FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the difference between off grid and grid tie?
Off grid is when there is no steady stream of power being fed into your home or building.
How does a solar system work?
How does net metering work?
How do I get an estimate?
How does net metering work?
How do I get an estimate?
Send a power bill, we will size the system to your needs.
When predicting the production, do you take into consideration the orientation and pitch?
Yes. PV watts allows us to enter in the orientation of the array and the degree at which the system will be located.
What can my inverter produce?
NWE does not care how much solar (DC power) is connected to the inverter, they only want the actual AC electricity feed-in capacity. The inverter only has the capacity to produce 7.6 kW and will be on a 40 amp breaker, which tends to be the maximum backfeed that can be matched up to a standard 200-amp service. 10.32 kW reflects a 100% production rate for panels in an ideal environment called STC (standard test conditions).
The panels have a de-rate of about 20% when exposed to actual environment conditions - this is what is called the NOCT (nominal operating cell temperature) rating. That brings your systems production to 8.26 kW. This is still over 7.6 kW but due to the shading and the different orientations between arrays, your system will rarely (if ever) hit the maximum production potential.
If your solar panels were to try produce over 7.6 kW, the monitoring would display a plateau on the graph because the inverter output is limited to 7600 watts. This is called clipping. We ran your system through a program that determines the percentage of clipping you were to see and it came out to less than 1% overall. Our calculations take this into consideration and the graph attached to the proposal reflects those numbers.
The panels have a de-rate of about 20% when exposed to actual environment conditions - this is what is called the NOCT (nominal operating cell temperature) rating. That brings your systems production to 8.26 kW. This is still over 7.6 kW but due to the shading and the different orientations between arrays, your system will rarely (if ever) hit the maximum production potential.
If your solar panels were to try produce over 7.6 kW, the monitoring would display a plateau on the graph because the inverter output is limited to 7600 watts. This is called clipping. We ran your system through a program that determines the percentage of clipping you were to see and it came out to less than 1% overall. Our calculations take this into consideration and the graph attached to the proposal reflects those numbers.
What kind of warranties are there?
Materials are always changing. Panels and optimizers have a 25-year warranty and the inverters have a 12-year warranty. For the inverters you can purchase up to 25 years. Our workman ship has a 1-year warranty. Luckily, we are local, so if there is ever an issue let us know and we will be there to fix it. Warranties do vary between companies. Do not hesitate to confirm the duration of warranty your materials have.
How do I know I am getting a competitive bid?
We ask clients to shop around. Although there is a standard throughout the solar industry, there is slight variation between companies. Clearwater Credit Union also is a great resource for learning how to evaluate bids. We have attached the link below.
What benefits are there for installing solar?
What paper work is required on my (clients) end?
What paper work is required on my (clients) end?
Our goal is to try and make this process as smooth as possible. The only paper work required on your end is signing the Interconnect Agreement. Depending on your provider, this process may require multiple signatures. We have done our due-diligence as a company and will send instructions specific towards your provider.
Are there financial options/incentives available?
As far as incentives go, the only one that is currently in place is the 30% federal tax credit. How this process work is the client will pay for the entire system and once tax season rolls around for that year, any taxable income that the client they are able to apply the 30% federal tax credit too.
For financial support Clearwater Credit Union has a solar loan program as well as the DEQ. The links to both of these are located below.
For financial support Clearwater Credit Union has a solar loan program as well as the DEQ. The links to both of these are located below.
How do I read my NorthWestern Energy bill after I have added solar?
What does it mean to bank credits with my service provider?
Can I monitor my system?
What does it mean to bank credits with my service provider?
Can I monitor my system?
Yes. All of our on and off grid clients can monitor their systems as long as there is a Wi-Fi connection. Interested in checking one out? The link below will show you the production of the system we have on our very own building!