar panels
1
Estimate your solar panel costs and calculate your benefit from installing solar panels
You will be able to determine the capacity, the number of panels, their cost along with installation including the Federal Investment Tax Credit.
Calculate
2
Understanding the Federal Tax Credit
Federal Tax Credit is provided in the amount of 26% of the total solar system cost and is taken against the tax liability during the next tax filing. Those who don’t pay federal income taxes are generally unable to use the credit.
3
Installation and connection
Qualified American solar partners take care of everything from permits to installation. After you place your order, a qualified installer gathers remote aerial photos of your home, designs your system, takes care of any permits needed, and schedules your installation. An on-site verification will take place prior to the beginning of installation. After installation, a qualified installer schedules a city inspection and works with your utility company to commission the system.

Solar power map of the United States

In an effort to help residential and business owners determine the solar energy potential on their property and also determine the average cost for a solar board, energy and cost savings, and payback periods, the United States Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) developed the Solar Power Map.

Solar Resource Maps and Data | Geospatial Data Science | NREL

The website prompts the user for their address, and the system retrieves information estimates on their property.

Once the user has verified the property data online, three types of systems can be analyzed: PV system, solar hot water heating system (SHW), or solar pool heating system (SPH).

These values can be used to determine the costs of solar power generation and ROI on solar boards.

To carry out your return calculation, split the total price of the solar board by the annual benefit of mounting the system.

While there are some upfront costs associated with going solar, solar electricity for home use is more popular due to its faster payback periods and tremendous savings.

Harnessing solar energy in your region is seamless with the best solar solution from Innovate Solar.



  • Pricing
  • Learn more
  • Solar panel guide
  • What`s next?
  • Price transparency is a major issue in the solar industry. When solar customers don't know in advance what the approximate cost for solar power is, it results in dissatisfaction in the sales process.
    We remove sales commissions and gimmicks and work together with our clients to achieve the best price and highest quality possible. Not only do we provide the customized quote, but we also put the example price front and center. We are very proud of the value that we can build together with you.
    Price changes
    Sometimes, there may be changes to the pricing despite our best efforts to create an accurate quote. You will never be charged more than you agreed to and any changes will be discussed prior to signing the agreement. Our calculator, nevertheless, provides one of the most accurate estimations of cost for solar energy in the industry.
  • 1. Consultation
    Interested in solar electricity for home but aren’t sure if it’s for you? No problem! Meet with one of our local solar experts at PPM to find out how clean energy can benefit your home or business. We will create a custom package for your specific energy needs by calculating solar power potential use considering the angle of placing solar panels, place of installation, house kWh energy spendings, etc.
    2. Site Survey
    At this stage you have signed a contract for your solar system - congrats! During the site survey, we check out your property and confirm what our solar energy sales experts have proposed for your system is, in fact, the best possible solution. Our team is very good at what they do and have been selling solar systems for homeowners for over 10 years, but our site survey technicians are specifically trained to evaluate sunlight readings and roof conditions.
    3. Design
    Now we create. We take the data we collected from the site survey, your utility bill, and your personal aesthetic to design the perfect solar system for your home. Our engineers use top-of-the-line software and tools to design the optimal solution.
    4. Permits
    Deep breath. We take care of this too! All of the electrical and building permits required from your city, we have it all under control.
    5. Installation
    This is where your sleek solar panels are delivered and installed by our crew members. We coordinate in advance with you to schedule all install dates to ensure your daily operations are not interrupted.
    6. Inspection
    After we have created our masterpiece we need to get the green light from your city. We will meet with the inspector for a walkthrough of the solar system we have installed. Once the inspection has passed we can then interconnect your system to the grid - your grid! Don’t worry - we walk you through all of the steps on how to work and understand your system before leaving your home or business.
    7. Enjoy your savings
    Now this is where all of your hard work pays off - with the flip of a switch, you will be producing your own energy, saving money on your utility bill, and contributing to a greener lifestyle. Our solar system calculator will help you to understand how much you can save on solar energy daily, monthly, and yearly.
  • This is the REC Alpha; REC's latest family of trailblazing solar panels, empowering you to take full advantage of solar energy. With 380 Wp 60-cell power, reaching 450 Wp in a 72-cell format, and an impressive 217 W/m², REC Alpha delivers 20% more power than conventional solar panels, making it the solar panel of choice for home solar. How does REC do it and what does it mean for you?
  • Project Review
    Your installer will get in touch with you to review and verify your project. You will discuss the installation details like your house square, how much kWh you use a month, will use a calculator for solar panels angle to assure the best production throughout the year, etc.
    Agreement
    Your installer will send you an agreement for review and signature, and answer any questions you may have
    Scheduling and Installation
    Your installer will communicate the scheduling and completion plan for your installation, typically within 90 days from the time of contract or less.

Frequently asked questions

Where can solar panels be erected?

Usually, solar boards are installed on rooftops, but they can also be installed on the ground.

How do I estimate my solar power needs?

You can determine the number of solar boards needed by multiplying your household's hourly energy requirement by the peak daylight hours for your area and dividing that by a system's wattage.

Can you heat water with solar systems?

Yes, you can heat water with your solar power boards.

How much does installing a solar system cost?

After federal tax incentives, the average price to mount solar boards in the United States is in excess of $12,000.

Is solar power a good investment?

Solar systems are most often a worthwhile investment and save you from overpaying on your electric bills.

Go solar with us

We would love to hear from you. Our team is happy to answer any questions you may have
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