It depends on how much power you need. In 1997 we put in a 000 watt system to run a few power tools and a microwave oven. It was 00 panels and it cost $0000. Today we could replace it with a system that costs $000.
For a typical freestanding three-bedroom home, power demand would be about five kilowatts: 25 solar panels in roof racking, and an inverter, for about $00,000. You'd be running your electric meter backwards during the day.
That's if you're on the grid; if you're off the grid, you need a battery system, and a different kind of inverter.
Installation would normally take about three days, but that's after all the necessary permits have gone through the system.
Costs continue to come down as the panels and equipment continue to be improved. Also, installed costs show significant economies of scale. Nationwide, systems completed in 2006 or 2007 that were less than two kilowatts in size averaged $9.00 per watt, while systems larger than 750 kilowatts averaged $6.80 per watt. |
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