Solar is a significant financial commitment – whether it’s for your house, barn, business, or community center. Arch Solar assists every customer in developing a customized energy solution. The crucial step in this process is selecting the appropriate solar panels for your needs. 

Over the years, we’ve seen a consistent evolution in residential solar panels. To learn what to look for in panels, here’s a beginner’s guide to solar panels: 

What should I be looking for in a solar panel? 

This will depend on what you are hoping to see in electrical output. The biggest factor for panel selection is the panel wattage.

Most residential panels have between 400 – 420-watts of solar power per panel. You may see commercial solar panels up in the 500 – 600-watt range, but that comes with the bigger size of commercial panels.

Residential panels are often 5ft long by 3ft wide. With that size footprint, a 420-watt output is amazing. About 20 years ago, that panel would have produced a maximum of 250 watts. Technology has definitely brought about improvements!

Are all panels covered by the ITC 30% tax credit?

Yes! Your 30% federal tax credit covers all solar-producing equipment, regardless of brand name or supplier.

How do the solar panels work to make energy?

Simplified: Your solar energy system will take heat from the sun. An inverter will convert the heat. Then, it will send the converted energy to your electrical box to power your home. 

The real answer: It’s much more complicated than that – click to see a full explanation of how solar works. 

How much do solar panel systems cost in 2024?

In 2024, a residential solar project can cost as low as $10,000 with financial incentives. However, we tend to see the average price of a solar installation in Southeast Wisconsin hover around $20,000 – $30,0000.  

Compare system sizes in our ballpark price list.  

Keep in mind – your price point may be different based on electrical usage, roof orientation, or other unique factors.

Will we see better panels in the future?

Like all emerging technology, solar is always evolving. As renewable energy has gained interest in recent decades, we saw years with huge improvements between panel models. In the current solar era, we don’t anticipate groundbreaking differences between panels every year. Researchers have maximized and studied technology to make all necessary panel improvements.

A strong likelihood that panel technology will drastically change in the next 5 years is not evident. You are better off investing in your system today and saving money on energy bills for the next 30 years.

Are solar panels American-made?

Solar panel manufacturers in Asia still make the majority of solar panels because of the technology and conductor materials. A growing trend to boost panel production in the United States is evident. Arch is keeping a close eye on this trend, and our aim is to provide their customers with a wider range of choices. 

We offer Silfab panels as a North American-made option for those who prefer materials sourced locally.

What types of solar panels can I get in Wisconsin?

Arch supplies our panels from leading industry distributors. At the time of this publication, we lean toward REC Alpha Pure panels and Silfab.   

Here’s a quick breakdown of the two: 

We always work with customers to make sure we offer the most dependable technology. If you need specific panels for your project, we can order them for you.

What kind of warranty do solar panels have?

Solar panels typically have a product warranty of 25 – 30 years, depending on the manufacturer. Solar panels last longer than 30 years, but we often project output through the 30-year mark to align with the panel warranties.

What happens if my solar panels break?

Manufacturers make solar panels with sturdy tempered glass, but there is always the possibility of something unlikely occurring. 

When you work with Arch on your residential solar project, you also get access to our Residential Maintenance team. This includes solar monitoring where we proactively look for any issues in production. If something happened to your panel, we’d likely see it on weekly monitoring check-in. 

Our in-house maintenance team will service any problems with your panels – that’s the benefit of going solar with Arch. We’ve been installing solar in Southeast Wisconsin for over 20 years, so we know what causes issues and exactly how to fix them.

Like all technology, solar panels will continue to evolve. We have industry veterans who remember when residential solar panels were double the size and half the output. To see current solar panel engineering push the limit is amazing. 

Arch has adapted for two decades, and we intend to continue that path. If you’d like to discuss your solar project and panel choice more in-depth, feel free to reach out to us today.