With the rising cost of thermal energy, its limited availability, and environmental implications, investing in a solar power system is a sound decision. Before you start your solar project, you must evaluate offers from different solar companies.
To make the most important process of finding the top residential and commercial solar companies simpler for you, here is a round-up of 10 expert-recommended tips that will come in handy in your search.
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Asking the Right Questions
The initial research for finding the right company for powering a home or business with solar energy often comes with an overload of information. Reading about types of solar power systems, batteries, and more can be confusing.
Instead of looking up unreliable resources, you can ask solar companies to help you out in finding the answers. The right company will clear all the confusion by offering answers from a neutral perspective. If at the end of the conversation you feel confident, this is the company for you.
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The Right Mindset Goes a Long Way
In order to find the right solar power plant manufacturer or supplier, first, you need to shift to the right mindset. Buying solar panels or an energy system is a long-term investment. If you are not ready to make the commitment, finding the right solar power company will seem impossible. Also, you wouldn’t want your contractor to act on your behalf and pick out products for you or rush you through important details. So, take your time to understand product details, figure out contracts, and carefully evaluate the promises of your contractor.
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Check the Licensing and Insurance
License and insurance are important factors that verify the credibility of a solar system installation company. Make sure your prospective solar provider has the necessary business license and general liability insurance to do the job right.
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Competent Installers
You can have the best commercial or home solar electric systems, but it’s the technical knowledge and hands-on experience of solar power technicians that drive the best result. In addition to their installation expertise, your solar team should also exhibit other qualities in their work. These include excellent attention to detail and up-to-the-minute knowledge about the latest solar advances.
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Listen to Solar Rating and Reviews
Never feel shy asking a solar company for references and checking out how happy or unhappy their past clients are. Ratings and reviews from previous clients can give you an idea of what you can expect from the prospective solar company. It also serves as a reliable source to verify your information about the company. At the same time, noticing the pattern of complaints can give you a heads-up to reconsider your decision to install commercial or home solar systems on your property.
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A Proven Track Record to Show for It
In the past few years, the solar industry has witnessed exponential growth as the world is shifting its focus to renewable energy sources in compliance with climate change regulations. Since solar electricity and solar power systems have only seen a sudden growth, there are only a handful of dominant service providers, and not many local installers can show a proven track record. Although a difficult task, finding and partnering with an experienced solar panel installer with a consistent work history will be advantageous in the long run.
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Go for Experience
Installing small solar panels and tailoring residential or commercial solar solutions are skills acquired over time through hands-on training. You can evaluate the experience of a prospective solar company on three aspects: years in business, the experience of key team members, and the total capacity in terms of MWp or KWp completed. You can also request them to provide a portfolio of their projects schedules and status reports to ascertain their project handling skills and their consideration for industry-specific compliances.
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Quality Solar Workmanship Backed by Warranty
As a consumer, you would want your solar panel company to cover all imaginable workmanship issues. Having workmanship warranties ensure that necessary repairs are done without any additional cost. Aside from workmanship, installers also offer warranties on solar equipment and system performance. All the warranties can provide coverage of up to 25 years. However, beware of unestablished businesses that may not last long in the market to honor the warranties.
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Competitive Solar Quotes
Gathering several solar quotes from different installation companies is a good rule of thumb for determining the cost of solar projects and what all is covered. Since the charges are not standard across providers, the best approach toward evaluating costs is to compare equally sized systems to determine cost-per-watt or 1mw solar power plant costs. This evaluation can help you select the right company that is able to offer the most value for your investment. However, if you are going for a zero investment OPEX model, you can gather tariffs (per unit rate of electricity) from the solar companies for your commercial and industrial business.
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Ask for More Than Just Installation
Going solar means that you seek a stable support relationship with your solar power plant manufacturer, and this includes wanting more services beyond installation. Services like panel repair, removal, and maintenance are crucial to receiving long-term value and the best possible benefits. Look into their portfolio if they offer both on-site and off-site solar solutions. Value-added solutions like battery storage and energy monitoring will also help maximize returns on your solar investment.
From Fortune 500 companies and large industries to SMEs and homeowners, people from all sectors are tapping solar capabilities to save on electricity costs, increase property value, and bank on ROIs higher than any stock!
To know more, please check Amplus Solar.