Deciding to switch to solar energy is neither easy nor exactly cheap. However, it is definitely a rewarding experience – by installing solar panels, you save a lot of money long-term, and you protect the planet. Let’s learn everything you need to know about solar panels in Orlando.
This article will cover
- Local Solar System Installation Costs In Orlando
- Incentives, Tax Credits, And Rebates For Local Solar Panels In Orlando
- What Should You Know When Installing Solar Panels In Orlando?
- Top 7 Solar Panels Companies In Orlando
Local Solar System Installation Costs In Orlando
The first thing people are interested in when thinking about installing solar panels is the cost. That is understandable, it is a big investment, but it is important to notice the fact that it is also a highly profitable one. Let’s see what you can expect to pay when you decide to go solar in Orlando.
| System Size | Number of solar panels | Approximate system cost total |
| 4kW | 16 | 10000-11000$ |
| 5kW | 20 | 12000-13000$ |
| 6kW | 24 | 15000-16000$ |
| 7kW | 28 | 17000-18000$ |
| 8kW | Up to 30 | 20000-21000$ |
| 9kW | 28-36 | 22000-23000$ |
| 10kW | 31-40 | 25000-26000$ |
In 2023, the average price per wat of solar energy in Orlando is $2.59. Depending on the manufacturer, the size of your system, and the price of the installation costs a company you choose charges, the price of the whole system varies from 10000$ to 26000$. You can get smaller and bigger sizes of the system, but 4-10kW is usually enough for a standard home or business space.
The price you will pay for a solar system also varies depending on the material the solar panels are made of, whether the system is residential or commercial, and the price the company you chose charges for labor.
The quality of the material is especially important. High-quality solar panels can last up to 30 years, but if you install cheap solar panels of lousy quality, that time is significantly lower. That is the one thing you should not be stingy about.
Solar panels are usually made out of crystalline silicon. Furthermore, the best type of silicon you can use is monocrystalline. While it is the most expensive option, it is also the most efficient and the most durable one. [Monocrystalline vs. Polycrystalline: Which One Is the Best Choice?]
The most significant difference between residential and commercial solar systems is the size of the solar panels used. Residential solar panels are usually 65 by 39 inches, while commercial ones are 77 by 39 inches big.
Therefore, the commercial solar system is more efficient – It produces more energy and saves you more money long-term. The type of solar system you should choose depends on your energy needs and money-saving goals for the future.
Incentives, Tax Credits, And Rebates For Local Solar Panels In Orlando
Orlando is a city with a lot of solar power potential. It has 233 sunny days per year on average, and there are a few incentives that you can take advantage of to spend less money on installing your solar panels.
The first available incentive is ITC or Investment Tax Credit, available to the whole country. It takes off 30% of the total cost of your solar system, and it reduces the price by thousands of dollars. Let’s see the prices of the solar systems when we include this reduction into the calculation.
| System Size | Number of solar panels | Approximate system cost total |
| 4kW | 16 | 7400-8140$ |
| 5kW | 20 | 8800-9620$ |
| 6kW | 24 | 11000-11840$ |
| 7kW | 28 | 12580-13320$ |
| 8kW | Up to 30 | 14800-15540$ |
| 9kW | 28-36 | 16280-17020$ |
| 10kW | 31-40 | 18500-19240$ |
As you can see, the amount of money you can save with this incentive is far from negligible. If you are still hesitating about going solar, hurry up with the decision. The ICT is going to be reduced to 22% in 2034. It will still be a big discount, but these four percent are significantly helpful for bigger systems.
In Orlando, the property value can increase by up to 4.6% when a solar system is installed. Increasing the value of your home usually means taxes, but not in this case! Florida’s Property Tax Exclusion for Residential Energy Property allows you to increase the value of your home without paying money for it. If your property is non-residential, you will still get an 80% tax exemption.
Next, Florida typically has a sales tax of 6%. Again, not in this case. Solar and CHP Sales Tax Exemption saves you additional money, so if you decide to install a solar system in Orlando, you don’t have to worry about the sales tax. For a solar system of 6kW, that would be 660$ saved!
Florida’s net metering system is another incentive worth knowing of. Net metering allows you to sell the extra energy your solar panels produce to the grid. You will be paid for every additional kWh (kilowatt-hour) your solar panels produce at the rate you pay for your electricity.
What Should You Know When Installing Solar Panels In Orlando?
Orlando has the perfect climate for installing and maintaining solar panels. Apart from so many sunny days, the number of days with precipitation per year in Orlando is 114.
While it may not seem important because solar panels use the sun to produce energy, this saves you hours of cleaning! Rain and snow wash off any dust, debris, dirt, and sand that can mess up the efficiency of your solar panels.
The average number of peak hours per day in Orlando is 5.67. If you decide to use a dual-axis system, that number can increase to 7.5. Considering the fact that solar panels need only four hours of direct sunlight per day to work, this is good news.
Remember, the extra energy that your solar panels produce that you don’t get to use still makes you money if you stay on-grid and take advantage of net metering!
In order to maximize the efficiency of your solar panels, they need to be positioned and appropriately directed. If you live in Orlando, your solar panels should be directed to the south. The angle at which they should be set depends on the number of times you change it.
If you have fixed solar panels, they should be at an angle of around 24.5 degrees throughout the whole year. If you decide to adjust the position of your solar panels twice a year, they should be at around 5.5% angle during summer and at about 40% angle during winter.
If you shift their position every season, they should be approximately 25.5 degrees in spring, 2 degrees in summer, back to 25.5 degrees in autumn, and 50 degrees in winter. However, if this sounds too complicated, you don’t have to worry too much about direction and angling as the solar panel company will take care of that and explain everything you need to know.
Top 7 Solar Panels Companies In Orlando
1. Advanced Green Technologies
Advanced Green Technologies is an award-winning company that guides you through the whole process of switching to renewable energy usage. They provide rooftop solar, solar farms, and solar carports services. Solar Power World magazine recognized them as the best commercial solar panel contractor in Florida.
Location: 200 Northstar Ct Suite A, Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: 888-735-2641
2. PES Solar
This company has more than twenty years of experience, during which they installed almost two million solar panels. Their goal is to save you money, so they offer easy and simple financing with zero down payment. They assess your property at the start and offer services throughout the whole process.
Location: 290 Springview Commerce Drive Unit 3, Debary FL 32713
Phone: 800-650-6519
3. Solar Bear
Solar Bear operates throughout Florida and offers contracting services for solar systems. Since their goal is to make your property as power-efficient as possible, they offer spray foam insulation as well. You can get an estimate of the cost for free on their website.
Location: 4091 AMTC CENTER DR, LARGO FL 33764
Phone: 727-471-7442
4. SunVena
SunVena is another company operating in Orlando. They promise solar systems that last for decades, and they offer a 25-year warranty on their services. The most important warranty is the production warranty – if your system doesn’t produce the guaranteed amount of energy, you get the difference in cash!
Location: 4005 Church St, Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: 844-786-8362
5. IQ Power
IQ Power offers photovoltaic services and solar hot water, solar pools, and water treatment services. They are a passionate team committed to high-quality systems and awarded Top Solar Contractor for the seventh year in a row by Solar World Magazine. They offer zero-cost energy analysis for your property.
Location: 691 Progress Way, Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: 407-585-1018
6. Solar Ray
Solar Ray is a company with more than 16 years of experience in installing and maintaining solar panels. They are NABCEP accredited, and they offer consultation, engineering, installation, and inspection and commissioning services. They offer a 2-day cash rebate delivered after your solar system has been installed.
Location:6007 Anno Ave, Orlando, FL 32809
Phone: 407-443-4404
7. Goldin Solar
This company’s mission is to offer the best solar experience to its customers. Their process consists of design, engineering and permitting, and installation of the system. Goldin Solar guides the customer through the monitoring software used for tracking the efficiency of the system. They offer financing with zero down payment.
Location: 3662 Avalon Park E Blvd Suite 2061, Orlando, FL 32828
Phone: 305-882-9044
Conclusion
Orlando is a great place to install a solar system. Its climate and incentives allow for an affordable investment in sustainable, renewable energy that will undoubtedly pay off in the decades after you have installed the solar panels. Now it’s time to choose a company and help the planet!