Solar Talk

Have a question? Let us know and we’ll explain.

RE+ Solar Conference Boston Feb 22-23, 2023

High Peaks Solar will be stationed at RE+ in Boston February 22 -23, 2023.  The winter solar conference will be held at Westin Boston Seaport District.  Our booth display will present past projects we have built.  We look forward to lively discussions about the growing need to build PV Plants following the historic passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.  Come talk solar construction with us at RE+ in Boston!

Federal Tax Credit Extension

The Federal Government extended the Federal Tax Credit for solar equipment until the end of 2022. Until the end of 2022, any qualifying solar equipment that is purchased new can receive a Federal tax credit of 26%. This includes both residential and commercial tax credits.

Off-Grid Solar

Looking for a viable option for electricity? Many people either don’t have access to electricity in remote areas or it’s not affordable. Going off grid the way to go. 
 
Great for: camps, real estate investors, outdoor lovers, hunting cabins and those who just live in remote areas.
 
High Peaks Solar got its start doing off grid solar projects in New York and Vermont.  Off Grid solar has never been more convenient and affordable than it is today.  Our custom designed projects allow homeowners to live without the utility grid. 
 
We incorporate generators, either automatic start or manual start, to work with solar panels and batteries to provide reliable electricity 24/7.  
 
These types of off grid solar projects are ideal for remote properties where the utility grid it too expensive to extend.  Our customers can enjoy many of the same electric amenities that those who are connected to the utility grid enjoy, without an electric bill.  We can monitor our systems with off grid data systems connected to the internet.  Off grid home owners can view their system’s information from anywhere with internet.
 
If you are interested in learning more about how High Peaks Solar can help you live off grid, please give us a call today!

Solar Fest 2019

Join us at Earth Sky Time organic farm in Manchester, VT for a day-long gathering of workshops and music, along with great food and conversations. The doors open at 10:00 am, with activities for the whole family until 10:00 PM. This SolarFest Celebration is another opportunity to gather, share ideas, and learn how to best confront the challenges of our time. 

High Peaks Solar will be there to answer your questions about residential, commercial, off-grid and community solar choices. Let have some fun! See you there!

The End of Net Metering

We all know that there are lots of advantages to going solar. Here’s one that we think deserves a little more time in the spotlight: net metering.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), net metering is a “metering and billing arrangement designed to compensate distributed energy generation (DG) system owners for any generation that is exported to the utility grid.”

Net metering lets you sell excess power back to the electric company. Instead of cash, this power is credited back to your bill at the same retail rate the electric company charges you. Sounds great, right?

Bad news: net metering is going away. Electric companies have lobbied hard to oppose net metering and reduce the value of this system to homeowners.

Good news: if you have solar panels installed on your home before December 31st, 2019, your system will be grandfathered into net metering for 25 years.

Benefits of net metering include:

  • The ability to zero your bill
  • Protection from utility rate hikes
  • Supporting clean energy while saving money
  • Net metering uses existing metering equipment
  • Allowing homeowners to play a role in energy sustainability

If you are considering installing solar panels in New York, now is the time to buy. Call High Peaks Solar today to lock in net metering for your home!

We are EPC Specialists. We are ready to Build BIG in 2023!

2019 Tax Incentive for Solar

2019 is a pivotal year for the solar industry, especially for homeowners.   The residential 30% Federal Tax Credit goes away for homeowners, while largely remaining for commercial customers.  This policy shift shows an obvious change and desire for larger system installations.   In New York, net metering for homeowners is vanishing at the end of 2019.  Now is the time to buy solar for your home.  You can lock into net metering and receive the full 30% Federal Tax Credit.

Solar Fest August 18 and 19 2018

We will be sponsoring this great event. Come by our booth to learn more about solar. Don’t miss it!

Saturday, August 18th & Sunday August 19th @ Stratton Mountain, VT

Full-festival weekend tickets are only $40 each   BUY TICKETS NOW

Kids under 10 are FREE —  Sunday-only ticket is $20 

Go to http://www.solarfest.org/ to learn more!

Lithium Batteries are here!  

High Peaks Solar has sold its first lithium battery system. This project will contain 24 solar panels, 1 Sonnen 10kWh battery bank, and an SMA Sunny Boy inverter.  We will be connecting one 7,000 watt generator into the battery based system. The generator will be used to charge the batteries only where there is insufficient solar during a power outage. The lithium battery bank will be used to provide back up energy for the home owner’s well pump, refrigerator, furnace, and lights.  Once complete, we will post photos of this exciting lithium battery solar install!

All About Inverters

In order to power your house with energy from the sun, you’ll need solar panels. But since solar panels generate DC (direct current) electricity, you’ll need some way to convert that DC electricity to AC (alternating current) in order to power the appliances in your home. Here’s where inverters come in.

An inverter “inverts” DC output into AC. In addition to converting AC to DC, inverters also provide ground fault protection and real-time monitoring of system data (like energy production, voltage, and other useful info).

Choosing the right inverter for your individual situation can help boost your system’s performance. Currently there are two popular options available: string inverters, and micro-inverters. Let’s break it down with some general info and pros & cons for each type:

String Inverters

The classic wall-mounted rectangular boxes that you may have seen in basements, garages, or on the side of a house. These inverters convert electricity from a string of multiple panels.

Pros:

  • Traditionally cost less than installing micro inverters
  • You only need one for a whole system

Cons:

  • When one individual solar panel fails, the entire system goes down.
  • When one individual solar panel’s output falls (most likely from shading), the system’s performance drops to match the lowest-performing panel.

Micro inverters

These miniaturized inverters are sized to suit individual panels instead of a whole string. Each panel in a system must have a micro inverter attached to it.

Pros:

  • Each panel functions as an individual – if one panel is shaded, its performance won’t drag down the entire system.
  • Problems can be easier to diagnose since each micro inverter monitors a single solar panel, not an entire system.

Both types of inverter have pros and cons, but remember: as with just about everything involved with going solar, there is no “one size fits all” best answer. The most important thing is partnering with an installer who takes the time to help you design a system that fits your home and your needs.

If you’re looking for a knowledgeable solar installer in upstate New York, please give us a call at
(518) 238-3931 to schedule a consultation. Or send us an email: info@highpeakssolar.com