After a lot of research and number crunching, we decided to install Solar Panels.
Analysis
There were several factors that went into the decision. One of the biggest was the amount of electricity that this house consumes due to having two air conditioners and the pool. Other factors:
- We were eligible for the “Made in Minnesota” program that would pay us $0.18 for every Kw that we generate for 10 years. So far we have averaged over $2,000 each year.
- There was a 30% federal tax credit on the installation cost plus the cost of the shingles under the panels.
- The cost of the generated power, over the 20+ year lifetime of the system is $0.02/Kw. At the time of installation we were paying $0.11/Kw and that will only go up over time.
- Pay back on the system, factoring in the tax credits, Made In Minnesota payments and reduce power costs is about 8 years. The system has a warranty of 20 years with an expected life of 20+ years.
- We replaced the roof prior to installation with class 4 shingles resulting in a 15% savings on home owners insurance. Payback on the shingle upgrade cost was 3 years.
Installation
Installation went pretty quickly. A small crew first mounted the rails on the roof then the panels.
When everything was done outside then they moved into the garage. They installed the Inverter next to the panels and then an electrician finished the connection to the service.
Xcel energy then came out and installed two new meters. The normal meter was replaced by a special meter that records power consumed by the house and power generated bu the house and put back on the grid. A second meter, recorded the total power generated by the solar panels.
Finished
Once all of the inspections were completed, the system was activated. Since then the amount of power produced fluctuates according to the time of year and the weather. May-July are peak generation months. We often times will have a small credit on our bills. Generation during the winter months will be dramatically reduced, especially if the panels are covered with snow.
Once question we get all the time is why is there a panel missing. Actually, it is not missing. The system was designed to be the maximum size allowed which was 35 panels. Originally, they were to be laid out in 5 rows of 7 panels. Rosemount building codes required a larger set back from the roof edge that what was available so the configuration was changed.
There is one story, related to the panels that is worth telling. In 2019, we had a heavy snow storm that dumped 3-4 feet of snow on the panels. We lost about a month’s worth of production. As the winter progressed we had some sunny days and the snow started to thaw near the bottom edges. A couple nights later, about 2 AM there was a loud noise that sounded like the panels had fallen off the roof. It turns out that the snow had let loose and had slide off the upper roof, bounced off the porch roof and ended up on the sidewalk in front of the house. There was no damage, other than a bunch of snow to blow off the sidewalk.
