The procedure of installing solar panels and getting them certified does not happen quickly. From the time a signed contract is submitted, going solar in California takes about 45 days. While this may seem like a lengthy time to some, it is well worth it when you have excellent project communication and experienced installation partners. The majority of the time is spent waiting for the utility company to execute your solar billing application and obtaining permits.
Step 1: Site Assessment
One of the first stages after deciding on a solar provider is to have your site analyzed to ensure it is solar-ready and safe. Our company’s certified site assessor will come to your property and inspect the roof and other features to ensure that they can support a solar system. During a site inspection, we check for the following three things:
Our goal is to make sure your roof can support the solar panels’ weight and that your electrical panel can safely handle the amount of electricity you want to generate. The specialists will also ensure that nothing is blocking your solar panels from receiving the greatest amount of sunlight exposure and that the number of solar panels requested can be accommodated.
A professional assessor will attend on the day of your Site Assessment to gather any HOA paperwork, evaluate the site, take roof and sunshine measurements, and record any necessary repairs or modifications to support your solar system.
It can take up to one (1) week from the time the contract is signed to the time the site visit is scheduled.
Step 2: System Design & Engineering
A team of engineers will use the site assessment data to evaluate the designs and make adjustments to fulfill local code standards. The solar building plans will then be verified and approved by a design engineer before being presented to the city for approval. We give complete design and engineering support to all of our customers. We understand the permit procedure because we specialize in residential engineering and design. This cuts down on the time it takes the city to consider the plans and reduces the probability of changes being made.
Every project is unique, and each city has its own set of rules, regulations, and procedures to verify that your system complies with the jurisdiction’s requirements. Our engineers’ first objective is to comply with city rules, followed by maximizing our customers’ return on investment.
We will confirm the overall layout with our customers before applying for permissions to ensure that the system design accurately matches expectations. The plans will then be verified and approved by a design engineer before being submitted to the city for approval.
Step 3: Solar Permit Application
You must obtain the necessary permits to install solar panels on your home, just as you would for any other construction job. This is especially crucial because you won’t be able to apply for solar billing until your city’s Building and Safety Department has given its final clearance. Even if you don’t have an approved service panel, you’ll need to get one as part of the solar installation process.
The longest element of the solar installation process is obtaining a permit from your city for your Solar Energy System. Your city’s Building and Safety department will determine the permits you’ll need to install solar on your home. In most circumstances, a Solar PV Permit and an Electrical Permit are required. It usually takes 2-4 weeks, but it might take up to 4 months in some cases. Cities have had to adapt their processes in order to comply with COVID-19, and may only be able to accommodate a limited number of in-person visits.
Step 3: Solar Panel Installation
Your solar installation firm will plan a date to install the equipment on your roof once your permit has been approved. To most people’s surprise, the installation process is usually the quickest. Depending on the size of the system, a typical installation will take between 4-6 hours. You only need to be present if permission to put equipment in the garage is required.
Most house solar panels may be installed in a single day, depending on the size of the solar energy installation. Our installers provide everything they need, including solar panels, inverters, wiring, connections, and racking. The electrical wiring will be the initial step in the installation, which will be followed by the installation of the solar panels. If your solar energy system has a lot of solar panels, is on various roof plans, or has a difficult roof, it might be possible to extend it over a few days.
This process can take 1 or 2 days, depending on the size of your house solar system and the size of your roof.
Step 4: Final Inspection and City Approval
Our staff will contact the city to schedule an inspection once the installation is complete. A city building inspector will need to come to the site to make sure the solar panels were placed properly and in accordance with city rules. This is an important phase because it confirms that the solar energy system was installed accurately, safely, and with the equipment specified in the engineering drawings. Because you’re essentially putting a power plant on your roof with solar energy, it’s critical that the city inspects everything to ensure it was done appropriately and safely.
How long does it take to put solar panels in place?
So you’re ready to start contacting solar companies to obtain answers to your queries so you can start enjoying more energy independence and cheaper utility expenses. You might be perplexed “Can you tell me how long it takes to install solar panels?” alternatively “How quickly can I have solar panels placed on my roof?”
Homeowners in Massachusetts frequently ask us these kinds of questions, and we’re happy to answer them. We’ll walk them through the entire process of installing a residential solar PV system, from start to finish.
How the Solar Installation Process Works
A few crucial phases in the solar installation procedure ensure that your solar PV system is precisely suited for your home and properly filed with your municipality. The time between our initial meeting and installation is normally 90 to 120 days; however, depending on your town’s permission process, this time frame might be as short as 30 to 45 days.
We don’t use subcontractors at Boston Solar, and our entire solar team is vertically integrated, which means you’ll be dealing with the same people from the moment you contact to the moment your system is turned on. This also aids in the streamlining of the procedure for you!
Meeting with Boston Solar and Signing a Contract
Our procedure begins when we schedule a meeting with you at your home with one of our in-house solar specialists. We’ll talk about the advantages of renewable solar energy as well as your goals for getting solar during our first meeting. Then, before you sign a contract, we’ll discuss the best system options for your home, price, and financing possibilities during a follow-up visit.
Design & Engineering (30-45 days)
Following the signing of your contract, one of our skilled solar specialists will come to your home to fine-tune the details of your solar energy system design. We’ll make sure your system is ideal for your home and place an order for the components you’ll need for installation. This procedure takes 30 to 45 days on average.
Permits & Materials (30-40 days)
Your personal Customer Experience Coordinator will pull all necessary permissions for your solar installation once your system design is finalized. Depending on your town, this usually takes 30 to 40 days or less. Throughout the process, we’ll keep you informed.
Solar Panel Installation (1-5 days)
Your coordinator will contact you to schedule your installation after your town has approved the permits for your system. The installation process is typically accomplished in one to three days by a highly competent team of in-house installers.
Inspections & Commissioning (15 to 30 days)
Following the installation of your solar panels, our team will conduct a quality control check and attend all building department inspections. Your local utility will replace your electrical meter after inspections and give you authorization to operate (PTO). Then, our Solar Commissioner will test and turn on your system at a time that is convenient for you. Inspections and commissioning take from 15 to 30 days on average.
Install Solar in 2019 for Greater Financial Benefits
Because the solar installation process can take several months, it’s critical to prepare ahead if you want to go solar quickly. This year is a particularly good time to start the solar installation procedure because a number of financial advantages are still available.
…but only for a short time! The 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit is still in effect in 2019, but it will decline to 26% after that and then disappear entirely by 2022. Meanwhile, there’s still time to apply for statewide SMART incentives this year, but because they’re granted on a first-come, first-served basis, that time is running out.
Learn More About Installing Solar with Boston Solar
The sooner you begin the solar installation procedure, the sooner you can begin to reap the benefits of lower electricity bills, enhanced energy independence, and protection against growing energy expenses. Contact Boston Solar if you’re thinking about going solar and want to learn more about what to expect. We’re delighted to assist households throughout Central Massachusetts and the larger Boston area, from the North Shore to the South Shore, in realizing the benefits of clean solar energy. We’re ready to answer your questions and guide you through the solar installation process. We’ve completed over 3,800 installations and counting.
To power a business building, how many solar panels are required?
So, here’s a quick recap: To meet 100% of its electricity needs, a medium-sized firm utilizing an average amount of electricity would require around 70 average-quality solar panels.
What is the lifespan of a commercial solar panel?
Solar energy is experiencing a hockey stick moment. The number of solar panels deployed worldwide has increased tremendously since the early 2000s, and this trend is anticipated to continue for decades. Globally, an estimated 222 gigawatts of solar energy had been installed by the end of 2015. That figure might reach 4,500 GW by 2050, according to a recent research (PDF) from the International Renewable Energy Agency.
However, the solar panels that generate that energy do not survive indefinitely. Because the industry typical life lifetime is roughly 25 to 30 years, some panels installed at the start of the present boom aren’t far from being replaced. With each passing year, additional glass and metal solar modules will be removed from operation, eventually amounting to millions, if not tens of millions, of metric tons of material.
“Those will be coming off line in the not-too-distant future, and we’ll have a waste management issue,” said Garvin Heath, a senior scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and a solar power expert. “It’s fair to say that it’s becoming more widely recognized as an issue on which we’ll need to go to work relatively soon.”
How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?
- Solar panels pay for themselves over time by lowering your utility bill and, in certain cases, earning you money through continuous incentive payments.
- In the United States, the payback time for solar panels ranges from 5 to 15 years, depending on where you live.
- The amount you paid, the price of electricity from your provider, and potential upfront and ongoing incentives all influence how quickly your solar panels pay for themselves.
Do solar panels start working right away?
There is a growing trend toward installing solar electricity at the time of writing this blog post, which has raised many basic queries among homeowners. Some are complicated, but the majority concentrate on the fundamentals of electric PV (photovoltaic) production.
Solar panels of various sorts have varying efficiency, but they all follow the same basic principles: light is converted to energy, and more light equals more energy. Unfortunately, predicting how much energy a solar panel array will create at any one time is extremely challenging.
Solar panels, in general, begin to function as soon as there is light to convert into energy. The amount of energy produced, on the other hand, is determined by the strength and angle of incidence of the sun’s rays. When energy production begins in the early morning, the amount of energy produced is quite low.
Are solar panels for business buildings a good investment?
Commercial solar is worth the cost, the time investment, and the work required to install panels on your business’s roof and minimize reliance on the utility. The high return on investment and short payback periods quickly provide positive cash flow if your company can take advantage of valuable incentives like the solar investment tax credit.
Is it worthwhile to invest in business solar panels?
Absolutely. Commercial and industrial solar installations can sometimes outperform household solar panels in terms of value. Because most commercial installations are larger, the price-per-watt is lower, offering clients a lot more bang for their dollars. Commercial installations are still eligible for the solar tax credit, net metering, and certain tax deductions, making it a smart investment for companies.
What is the size of a commercial solar panel?
- Commercial solar power has a 2 percent efficiency advantage over household solar electricity. Furthermore, commercial solar power generates more energy than residential solar power since the panels are larger. However, we price solar panels based on the amount of energy they produce, so a 4kW system for a home is the same price as a business system.
- Commercial solar panels are larger on average than household solar panels. A domestic solar panel system has 72 cells and measures 65 by 39 inches, whereas a commercial solar panel system has 96 cells and is 78 by 39 inches. Residents can have solar panels that are commercial-sized if they don’t mind the size. Commercial-sized solar panels, on the other hand, produce more power and are more efficient, therefore they should be considered for your home.
- Installation We use a bolted racking system to install both residential and commercial solar panel installations. Commercial roofs, unlike residential roofs, are typically flat, making installation easier. Commercial systems, on the other hand, can take up to a month to install, but residential solar panels typically take one or two days.
- Residential solar panel systems are black or white, whereas commercial solar panel systems are often white. Residential consumers prefer black panels on black backgrounds, whereas commercial customers prefer black panels on white backgrounds. The color you choose is a matter of personal taste.
Cost
The cost of purchasing a solar system is relatively expensive at first. Solar panels, inverters, batteries, wiring, and installation are all included in this cost. Nonetheless, because solar technology is continually improving, it’s realistic to predict that prices will continue to fall in the future.
Weather-Dependent
Although solar energy can be collected during overcast and rainy days, the solar system’s efficiency is reduced. Solar panels must be exposed to sunlight in order to collect solar energy. As a result, a couple of overcast, rainy days can have a significant impact on the energy system. It’s also important to remember that solar energy cannot be collected at night.
Thermodynamic panels, on the other hand, are an option to consider if you need your water heating solution to work at night or during the winter.
Check out our video for a breakdown of how effective solar panels are in the winter: