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A growing number of homeowners want to know how much solar costs, but it can sometimes be difficult to get a straight answer. To help shine a light, we took the results of over 45,000 solar estimates created by real U.S. homeowners in 2011 and put them into these maps. Real solar cost estimates show how state, regional, and local incentives are helping bring the cost of solar way down. In many states, you can go solar for less than $10,000. Here’s a look at the average cost to go solar in each state (See first image) An $18,000 system ($12,600 after the tax credit) that produces 3800 kWh a year in a windy place with 12mph avg. windspeed will produce 76,000 kWh over its 20-year life, for a cost of $0.17 per kWh. That's much more than grid energy, and way more than solar. Last update: June, 2014. Solar panels have been just as cheap or cheaper than grid energy since 2013, in most places. Solar is unlikely to continue to get a lot cheaper, though, because the price of the panels has dropped so much that most of the system cost is now for installation, not for the panels themselves. In less than 5 years, the price of solar panels has dropped by as much as 50% in some cases. Consider that back in 2010 you were looking at $17000 to $20000 for a 5kW system, that same system now can be bought for between $7000 and $15000. Then there’s the Australian Solar Credits Rebate.  Think again. Real solar cost estimates show how state, regional, and local incentives are helping bring the cost of solar way down. In many states, you can go solar for less than $10,000. Here’s a look at the average cost to go solar in each state (See first image) Solar Panels. The solar panels themselves usually account for about 30% of total costs. Residential solar panels with a combined capacity of 3-8kW typically cost between $4,000-$16,000. The best solar panels are not necessarily the most expensive. System Costs. As mentioned in the introduction, residential solar systems are typically sized from 3 to 8kW and end up costing somewhere between $15,000 and $40,000. In this section, we will look at the costs of the various components of a solar system (not installation or operational costs). Including the price of a solar water heater in a new 30-year mortgage usually amounts to between $13 and $20 per month. The federal income tax deduction for mortgage interest attributable to the solar system reduces that by about $3–$5 per month.  1 Panels – Roughly 30% of a residential grade solar system’s cost is in the panels themselves, which can run around $4,500 to $12,000. 2  Power inverter – An inverter converts DC to AC power so you can connect to the grid and costs between $1,000 to $3,000. Here’s how it breaks down: Equipment Cost – 45%. 1  The cost of your solar system will depend largely on the design and location of the system; typically, home installations range from 3 to 7 kilowatts, ranging in price from $18,000 to $40,000 for an outright purchase. Here’s how it breaks down: Equipment Cost – 45%. 1  Panels – Roughly 30% of a residential grade solar system’s cost is in the panels themselves, which can run around $4,500 to $12,000. 2  Power inverter – An inverter converts DC to AC power so you can connect to the grid and costs between $1,000 to $3,000 With our Solar PPA, you pay for your solar power by the month, just like your current utility bill, only lower. You'll secure your solar electricity rates for up to 20 years, protecting you from future energy price spikes. And, with multiple payment options, you control how and when you pay for your electricity. If you sell your home, you can transfer the SolarPPA to the new owners or buy out the system ahead of time. Solar leases from SolarCity protect you from energy price fluctuations with low, fixed payments that are often less than what you’re paying now for electricity. That means 20 years of savings on your energy costs, plus the peace of mind to know what your payments will be today, tomorrow and 20 years from now.
http://solarenergy.net/News/2013071201-how-much-does-solar-energy-cost/ http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/solar.html https://www.australiansolarquotes.com.au/buyers-guide/solar-panel-prices/ http://solarenergy.net/News/2013071201-how-much-does-solar-energy-cost/ http://energyinformative.org/solar-panels-cost/ http://energy.gov/energysaver/estimating-cost-and-energy-efficiency-solar-water-heater http://lifestylesolarinc.com/cost-of-solar/ http://lifestylesolarinc.com/cost-of-solar/ http://www.solarcity.com/residential/how-much-do-solar-panels-cost
does solar energy pay for the cost