I'm hoping some of you smarter and more-experienced folks can help me out on this. We're going to install solar on our house, with the goal of covering 100% of our usage for the house and our Model S.
I have narrowed it down to either a straight lease or a power purchase agreement, and am having trouble deciding which route to take.
Option 1:
Sun Power Lease - 5.2kW system with 16 Sun Power E20/326 Panels, and a Sun Power SPR-5000m Inverter.
Leased/installed through Solar Unlimited, in Burbank.
$106/month with an annual 2.0% escalation.
Option 2:
Real Goods Solar PPA - 5.25k system with 21 Canadian Solar CS6P-250P Panels, and a Power One PVI-5000-OUTD-US Inverter.
$0.15/kWh with an annual 1.5% escalation. Their estimate puts the annual production at 8,024, which would average $100.30/month to start.
Alternately:
Solar World Lease or PPA...I think I could get competitive pricing on these panels, but haven't pushed on that yet. If any of you tell me that Solar World has the best panels, I might revisit this.
I did look at Solar City first -- but they were more expensive ($113/month + 2.9% escalation) and I don't like the way they structure their performance guarantee.
So... Sun Power would be fewer panels, though have a flat roof and won't really see the panels anyway (though it means fewer holes in our roof!). I also like that they're made in USA. However, I'm not a fan of their performance guarantee, which would allow the system to under-produce by ~10% before they would have to credit us back anything. More importantly, as the panels degrade, we'll actually be paying more for less output (~10-15% less at year 20). I feel like Sun Power is a little more of a gamble -- but then again, everything I've heard is that Sun Power panels are the best available.
Curious to know what you all think! Thanks.
I have narrowed it down to either a straight lease or a power purchase agreement, and am having trouble deciding which route to take.
Option 1:
Sun Power Lease - 5.2kW system with 16 Sun Power E20/326 Panels, and a Sun Power SPR-5000m Inverter.
Leased/installed through Solar Unlimited, in Burbank.
$106/month with an annual 2.0% escalation.
Option 2:
Real Goods Solar PPA - 5.25k system with 21 Canadian Solar CS6P-250P Panels, and a Power One PVI-5000-OUTD-US Inverter.
$0.15/kWh with an annual 1.5% escalation. Their estimate puts the annual production at 8,024, which would average $100.30/month to start.
Alternately:
Solar World Lease or PPA...I think I could get competitive pricing on these panels, but haven't pushed on that yet. If any of you tell me that Solar World has the best panels, I might revisit this.
I did look at Solar City first -- but they were more expensive ($113/month + 2.9% escalation) and I don't like the way they structure their performance guarantee.
So... Sun Power would be fewer panels, though have a flat roof and won't really see the panels anyway (though it means fewer holes in our roof!). I also like that they're made in USA. However, I'm not a fan of their performance guarantee, which would allow the system to under-produce by ~10% before they would have to credit us back anything. More importantly, as the panels degrade, we'll actually be paying more for less output (~10-15% less at year 20). I feel like Sun Power is a little more of a gamble -- but then again, everything I've heard is that Sun Power panels are the best available.
Curious to know what you all think! Thanks.