Solar in NY

[M.solar]

Hello everyone. Trying to figure out the best way to go for a roof mounted system in upstate NY. I've gotten qoutes from 2 company's so far that seem decent. Here they are:

Company 1.
10.920 kW
39 LG280s1c-b3
SMA inverter
$44,239.76 before any incentives
$20,617.03 after all incentives

$4.05/watt pre
$1.89/watt after all incentives

Company 2.
10.370 kW
34 LG305n1c-b3
Solar edge 300w optimizers
solar edge SE10000a-u inverter (20 year ext warranty)
$42,982.00 before any incentives
$20,006.10 after all incentives

$4.15/Watt pre
$1.93/watt after all incentives

Company 1 claims solar edge doesn't have as proven of a track record as SMA and if the company dissapeared a replacement inverter won't be possible since everything is proprietary.

Is solar cheaper for some reason in California? I don't see how it's possible to come close to $3.50/watt. I've gotten a few quotes and these 2 were the lowest from decent companies using quality equipment.

[jd31]

Hello everyone. Trying to figure out the best way to go for a roof mounted system in upstate NY. I've gotten qoutes from 2 company's so far that seem decent. Here they are:

Company 1.
10.920 kW
39 LG280s1c-b3
SMA inverter
$44,239.76 before any incentives
$20,617.03 after all incentives

$4.05/watt pre
$1.89/watt after all incentives

Company 2.
10.370 kW
34 LG305n1c-b3
Solar edge 300w optimizers
solar edge SE10000a-u inverter (20 year ext warranty)
$42,982.00 before any incentives
$20,006.10 after all incentives

$4.15/Watt pre
$1.93/watt after all incentives

Company 1 claims solar edge doesn't have as proven of a track record as SMA and if the company dissapeared a replacement inverter won't be possible since everything is proprietary.

Is solar cheaper for some reason in California? I don't see how it's possible to come close to $3.50/watt. I've gotten a few quotes and these 2 were the lowest from decent companies using quality equipment.

You pre-tax incentive cost is high relative to California, but wow, great state incentive. My napkin math is showing a 20%+ state incentive.

[M.solar]

You pre-tax incentive cost is high relative to California, but wow, great state incentive. My napkin math is showing a 20%+ state incentive.

NY is a 25% tax credit up to $5,000 plus there's a .70 per watt grant that gets paid directly to the company doing the work.

[J.P.M.]

You pre-tax incentive cost is high relative to California, but wow, great state incentive. My napkin math is showing a 20%+ state incentive.

Solar is cheaper in CA than NY because CA does not have any statewide rebates as NYS. NY bottom line is cheaper, but system output is less because there is not as much sun. At some point it sort of evens out.

Where in NY ?

[jd31]

NY is a 25% tax credit up to $5,000 plus there's a .70 per watt grant that gets paid directly to the company doing the work.

That's awesome. My deal in CA would translate to $1.50 /watt after tax incentives. Can we borrow your policy?

[M.solar]

Solar is cheaper in CA than NY because CA does not have any statewide rebates as NYS. NY bottom line is cheaper, but system output is less because there is not as much sun. At some point it sort of evens out.

Where in NY ?

I'm in the Hudson Valley. So I guess the mythical $3.50 is region specific. What is a reasonable cost to shoot for up my way?

[J.P.M.]

I'm in the Hudson Valley. So I guess the mythical $3.50 is region specific. What is a reasonable cost to shoot for up my way?

Not ducking the question but I'm ignorant of solar PV prices in upstate NY. Left zip 14221 in 1995. I'm sure other posters from upstate can provide $$ #'s based on propinquity. I'd SWAG it higher than $3.50 as that's what the market will bear given the healthy rebate situation that's really always made for sellers and not buyers.

[M.solar]

Forgot to add that most of the system will be facing south. 7.93 kW south and 2.44 either on the west or east roof. Which inverter setup would make the most sense?

[Mb190e]

I had a 8.1 kW system installed last May in upstate NY. I'm really happy with the quality of the installation. Mine came out to $3.76 a watt. I was offered SMA string inverters or Solaredge for the same price. I chose SMA because they've been around longer. Solaredge is a fairly new company and one of the things you mentioned the optimizers are no good if the inverter goes bad and Solaredge is no longer around.

Solarworld 270 panels
SMA 5000 and 3000 inverter with sps
Bird and squirrel guard around entire array

[M.solar]

I had a 8.1 kW system installed last May in upstate NY. I'm really happy with the quality of the installation. Mine came out to $3.76 a watt. I was offered SMA string inverters or Solaredge for the same price. I chose SMA because they've been around longer. Solaredge is a fairly new company and one of the things you mentioned the optimizers are no good if the inverter goes bad and Solaredge is no longer around.

Solarworld 270 panels
SMA 5000 and 3000 inverter with sps
Bird and squirrel guard around entire array

Nice looking work. If you don't mind me asking where in NY are you and what company did the work? Also the $3.76 a watt is before NYSERDA grant?

[Mb190e]

Saratoga Springs area. Installer is from the Buffalo area, if interested I will PM you the installers info.

[Mb190e]

Nice looking work. If you don't mind me asking where in NY are you and what company did the work? Also the $3.76 a watt is before NYSERDA grant?

I missed the second part of the question, yes the $3.76 was before the NYSERDA grant. I received $1.00 a watt which was $8100 + $5000 (ny state tax) + $6756 (fed tax) total out of pocket was $10,764

[M.solar]

I missed the second part of the question, yes the $3.76 was before the NYSERDA grant. I received $1.00 a watt which was $8100 + $5000 (ny state tax) + $6756 (fed tax) total out of pocket was $10,764

Thanks, looks like you did real good in NY. Did that take a while negotiating with multiple companies or were they priced low to begin with?

[Mb190e]

Thanks, looks like you did real good in NY. Did that take a while negotiating with multiple companies or were they priced low to begin with?

I had two other quotes from two other companies, with sunpower and LG and sunpower and sharp.

But like I said in another thread my installer was a straight shooter from start to finish no negotiating. He came to me with his best price and the best installation with good product. Even if he would've been a little more money I would've went with him, because I felt that he was being honest with me about everything. he wasn't trying to trick me or take me for another $5000 or $6000. I understand the whole negotiating aspect but you're talking about large sums of money. why would I want somebody to install panels on my house that just tried to take me for a extra $5000. To me that's not an honest installer I want to work with.

These other guys that I got a quotes from where over $1 more a watt. they're predicting 2000 more kilowatt hours per year from a smaller system, which was way off. They where overestimating the production with no guarantee.

My highest quote was $5.84 a watt and my lowest quote was $3.76 a watt. The $5.84 quote came down to $4.95 a watt when I told him I was going to with the other company. That's $6402.66 why am I going to hire a guy that just try to rip me off that much money.

[Mb190e]

J.P.M your inbox is full M.solar Pm sent.