One of the biggest priorities of the US solar industry has been to increase the power production of systems and reduce the cost of modules, inverters, components, and manufacturing processes. However, as the industry matures and the volume and age of installed systems increases, it has become clear that solar operations and maintenance (O&M) is an integral part of the equation for the long-term viability of any system.

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Topics: Solar System Issues and Considerations, Cost of Solar Systems, Selling Solar, Solar Maintenance, Solar System Design, Solar O&M, Consumer, Dealers

When considering any investment in solar it is critical to look beyond the simple math of the installed cost of the system. In business, an investment is assessed not on the upfront capital expenditure but rather on the longer-term return on investment. In a similar fashion, when assessing the value of a solar installation, it is critical to look beyond the upfront installed cost and focus on the long-term energy production.

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Topics: Sizing a Solar System, Cost of Solar Systems, Types of Solar, Maximizing Power Production, Consumer, Dealers

One of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck in a small commercial solar project is reframing the way you think about project value and moving beyond the traditional dollar per watt measures. Although a fixed-mount system might have a lower cost per watt, dual-axis trackers provide a higher production capacity, are more versatile when it comes to siting and land usage, and ultimately cost less when it comes measuring dollar per kilowatt-hour, creating a much better overall value for the project.

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Topics: Commercial Solar Systems, Cost of Solar Systems, Types of Solar, Small Commercial Solar, Solar System Design, Maximizing Power Production, Consumer, Dealers

When it comes to going solar, weighing your options can be confusing. For most customers, the decision comes down to buying a system outright, or financing the system through a lease/buyback program or power purchase agreement. Both a purchase and a PPA have their benefits and drawbacks, but figuring out which one is best for you requires some thought. 

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Topics: Solar System Issues and Considerations, Cost of Solar Systems, Advantages of Solar Power, Selling Solar, Types of Solar, Solar Financing, Consumer

As customers consider an investment in solar, it's critical that they look beyond the simple math of the installed cost per watt of the system, and focus instead on maximizing energy production. Simply assessing a system based on its static capacity (measured by kilowatts) doesn't provide the whole picture: looking at the system's dynamic output over time and the cost per kilowatt hour is a better measure of solar benefit.  

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Topics: Solar System Issues and Considerations, Installation Issues, Cost of Solar Systems, Consumer, Dealers