How to install solar panels: Your guide for 2024 – EnergySage Blog

Once you decide on a solar company and system, the installation process begins. The time it takes to get your solar panels up and running depends on a handful of factors. Generally, you can expect to wait a few months before your solar panels produce energy for your home. In that time, your solar company should follow these five main steps:

1. Engineering site visit

The first step to installing your solar system is an engineer site visit. After you sign a solar contract, an engineer will come by your property to evaluate the electrical status of your home and ensure everything is compatible with your incoming solar installation. During their visit, the engineer will evaluate the condition of your roof and your electrical panel (the gray box in your basement) to confirm your home can support a solar panel system. 

An engineer will typically visit your home themselves, although sometimes installers take photos and measurements of the property and have the engineer sign off without doing their visit. 

An engineer visit differs from a general site visit. Before any contract is signed, an installer will conduct a general site visit to evaluate your property to create your system design based on your roof type, roof angle, and shading. The engineer comes in after contracts are signed to confirm it’s safe to go ahead with your installer’s plans. 

2. Permits and documents

Installing solar panels involves a lot of paperwork. Your installer should deal with most of this, but it’s always a good idea to know what’s happening behind the scenes. The main things to be aware of include:

• State and federal incentive application: You’ll need to apply for things like the federal solar tax credit and solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs). Your installer should be aware of the incentives you qualify for and help you file this paperwork. 

• Building permits: Local solar permits are specific to where you live; some states require a roof with three feet of clear space surrounding the solar panels, whereas others allow you to install panels across the entire surface of your roof. Your solar company should know the restrictions and requirements of your state and handle this paperwork.

• Solar loans or leases: If you use a solar loan or a lease, you’ll need to work with your installer to complete this paperwork. 

The timing of this step depends on how long it takes your installer to fill out and submit everything. Don’t be afraid to follow up with your solar company to check on the progress of your paperwork.

3. Ordering your solar panels, inverters, and other equipment

You’ll likely decide on equipment and costs before you sign a contract. Once you complete the necessary paperwork, your installer can order your equipment. If you’re willing to do some homework before this step, you’ll feel more knowledgeable and confident in the equipment you’ve chosen.

The two primary components of a solar energy system are the solar panels and the inverters that convert energy from the panel into usable electricity for your home. Your installer will likely recommend a particular brand for each piece, but it’s always best to do your own research. Consider the following factors when evaluating your options: 

• Price: The average cost of solar is around $30,000 before incentives. 

• Durability: Your solar panel system should withstand your local weather and climate during its 25+ year lifetime. When comparing your solar panel options on EnergySage, refer to the “Resiliency” section to understand the elements (snow, wind, hail, fire, etc.) your panels are certified to combat.

• Efficiency: The more efficient your equipment is, the more electricity you’ll get from your solar panel system. Higher-efficiency solar panels tend to be more expensive. For reference, the most efficient solar panel on EnergySage has an efficiency rating of 22.8%. You can find a panel’s efficiency rating on its datasheet under “module efficiency”. 

• Warranty: Your solar panels should come with product and performance warranties that last around 25 years. Product warranties cover solar panel damage, and performance warranties guarantee a certain amount of solar production every year. Inverters should also be covered by a warranty of at least 10-12 years. Most solar panel manufacturers post their warranty details on their websites. You can usually find the annual degradation rate (part of the performance warranty) included in a solar panel’s datasheet.

• Aesthetics: If you’re concerned with the look of a solar panel system, consider the design of your options. 

The timeline of your solar panel installation depends on how busy your installer is, the local permitting process, and supply chain constraints. If you’re interested in a speedier process, try to complete your solar installation in the winter when solar companies aren’t as busy.

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