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Nevada Goes Solar with SunPower®
Solar energy savings shine in the Silver State
The state of solar in Nevada
With an average of 252 sunny days in Nevada,* it's no surprise that the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ranks the Sagebrush State sixth in the nation for solar energy production.* In addition, the scorching Western sun – and several aggressive state government-backed incentives – work to increase Nevada residents' commitment to pursuing clean energy.
- *. Best Place, Nevada. (Aug 2021) https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/state/nevada
- *. SEIA, Nevada. (Aug 2021) https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/nevada-solar
How much solar energy does Nevada produce?
Nevada currently produces a whopping 3,903.8 MW of solar energy per year.* That said, Google's Project Sunroof indicates that the state has plenty of room to grow. The study suggests that 95% of Nevada's buildings are solar-viable and could produce up to 10,900 MW of solar power annually,* the equivalent of removing 1.4 million cars from the road for a year.
- *. SEIA, https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/nevada-solar
- *. Google, Project Sunroof. (August 2021) https://sunroof.withgoogle.com/data-explorer/place/ChIJcbTe-KEKmYARs5X8q...
What are the advantages of going solar in Nevada?
Solar panels for homes in Nevada do more than reduce the homeowners' tax bills. The state has seen a significant decrease in solar system installation costs over the past five years. As a result, the payback period has dropped to only 8 to 9.8 years, meaning that your solar system will pay for itself in less than a decade. Additionally, installing a standard 5.9 kW system on your home can lead to as much as $33,700 in lifetime savings.
Solar systems can help keep Nevada's stunning scenery clean and unpolluted for future generations as well. Solar power systems drastically reduce greenhouse gas that homes and businesses produce as they improve local air quality.* In fact, installing a standard 5 kW solar system at your home has the same CO2-reducing effects as planting 200 trees.*
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- *. Clean Technica. What is more effective emissions-wise, solar panels or trees? (Feb. 29, 2020) https://cleantechnica.com/2020/02/29/what-is-more-effective-emissions-wi...
How much does solar cost in Nevada?
The cost of a home solar system can vary due to a range of factors, even in the same state. These include:
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Local weather
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Household energy needs
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Quality of the solar panels
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Percentage of the roof that has shade
To help you understand the price of going solar in your area, we've analyzed SunPower price quotes as well as quotes gathered by third-party sources for thousands of homeowners across the country.
In Nevada, we found that the cost of owning a 5 kW solar system ranges from $12,550 to $37,800, or in other words, from $2.51 to $7.56 per watt—and that's before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.
As in the rest of the country, the average cost of solar panels for a home in Nevada has decreased by 43% over the last five years. Solar energy projects can range from comprehensive installations, power farms, and other large-scale ventures to small consumer installations for individual homes.
Nevada does offer various incentive programs for qualifying residential and business property owners.
For example, after purchasing a home solar system, you may be eligible for a 26% federal Investment Tax Credit, which you can claim on your income taxes for the year of installation.*
Local municipalities and utility companies may offer additional benefits, as well, in the form of net metering. Utility providers such as NV Energy and Valley Electric Association provide credits to solar panel owners for every MW of excess solar energy that their systems produce and send back to the grid.*
What's the best way to go solar in Nevada?
There's never been a better time to go solar in Nevada. Still, finding the best solar system isn't easy, and it helps to find a reputable and knowledgeable system provider and installer company. When comparing products, remember that not all solar systems were created equally. Your system's quality, appearance, and durability will vary based on which solar provider you choose.
Further, the size of the system and the number of panels you need will depend on several variables, including the size of your roof, the pitch of your roof, and your energy needs.
For example, if you hope to generate surplus power to store onsite or sell back to your utility provider, you may want to choose a more extensive system that covers all available roof space with high-efficiency panels. On the other hand, if you hope to minimize costs or preserve the aesthetics of your home, high-efficiency solar panels can also help maximize energy production with fewer panels.
Overall, Nevada receives a large amount of sunshine throughout the year. You can opt to install panels designed to withstand various types of weather events as well. Solar companies in Nevada should be aware of earthquake safety standards for materials and installation.
If you’re ready to get started, we’re happy to help. Simply request a free consultation with SunPower and we'll follow up with a quick call to schedule a time. You can also call us directly at (800) 786-7693.
