Solar panels Virginia

Despite the state’s relatively small size, Virginia is one of the top states in the country when it comes to solar energy generation. The number of installations has increased significantly over the past few years.

If you’re considering getting a solar panel for your home, now is a good time to do so. The price of the panels has decreased over the past five years, making them more affordable.

Solar panels for sale in Virginia

Solar panels in Virginia are reliable and cost-efficient energy generators for your home, business, RV or a boat. They work as long as there is daylight, aren’t afraid of winds, hail, snow or rain, and last for over 25 years.

The average size of a home PV installation in the US is 5-6 kW. A system of this capacity covers 80-100% energy needs of a medium house. Its cost may vary from $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the panels’ brand and incentives available. Since a solar system powers your appliances during the day, your energy bills reduce greatly. Overall, a PV installation brings in around $100 each month on average and thus pays for itself in 6-7 years. 

Solar energy is a great solution for boondockers and sailors as well. Since panels work everywhere, don’t need fuel, don’t smell and are silent, they start to replace gas generators, which traditionally were used to charge house batteries. Sometimes even one panel is enough for everything you have on your boat or RV. Generally, panels go on a trailer roof, and when it comes to marine installation, modules are fixed on a stern rail, deck or canvas.

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Solar inverters for sale in Virginia

Inverter is another necessary component of a solar panel system. The panels by nature produce direct current which can’t be used by most house appliances. That’s why an inverter converts DC to AC and sends it either into the grid or to your appliances.

Another functions that inverter perform include:

• Interaction with the grid;
• Arc fault prevention and protection;
• Optimization of the solar array production;
• System monitoring. 

Inverters can be grid-tied, off-grid or hybrid. While the names of the first two are self-explanatory, a hybrid inverter can be used both as a grid-tie or an off-grid one. In other words, you can pair it with a battery, and if a blackout happens, the inverter switches your house to battery support instead of shutting down.

Inverter is the most complicated part of a solar installation and it requires proper maintenance. For Virginia residents, it is recommended to put an inverter in a cold dry place out of direct sunlight — the garage is the best option. To prolong its lifespan, wipe the dust off of it, clean air intake filters and check the screen for errors. 

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OutBack Inverter 50A GS8048A-01

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SMA Sunny Boy Inverter 5kw SB-5.0-1SP-US-41

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SolarEdge Inverter 5Kw SE5000H-US

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How much energy can I get from solar in Virginia?

Aside from the amount of electricity that you can generate with your solar panels, the amount of sunlight that hits them also affects their energy production. Despite the lack of sunshine in Virginia, residents are still encouraged to go solar due to the state’s strong financial incentives.

Aside from the obvious factors such as the amount of sunlight that your solar panels will produce, other factors such as the panel angle and shading are also taken into account to determine how much energy they will produce. This method of estimating the amount of energy that you will produce is known as the total production estimate.

The history of solar power in Virginia

Like many states, Virginia enacted various solar-friendly policies during the 1970s. One of these was the residential property tax exemption. Other policies included net metering, as well as regulations aimed at protecting the environment.

Since then, the state has become one of the leading producers of solar energy in the country. There has been an increase in both residential and commercial solar installations.

Currently, about 3% of the state’s electricity comes from solar energy. It is a major contributor to the state’s economy and is expected to grow significantly over the next few years. The low prices have also attracted more consumers and solar companies, which have created thousands of jobs in the state.