Solar in California 2020

California is currently riding comfortably in the first place when it comes to solar power capacity. The Golden State has had the help of implementing a lot of pro-solar power policies, a vast supply of sunshine, and tons of solar incentives. With the recent help of the solar mandate, California seems to gain a further lead against all other states in the solar power category.

The Cost of Solar in California

The average cost of solar panels in California can range based on a few different factors, like the size of the solar power and the location of the solar panel installation, but ranges between $12,878 to $17,422. On a cost per watt ($/W) basis, a solar panel installation is going to range between $2.58 to $3.48.

When anyone is considering getting a solar power system they are going to want to know about the solar power system’s payback time. In California, the average solar payback period is going to be 6 years.

A solar power customer is also going to need to choose how they are going to pay for their solar panel installation. The solar power customers are going to want to know about all of their financing for solar panels options. There’s going to be plenty of options that homeowners have, there’s a cash purchase, but if you can’t afford that, there are $0-down options. There’s solar loans and solar leases/PPAs, that are available to help you finance your solar panel installation.

In the table Below we will list the cost of solar panels in California’s most prominent counties:

2020 Cost of Solar in California for a 5kW Solar Power System

The Average Cost of Solar in California Based on the Solar Power Systems Size in 2020

Solar Incentives and Solar Rebates in California

In the United States there one of the best solar incentives across the board is going to be the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). When it comes to solar panels, the Investment Tax Credit is going to allow you to deduct 26% of the total cost of solar panels from your federal taxes. The 26 percent tax credit is going to last until the end of 2020, but in 2021,the tax credit is going to fall to 22%, and then in 2022, for residential solar panel installations, the ITC will end and for commercial solar panel installations the ITC will stay at 10%.

In addition to the federal ITC, California has some of the best solar incentives in the national. You can do your research on the solar incentives in your area, but your solar installer will be able to tell you the best solar incentives for your solar panel installation.

Notable Solar Panel Installation in California

The Topaz Solar Farm - This solar panel installation was completed in 2014. The solar panel installation is going to have enough solar power capacity to generate 550 MW of solar power, which is enough to power over 142,000 California homes.

The Solar Star - This solar panel installation is going to be America’s largest solar farm. The solar panel installation is made up of 1.7 million solar panels and is located in Kern and Los Angeles Counties and is the size of 142 football fields.