Solar Projects in Vassalboro

In August of 2008 I installed 8, 215kw SunPower solar panels on the roof of my house.

Original 8 Panels

Along with the 8 solar panels I had an inverter installed to convert the DC voltage to AC.

SUNPOWER INVERTER

This was wired to by main electic panel in my house. If the amount of electricity being produced by my solar panels exceeded the amount of electricty that I was using, then the excess power would flow back onto the grid.

In April of 2008 I had an additional 8 210 Watt Sunpower panels added:

16 panel system

The cost for the first 8 solar panels and the inverter was $15,500. I also spent and additonal $242.93 to have an internal display unit installed that shows how much electricity is being produced. So the total cost for the initial 8 panels which was rated at 1.72 kw was $15,742.93. The system was up and running by August of 2007.

The cost for the additional 8 210 watt panels installed was $11,860. So the total cost to date has been $27,602.93. The out of pocket cost will be a bit less. Because of tax incentives I received a $2,000 Federal tax credit on my 2007 taxes for the first part of the installation. I should also receive a $2,000 Federal tax credit for my 2008 taxes. I also was fortunate in that I received a $2,000 Maine Photovoltaic Solar Rebate in 2008. This was unexpected. So I believe the total out of pocket cost for this system will be $21,602.93.

The table below shows my electric costs, and the amount of solar electricity that the system has been creating: