Residential Solar Power in Utah | Intermountain Wind & Solar (2024)

FAQs

Residential Solar Power in Utah | Intermountain Wind & Solar? ›

According to many renewable energy experts, a small "hybrid" electric system that combines home wind electric and home solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) technologies offers several advantages over either single system.

According to many renewable energy experts, a small "hybrid" electric system that combines home wind electric and home solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) technologies offers several advantages over either single system.

Utah is a state with abundant sunshine, which makes rooftop solar panels a worthwhile investment for homeowners looking to produce clean energy and save on electricity bills.

Generation During Sunlight Hours Only

Yes, solar runs on sunlight, which means it may only be available for half of each day. And while you cannot generate solar electricity at night, energy generation is also more difficult as the sun rises and sets during off-peak hours.

Some cons of hybrid systems:

Lots of space might be necessary for the required parts. With grid access, you're likely not in an isolated rural area - even so, you'll need space for hybrid solar equipment, including the battery bank and inverters.

The average Utah homeowner needs a 10.16 kW solar panel system to cover their electricity needs, which comes out to $27,659 before incentives. Prices range from $23,510 to $31,808, but after the federal tax credit, that drops by 30%.

The production of solar technology has its environmental downsides, as the mining of materials and manufacturing of solar panels creates a considerable amount of greenhouse gas.

Unfortunately, what we're discovering is that a solar system will only add $0 to $2,000 in value to your home. Here in Utah, we don't have as much sun as some other states, so these systems don't add nearly as much value as they do elsewhere.

How many solar panels do I need for a 2000 sq ft home? ›

Depending on energy consumption, location, and weather patterns, the number of solar panels needed for a 2,000-square-foot home can range from 20 to 24. This number is based on 375-watt panels. This would assume that the home uses, on average, around 9,000-11,000 kWh of power per year.

How long can a house run on solar power alone? As long as you have clear sunlight falling on a correctly designed solar power system, your house can run continuously on solar panels. However, if the weather is overcast, your system may generate less power.

Is wind energy cheaper than solar? At a large-scale, wind energy can be cheaper than solar. However, solar energy is more affordable for residential installations and smaller-scale consumers. Location also influences the cost.

Cons: Manufacturing Impact: The production and disposal of solar panels and wind turbines involve some environmental impact, particularly in terms of resource extraction and waste management. Land Use Concerns: Large-scale installations may require significant land use, potentially affecting local ecosystems.

Wind and Solar Electricity: Challenges and Opportunities examines three primary obstacles to deployment of wind and solar power: cost, variability of generation, and lack of transmission.

Solar energy systems can generate electricity in any climate. One of the disadvantages of solar energy is that it's subject to temporary weather disruption. Cloudy days reduce the amount of electricity you produce.

Solar panels are only effective during the day and are most effective when the sun strikes them at a 90° angle. Therefore, because wind turbines generate most of their energy at night while solar panels generate energy during the day together, they can produce a consistent stream of renewable energy for your home.

The combination of renewable energy sources, wind & solar are used for generating power called as wind solar hybrid system. This system is designed using the solar panels and small wind turbines generators for generating electricity.

Yes. You can have the inverters in parallel and charge from the mains. Or, you can run both wind turbine and solar panels through their own solar charge controller again in parallel. Plenty of different ways to do this.

If you are considering upgrading an existing solar power system, consider including a hybrid (low-voltage) solar inverter that will allow for connection to a wind generator.