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Solar power is a renewable energy source that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps combat climate change. It also provides energy independence and saves you money on your utility bills over time.
Solar panels convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter then converts the DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is used to power your home or business. Any excess electricity is sent back to the grid for others to use.
The cost of a solar installation varies depending on the size of the system, the type of panels used, and the location and orientation of your business or home. Generally speaking, larger installations get cheaper per unit, as fixed costs like permitting are spread over a larger base.
Please reach out to us to us for a free assessment.
Most residential and commercial solar installations in the US are connected to the grid under a scheme called "net metering". This means that any electricity produced by the solar panels on your roof is first consumed by your business or home, and any surplus (e.g. on a sunny but cool day) is sent to the grid. You can then use this electricity when the sun doesn't shine and the utility company will send a bill only for the net amount you used in the month.
Most utility companies in Kansas limit the banking period to one year, after which any remaining surplus credits are lost. This means that you should size your system to roughly cover your annual consumption, as the rules allow you to reduce your electricity bill close to zero but you won't get paid for selling large amounts of energy back to the grid.
All of the utility companies serving South-East Kansas allow net metering, including Evergy, the City of Chanute, City of Iola, City of Coffeyville, Heartland Rural Electric, 4 Rivers.
Solar panels are made up of many solar cells, sandwiched between two sheets of glass, with an aluminum frame around the edge (just like a double-pane window). That means they also last roughly as long as a double-pane window, namely 25-30 years.
The other major component in a solar system is the inverter. This inverter is a heavy piece of power electronics that is similar in many ways to an air-conditioner or other major appliance (i.e. it will last 10-15 years). Exposing inverters to extreme temperatures or vibrations will reduce their lifetime, so they should ideally be installed in a cool, shaded place (like a shed or basement).
For most people that have access to a net metering scheme, batteries are optional, as you can use the grid as a free battery.
The main reason to get physical batteries installed with your solar system would be to provide backup during power outages, or to avoid a (sometimes costly) service upgrade. Batteries for stationary applications typically use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO), a robust, non-flammable chemistry that is good for about 5,000-6,000 cycles (roughly 15-20 years).
Please let us know in case you are interested, and we can discuss the benefits and cost of a battery installation.
Yes, Kansas is in hail alley and gets hit by significant hail storms every year. The largest recorded ice balls have been grapefruit size, and very few things made from glass will withstand that kind of impact. Fortunately, the truly large ice balls are very rare.
For more common hail sizes, solar panels are tested to the UL 61730 or IEC 61730 standards. Solar panels that pass these tests can withstand between one inch to three-inch hailstones traveling at 16.8 mph to 88.3 mph, similar to what your car windshield is tested for. So if your car is fine, your panels should be, too.
For anything larger there is insurance, which will generally cover a solar system as part of your building (as long as it is properly added to the policy).
Our founding team has over 15 years of experience in the solar sector across the world, including Europe, the Middle East and the US, with installations ranging from a few kW for a home up to 18 MW for a large industrial facility (the world's 2nd largest solar rooftop installation at the time it was installed in 2019).
So we know what it takes to design and build quality solar plants on time and on budget, and how to run them so they perform well for decades.