Solar power is on the rise. With continued growth in the solar industry and prices that have dropped by nearly half in the past decade, there’s no better time to invest in solar energy.
The same is true for solar power in Virginia. As the state is known as the state for lovers, let it be known as the state for lovers of renewable energy.
Here’s your guide for all you need to know to invest in solar energy in Virginia.
How Solar Panels Work
The first thing you need to know is that you don’t need the sun to power your home with solar panels. That’s right: you’re still connected to the power grid, meaning if the weather isn’t favorable for a day or a season, you’ll still be OK.
The next is a bit more technical. Solar panels in Virginia work when the photovoltaic cells in the panels generate direct current energy. This energy is converted to alternating current, which is what most of our homes run on.
What energy you don’t use (known as ‘overproduction’) is then transferred back to the utility grid in a process called ‘Net Metering.’
This means your generated energy goes towards others, and in most cases, your utility company provides you a bit of a kickback for helping power other homes on the grid.
Roof Mount vs. Ground Mount Systems
If you’re looking to install solar panels in a suburban or urban area, you’re likely stuck with roof-mounted systems.
The benefits are that these systems are often cheaper than the alternative and don’t require much maintenance.
You are limited to your roof size, however. And roof-mounted systems may require roofing repairs before their installation.
Ground-mounted systems offer a few luxuries. They’re buildable as large as your space permits and offer optional rotating functions that follow the sun throughout the day.
Of course, this requires a large amount of space. And because of their low elevation, trees, buildings, and other tall structures can limit the amount of sun that hits the panels.
Cost of Switching to Solar
Virginians pay below the national average on electricity monthly, around $0.1189 per kWh. Depending on how much electricity you use, this may cost you anywhere from $80-$150 per month.
Solar panels will mitigate, if not entirely remove that. The upfront cost is significant. The average cost ranges anywhere from $14,000-$28,000 per system install.
Why the range? Well, it depends on the size of the home, the quality of parts, and what incentives customers qualify for when they apply.
Fortunately for Virginians, there are Virginia solar incentives on top of the recently extended Federal Tax Credit.
Check out Blue Raven Solar (blueravensolar.com/virginia/), as they’re the solar company for lovers (of renewable energy!) Local ordinances and incentives may be available for your county, as well.
Invest in Solar Power in Virginia
Investing in solar power in Virginia is a smart idea. With fossil fuels rising in cost and the planet heating up, why not go green and save a little money to boot? After all, switching to solar is easier than ever.
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