Solar panels
June 25, 2018

With so many solar panel options out there, how do I know which one to choose?

 

Evaluating solar may be confusing and overwhelming. Residential and commercial solar panels have a lifespan that may exceed 25 years, with that being said, choosing the best possible solar panel is an important decision.

 

Here’s a list of the best solar panels in 2018:

  1. Panasonic

  2. LG Electronics

  3. S-Energy

  4. Q-Cells

  5. SilFab

 

What should I consider when choosing Solar Panels?

 

  1. Efficiency: Efficiency, in relation to solar, refers to the physical size of the solar panel compared to the power (Watt) output. This is an important consideration when limitations occur due to the amount of physical space that’s available. The  Majority of residential homes and commercial properties in New York do not have a physical space limitation. This makes efficiency ratings overrated. The acceptable Industry standard ratings are 17%. Equipment with ratings that exceed 19% come with a significant price premium.

  2. Manufacturer's “Bankability”:  Evaluating the balance sheets and financial statements may not be your first choice of tasks when getting solar. Thankfully just like many other industries we have independent resources who can be used. YSG and the solar industry use Bloomberg’s Tier-1 index as a resource for financeable products.

  3. Aesthetics: Engaging with a firm that has in-house solar engineering services is critical. Proper air-flow, wire management, conduit routing and solar module placement all make a clean solar system.

  4. Warranties: The industry has a standard of a 25-year product warranty.  Just like any other warranty, they are only as valuable as the entity standing behind it. YSG Solar and other credible developers only contract with vendors with prompt response times.

 

Example of Solar Warranty Issues:

Recently Enphase Micro-Inverter has voided the 25-year warranty for equipment that was aged at 2+ years. This caused thousands of customers, who had installed Enphase Micro-inverters to buy a system with a 25-year warranty, to find out two years later that they have no warranty at all. An alternative to Enphase in Long Island and throughout New York is SolarEdge and SMA America. As a local solar contractor installer, partnering with credible vendors is critical.

 

Switching to solar power is a big commitment, that’s why it’s important that you take all of these things into consideration ensuring that you end up with the panels that benefit you the most.

For more information on switching to solar, contact us or call us at 516.855.7283 today!

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