Poel Mount Solar Cost vs roof install

[peakbagger]

My friend is looking at a grid tied solar system funded by some special funding from his utility (low interest loan). The local towns have a group buy going and the solar installer claims to be doing the work at 20% discount. The array has to be a pole mount due to site conditions. Their quoted price is $5.15 per watt (western Massachusetts). Its an 3x5 array of LG 320s (4,8 KW).

He asked me to comment. I think that pretty pricey. I built my own pole mount for a 2.1 KW array several years ago but it was using spare metal structural tubing and unistrut. Anyone have an idea what a pole mount costs for an array that size? . I realize the contractor has to hire a backhoe for the base and for trenching which will vary with the site but it still sounds pricey. At $1.5 a watt that's an additional $7,200 dollars and once the pole mount is installed, its lot quicker to set panels.

[SunEagle]

A ground mount is usually more expensive then a roof mount due to the extra racking, footers and distance to run the wire as well as any fencing to prevent someone from accessing the energized parts. A pole structure usually requires a bigger footing due to wind loading but also allows the addition for a tracking feature.

All in all it is hard to say if your friend is over paying for his pole mounted system or if it is a fair cost. But as you pointed out site conditions also come into play and could add to the cost of installation