Category Archives: PV costs

Buy or Rent? Energy Production Version

Clean energy systems (solar) all have an up front capital cost (around $15,000 for a 3 kW system). The whole system must be paid for before the first kWh of energy is produced.  You essentially own your energy production and … Continue reading

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Taking aim at Nanking ends up hurting Knoxville!

Since 2009, Simple Energy Works has been designing, selling and installing complete residential and commercial solar energy systems throughout Tennessee. When we started out, about three years ago, there were only about five solar installers in the middle of our … Continue reading

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Posted in PV costs, PV Modules (Photovoltaic Panels), Solar Incentives | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Take the money and Run! TN has a new Solar Grant!!

The state of Tennessee recently (January 11th) announced that they have a new grant for businesses that are trying to be more energy efficient. The grant is specifically for those businesses (municipalities, non-profits are also eligible) that are going to … Continue reading

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Solar Energy Will Never Replace Coal!

Solar will never work. It is just too expensive. We will never replace coal and oil as the primary fuels because they are so ubiquitous. Simply a microscopic fraction of our energy is now made from solar energy. It is … Continue reading

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Posted in Electrical Grid, Energy reduction, Grid Parity, PV costs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Solar’s “Breaking Dawn”

Ok, I’m not much for Vampire movies. I’ll admit it. I have watched a few of them with my wife (to be social), and wouldn’t say that I was bored….. They just aren’t my movie preference. Of course, I would … Continue reading

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Posted in Grid Parity, Increase Energy Production of PV system, PV costs, PV Modules (Photovoltaic Panels), Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The 1603/USDA two-step!

The end of 2011 is a deadline for some of the solar incentives. It makes sense to research now about those incentives and see if now might be the time to move forward with solar!   The news is busting … Continue reading

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Posted in Grid Parity, Learning Solar, PV costs, PV Modules (Photovoltaic Panels), Solar Incentives | Leave a comment

Those “Evil” Free Market Chinese- Part 1

Last month SolarWorld (a German company) and 6 un-named “Co-conspirators” filed a complaint in Congress alleging that China is “dumping” their solar panels in the US and that US manufacturers need to impose a tariff of 30% to 100% on … Continue reading

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Posted in Grid Parity, PV costs, PV Modules (Photovoltaic Panels), Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How Little can I spend to get an Entry Level Photovoltaic Solar System?

I mean, the least expensive is the easiest for me at the moment, so what is the lowest entry level solar energy system that I can purchase? I don’t hear this question often, but it is a real issue. How … Continue reading

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Posted in AC Electricians and PV Installations, DIY (is it a good idea?), PV costs, Solar Incentives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does Solar Energy make Financial Sense?

“Now, I know Solar Energy just doesn’t make financial sense yet…..” He told me that with a straight face and obviously believed it.       I thought about his perception of solar for a while- why do we still think solar is out … Continue reading

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Posted in DIY (is it a good idea?), Good PV Design, Learning Solar, Micro-Inverters, PV costs, Solar Incentives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MicroInverters on Steroids

Enphase is coming out with the next (3rd) generation of microinverter and we will have them for sale in July.   These new microinverters work with larger modules, are more efficient and will be coming in at about the same … Continue reading

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Posted in Good PV Design, Micro-Inverters, PV costs, Uncategorized, Videos | Tagged , | Leave a comment