3 ms·

$6000 for 13kW of panels is not a good price. You can easily get panels for $0.30 per kW, or even less depending on volume. You can also get used panels for d

$6000 for 13kW of panels is not a good price. You can easily get panels for $0.30 per kW, or even less depending on volume. You can also get used panels for dirt cheap. I bought 5kW of used panels for $750 a few years ago.

rnewme 3y ago
Doesn't this depend heavily on where you are located?
dymk 3y ago
Depends where you live and the quality of panel you want. I got 16kW of brand new, high efficiency panels for $10.4k, or about $0.64/watt. In this US, this is considered surplus pricing. If you're in Australia or something, sure $0.20/kW is a good price.
- throwaway2037 3y ago
  That price difference makes no sense. Why not just import from Australia?
  - epistasis 3y ago
    My friend, have you ever heard how easy it is to win a trade war? (I'm joking, the tariffs on solar panels in the US actually started with Obama...) https://grist.org/climate-energy/obama-administration-slaps-higher-tariffs-on-chinese-solar-panels/ https://grist.org/climate-energy/obama-administration-slaps-...
    - throwaway2037 3y ago
      Perhaps the tone (sarcasm?) of your post caused some downvotes, but your point is well taken. I didn't consider that the panels are not made in Australia. They are very likely made in China. I guess that Australia has much lower tariffs to import solar panels compared to the US.
      - epistasis 3y ago
        Sarcasm is definitely a mistake, it only obscures. I did look to try to find out if the tariffs can explain the full difference in cost, but I haven't found the latest tariff rates... There may well be additional effects too.
        throwaway2037 3y ago
        From my Internet goggles, it seems like home solar panels is common for single family homes in Aus. It might also be that installation is more competitive, thus cheaper. Or planning and fees are lower.
- turtlebits 3y ago
  This is in the US. At $0.64/watt you're pretty much paying retail at single unit volumes. At signaturesolar.com you can buy made in USA panels for $0.37. If you go wholesale, I've seen them as low as $0.26.
  - dymk 3y ago
    SurplusSolar had prices in that range as well. For my build, I did go with very nice panels (lg445n2w-e6) so that factored into the higher price for sure.
- 2Gkashmiri 3y ago
  In India the rate is rs. 30/w or inr 30k/kWh. Or us$ 360/kwh. And this is in open market. Government subsidized rates are even lower. Farmers were given a solar water pump scheme with 90% subsidy last year. 10kwh solar panels + water pump for that capacity + installation + steel work for inr 90k or us $ 1092.
  - aitchnyu 3y ago
    Have a vague feeling India is among the winners. My (oversized for my use) residential system pays back in less than 33 months. I see US systems paid for by loan and pays back in 7 years.
- ericd 3y ago
  For another data point, we bought 19 kW of new panels from SignatureSolar for $6k shipped in the US not too long ago, so a bit more than 0.30/watt. Not top of the line efficiency at 20%, but high quality all-black monocrystalline Canadian Solar HiKu6 panels with thicker than normal glass. Ironically, the little bits of metal to hold them to the ground cost almost as much, and the inverter and batteries both cost more.

rnewme 3y ago

Doesn't this depend heavily on where you are located?

dymk 3y ago

Depends where you live and the quality of panel you want. I got 16kW of brand new, high efficiency panels for $10.4k, or about $0.64/watt. In this US, this is considered surplus pricing. If you're in Australia or something, sure $0.20/kW is a good price.

throwaway2037 3y ago
That price difference makes no sense. Why not just import from Australia?
- epistasis 3y ago
  My friend, have you ever heard how easy it is to win a trade war? (I'm joking, the tariffs on solar panels in the US actually started with Obama...) https://grist.org/climate-energy/obama-administration-slaps-higher-tariffs-on-chinese-solar-panels/ https://grist.org/climate-energy/obama-administration-slaps-...
  - throwaway2037 3y ago
    Perhaps the tone (sarcasm?) of your post caused some downvotes, but your point is well taken. I didn't consider that the panels are not made in Australia. They are very likely made in China. I guess that Australia has much lower tariffs to import solar panels compared to the US.
    - epistasis 3y ago
      Sarcasm is definitely a mistake, it only obscures. I did look to try to find out if the tariffs can explain the full difference in cost, but I haven't found the latest tariff rates... There may well be additional effects too.
      - throwaway2037 3y ago
        From my Internet goggles, it seems like home solar panels is common for single family homes in Aus. It might also be that installation is more competitive, thus cheaper. Or planning and fees are lower.
turtlebits 3y ago
This is in the US. At $0.64/watt you're pretty much paying retail at single unit volumes. At signaturesolar.com you can buy made in USA panels for $0.37. If you go wholesale, I've seen them as low as $0.26.
- dymk 3y ago
  SurplusSolar had prices in that range as well. For my build, I did go with very nice panels (lg445n2w-e6) so that factored into the higher price for sure.
2Gkashmiri 3y ago
In India the rate is rs. 30/w or inr 30k/kWh. Or us$ 360/kwh. And this is in open market. Government subsidized rates are even lower. Farmers were given a solar water pump scheme with 90% subsidy last year. 10kwh solar panels + water pump for that capacity + installation + steel work for inr 90k or us $ 1092.
- aitchnyu 3y ago
  Have a vague feeling India is among the winners. My (oversized for my use) residential system pays back in less than 33 months. I see US systems paid for by loan and pays back in 7 years.
ericd 3y ago
For another data point, we bought 19 kW of new panels from SignatureSolar for $6k shipped in the US not too long ago, so a bit more than 0.30/watt. Not top of the line efficiency at 20%, but high quality all-black monocrystalline Canadian Solar HiKu6 panels with thicker than normal glass. Ironically, the little bits of metal to hold them to the ground cost almost as much, and the inverter and batteries both cost more.