Pv cell installation cost

The technology exists to increase solar panel efficiency even further. Researchers have managed to achieve 46 percent efficiency in certain laboratory tests using advanced cell structures. The solar industry today looks very different: in addition to solar panel efficiency increasing dramatically, solar panel producers have significantly improved their manufacturing processes. Solar installers, too, can deploy solar PV across the United States more efficiently now than they could ten years ago.

Prices featured in quotes to homeowners on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace continue to fall:. The price decreases over the past ten years are a major reason why homeowners are increasingly interested in installing solar panels. The law is named after Richard Swanson, founder of high-efficiency solar panel manufacturer SunPower , and indicate a phenomenon seen across many different technologies: new industries face a major learning curve, and as they improve, prices fall.

As with any big ticket purchase, shopping for a solar panel installation takes a lot of research and consideration, including a thorough review of the companies in your area. The following table was made using data from the EnergySage Marketplace and tracks the average cost of 6 kW and 10 kW solar panel systems by the brand of solar panel used in the installation project.

The price you pay for a solar panel brand is reflective of panel quality to a degree. As recently as five years ago, the cost of solar panels was almost 20 percent higher than it is now :.

Prices will likely continue to fall even more in the future. As manufacturing and installation processes mature and become even more efficient , solar shoppers will hopefully start to see some of those cost savings impacting their sticker price for solar.

Solar installations are a unique product: the price you pay is heavily dependent on your unique situation and factors related to your electricity use and property.

Here are some of the top factors to keep in mind that can and do influence the cost of solar panels for your property:. Perhaps the most obvious and influential factor in the price you pay for a solar panel installation is the size of the system you get. These prices reflect the cost of a solar energy system both before AND after deducting the federal solar tax credit, which reduces your solar system cost by 26 percent.

Some states, local governments, and utilities also offer rebates and other tax incentives that can further reduce the solar system costs in your quotes from solar installers. Zero-down, low-interest solar loans are becoming increasingly common, making it even easier to buy a solar panel system that can fully offset your electricity bill and maximize your solar savings. As we discussed above, the brand of equipment you choose for your solar installation has an impact on the final cost you pay.

Just like any home appliance, solar panels come on a spectrum of quality that usually depends on efficiency, warranties, and appearance. Solar inverters are a less obvious part of any solar panel installation, but factor into your costs just like solar panels. Curious how your pick for inverters influences the price of your system?

Check out our overview of the most popular solar inverter types , and their pros and cons. The characteristics of your home and roof also play a part in your total solar costs. Conversely, if your roof has multiple levels, dormers, or skylights, the additional effort to finish the installation may include additional equipment and installation costs. Another piece of the solar installation puzzle is the company actually performing the job.

You can imagine how a well-regarded solar installer with premium warranty offerings can charge more for an installation job, and it will be worth your money.

EnergySage brings the best solar installers right to you on our Marketplace — check out our article on choosing an installer to learn how we vet installers, and how you can and should compare them against one another. As we talked about above, solar installation costs vary by state. The graph shows prices for each with and without the federal investment tax credit ITC for solar installations.

Although soft costs—such as labor, interconnection with the electric grid, profits, and overheard—often dominate current system costs, improvements in one area often affect others, such as high-efficiency modules reducing labor and material costs by requiring less products installed.

Future cost reductions could be attained from a combination of improvements. You can download the report , along with an accompanying slide deck , and a public version of the underlying data set.