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Do you think rooftop solar will get cheaper after the tax break is gone? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by wetbeardhairs@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/solarpunk@slrpnk.net

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I just had another solar installer come by. Like usual, they refused to show me a fucking itemized bill of the total install cost. The math they presented was utter horseshit. But when I read between the lines, I was able to come out with a $3.50/W installed price (6KW system for ~$21k) and that let me do some calculations. In their idealized, guaranteed, projections the system would pay for itself after 7 or so years. Not the worst, tbh.

Anyways I think $3.50/W installed is... high. The panels are now bought in bulk for less than $0.3/W. Of course there's the interconnection, inverters, wiring, panel mounts and brackets, labor, and profit.

But on my home with a projected 6KW system that comes to $1.8k in panels leaving $20k for the rest. I've got a feeling that will come down by necessity once the tax credit goes away.

Does anyone work for an installer? Where is all of that money going?

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[–] heyWhatsay@slrpnk.net 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

If you want to save money on DIY, find used panels, I have found used panels, from large systems that are swapping out, sometimes going for $20 each. Check Craigslist and marketplace

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago

But also figure out what you may need to do in the legal/regulatory departments because most populated places don't let you just go wild with a solar install. Aside from regular permits and licensed contractors being involved, my utility requires the system be sized so it's annual output matches annual consumption. They'll do credits in summer to pay for winter, but won't pay homeowners for outright excess anymore - won't even let you connect to the grid.

Offgrid, have at it. Still probably pertinent building permits and fire codes to consider if you're in a dense enough area to find used panels.