North Carolina goes solar with SunPower®
Solar savings shine bright in North Carolina
The state of solar in North Carolina
North Carolina is a sunny state, making it an optimal location for solar power. On average, the Tar Heel State has 213 sun-filled days, which is eight more days than the national average.*Bestplaces.net, Climate in North Carolina, (accessed 8/9/2021) https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/state/north_carolina# About 76% of the buildings in the state are considered solar viable, which is enough to generate about 39.6 million MWh AC per year.*Google, Project Sunroof data explorer (November 2018) https://sunroof.withgoogle.com/data-explorer/place/ChIJgRo4_MQfVIgRGa4i6fUwP60/
How much solar energy does North Carolina produce?
North Carolina ranks third in the United States for solar energy production. As of 2021, the state has 7,132.3 MW solar systems installed, which is enough to power 859,707 homes, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.*SEIA.org, North Carolina Solar (accessed 8/9/2021) https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/north-carolina-solar
What are the advantages of going solar in North Carolina?
North Carolina has plenty of sunshine, making it an ideal place to get solar panels for homes. The area also has optimal conditions for these systems because soiling on the module surface isn’t significant.
In other words, solar panels in North Carolina won’t accumulate much dust, affecting the system’s ability to generate electricity using solar energy. As a result, your equipment will require less maintenance and produce decades worth of electricity.
Embracing clean energy also gives property owners an immediate return on investment. As soon as the panels go up, your home or business will have lower electric bills. Even if electricity costs should rise over the years, as they invariably do, your solar cost will remain consistent. The installation also boosts your property value, adding to the many ways a solar system will pay for itself over time.
How much does solar cost in North Carolina?
The cost of a home solar system can vary, even in the same state, due to a range of factors. These include:
Solar system provider
Quality of the solar panels
Size and condition of the roof
Home’s energy needs
Local weather
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 North Carolina, we found that the cost of owning a 5 kW solar system ranges from $12,000 to $14,250, or, in other words, from $2.40 to $2.85 per watt. And that’s before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.
North Carolina residents who choose to go solar can participate in the federal residential solar energy investment tax credit (ITC). When claiming ITC on your federal income taxes, you can receive a 30% tax credit on the total cost of a new solar system installation.*Tax credits and incentives are subject to change. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed solar policy information. To obtain the benefit, you must own the solar system, and its installation must occur during the same tax year you file the claim.
North Carolina residents can also participate in several rebate and incentive programs to reduce the initial costs of going solar. For instance, Duke Energy provides a $0.60 per watt rebate for its customers on new systems up to 10 kW.*Energysage.com, Go solar with help from North Carolina's solar rebates and incentives (accessed 8/8/2021) https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-rebates-incentives/nc/
State legislation also allows various cities and counties to provide property owners with low-interest loans for purchasing and installing solar panels.
Other incentives include North Carolina’s property tax exemption for solar system installations and net metering. Net metering is a program that allows solar system owners who generate more energy than their home uses to feed their surplus into their local electric grid. In return, the property owners will receive credits toward their monthly utility bills.*The availability of net metering varies by location and is subject to change. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed solar policy information.
What’s the best way to go solar in North Carolina?
Going solar in North Carolina is as simple as scheduling a consultation with a reliable solar energy provider. These experienced professionals will have all the industry knowledge necessary to help you switch to solar energy in your area.
There are many considerations to make to help you find the best solar solutions. Everything from the property’s energy needs to the condition and size of the roof will influence the type, number, and quality of solar panels you’ll need. Instead of guessing which solar system is right for you, allow a professional solar installer to help you go solar.
If you’re ready to get started, we’re happy to help. Simply request a free consultation with SunPower below and we'll follow up with a quick call to schedule a time. You can also call us directly at (800) 786-7693.
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