Solar Cost Considerations

You finally made up your mind to put solar panels on your to-do list. But , there's a lot more to the choice than that. What kind of solar panel system do you need for your house? How much power do you need to produce, and how much will it offset your current energy bill?  You may have heard terms like 3kW thrown around. What is a 3kW solar system, how much power will it produce, how many panels does it need, and how much will it cost you? Here are some of the most important questions and problems when it comes to 3kW solar systems.

3,000 Watt Solar Systems

If you're shopping around for solar panels, one of the most significant decisions you'll need to gain is how many kilowatts you want for your system. You can get 3kW, 5kW, or even 10kW. But what does that imply? 3kW suggests 3,000 watts of electricity. But 3,000 watts above the course of how long? Can you expect that quantity of energy every hour?

3kW is how much power your system will generate per hour, at peak output: that is, when your panels are getting the maximum amount of direct sunlight, with no clouds or other obstacles to reduce it.

Since it's on the smaller end of the scale in terms of size and output, a 3kW system is one of the cheaper ones you can buy. The actual price depends on a number of factors, but the average cost of a 3kW system in the U.S. is just over $9,200. However, if you take authority of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, you can recover 30% of your expenses, bringing the total down below $6,500. There may also be other tax credits and incentives you can take benefit of that are specific to your state. Find solar incentives ready in your area!

3kW Solar System Price By State

In many states, the price runs between $4.50 and $5 per watt for a 3kW system. However, it can get as low as $3.78 (in Louisiana) or as significant as $5.25 (in Rhode Island). Learn how much you can expect to pay for a solar system in your area.

Energy Produced By A 3kW Solar System

Under perfect circumstances (i.e. when your panels aren't shaded or obstructed and are mounted on a south-facing roof for the greatest amount of sun exposure), at 3 kilowatts per hour in direct sunlight, your 3kW system will produce an average of between 8.7 and 13.8 kilowatt hours of electricity per day. These numbers will vary depending on where you live, how and where your solar panels are positioned, and what time of year it is (there's more sunlight and thus more energy in summer than in winter).

Want to save and be guided by experts who do the research and know the answers? Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. How much solar power you need and how much you can save on your energy bills each month.