This home has been electrically powered by solar energy since October 20, 2007. Solar energy has also provided the home’s hot water and heated the swimming pool for over 25 years by water-circulating solar panels, extending the pool’s usage considerably.
The Old System at a Glance, 2007 – 2023
The original solar generating system for our home consisted of 22 Sanyo HIP200-BA3 200-watt photovoltaic modules, 2 Outback Power Systems GVFX-3648 inverters, 2 Outback Power Systems MX-60 charge controllers, and 8 Concorde PVX-2240T backup batteries.
The roof-mounted panels consisted of two arrays: one 1.6 kw array, eight panels facing south, and the other 2.8 kWh array, 14 panels facing west, with a total capacity of 4.4 kWh.
The batteries could power our emergency circuits for several hours, ensuring uninterrupted power to our lighting, computers, and refrigerators.
In November of 2023, I upgraded the 16-year-old system to a more modern solar generating system. Here’s an overview of how it’s been performing and its benefits to my home.
The New System at a Glance
In November 2023, I upgraded my solar system to a modern 10.14 kW setup. It comprises 26 Canadian Solar panels, each generating 400 watts of power. These panels are the system’s backbone, capturing sunlight and converting it into electricity.
Each panel is paired with an Enphase IQ7PLUS microinverter. This configuration boosts overall efficiency by directly converting DC power to AC at the panel. Even if one panel is shaded or underperforming, the rest continue operating effectively.
I also added a 13.32 kWh Franklin A-Power battery, which stores excess energy when the sun isn’t shining, like at night or on cloudy days. The system is managed by a Franklin A-Gate, which ensures seamless operation by deciding when to use solar power, draw from the battery, or pull from the grid. The grid and any excess kWh stored there become a super battery that can be used if my home battery can’t meet the demand. Together, these improvements ensure my home runs efficiently, day and night.
Cost and Savings
The total cost for the upgraded solar system was $34,214. This price includes everything—panels, inverter, battery, and installation.
Thanks to the federal solar tax credit, I’ll receive $10,264.20 back, which reduces the overall cost of the system to $23,949.80.
The system is estimated to produce 16,462 kWh of electricity in the first year. This production will cover a significant portion of my home’s energy needs, ensuring greater energy independence and savings.
Year-to-Date Performance
So far this year, my solar panels have generated 10,128 kWh of clean energy, more than covering my home’s energy usage of 7,983 kWh.
The battery has stored 2,974 kWh of excess solar energy, with 2,556 kWh discharged to power my home when solar production wasn’t enough, reducing my reliance on the grid.
When needed, the system has drawn 1,161 kWh from the grid, while exporting 2,888 kWh of excess energy back to the grid, earning me credits and supporting clean energy for other homes.
Financial Benefits Year-to-Date
By using solar power, I’ve saved $868.80 in electricity costs. Additionally, I’ve earned $346.56 in credits from sending excess energy back to the grid. Altogether, my system has provided a total financial benefit of $1,215.36 this year.
Summary
Overall, my upgraded solar power system has been a significant investment. It generates enough energy to cover my home’s needs, charge my Tesla electric vehicle, store power for later use, and send excess energy back to the grid. With the savings and credits, the system is already paying off, and it feels good to know I’m contributing to a cleaner, greener future.
