In late May, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed AB 24, a renewable energy bill that will require California to get 25% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. The legislation requires the state to achieve this goal by 2020. This renewable energy standard applies to both electric and gas utilities.
The state law stipulates that solar energy shall represent at least one-fifth of the supply of energy in California by 2025 and eventually aims for 100% clean energy.
The Benefits Of Going Solar
The standard is an effort to reduce California’s carbon footprint and combat climate change. The benefits of going solar are numerous. First of all, you significantly reduce your energy bill. A solar-powered home uses about 1/10 of the energy required for a conventional home. That’s a lot of savings!
More and more Californians are opting for solar power. In fact, the state’s solar economy now employs over 125,000 people and continues to grow each year. It’s a thriving industry that provides high-quality, local jobs while mitigating climate change. That’s a win-win situation!
How To Get The Most From Your Solar Investment
If you’re considering investing in solar, here are some top tips on how to make the most of it.
- Take advantage of all the opportunities that exist. Your solar energy system can generate more energy than what you use, so you’ve got lots of back-up. The state government offers a number of contracts and other financing options to help you make the most of your investment. Consult with an experienced solar energy advisor for help. They can advise you on the different financing options and contracts that are open to you as a home or business owner.
- Choose a system that maximizes energy production. There are a number of different aspects to consider when choosing a solar energy system, including but not limited to:
- Size
- Material composition
- Cable length
- Rooftop inclination
- Electricity consumption
- PV module efficiency
The size of your system is important because it directly relates to how much energy you can produce. Generally speaking, the bigger the system, the more energy you will generate. However, this is not always the case. Calculate how much energy you will need and how much you will generate to determine how big a system you should buy. This will help you make the most of your investment.
Material composition is another important factor to consider when choosing a solar energy system. The majority of solar energy systems are made up of silicon wafers, which are actually semiconductors. The semiconductors react to light and generate electricity. There are also other components that make up a solar energy system, such as mirrors, lenses and tracking devices.
Cable length is another important factor to consider when choosing a solar energy system. Your cable length determines how much energy you can produce and how much benefit you will get out of your system. If you look at a map of California and draw a circle around your house, you’ll see that the farther you are from the circle’s center, the less energy you can produce using solar power. The energy will be intercepted by adjacent areas.
Rooftop inclination is yet another important factor to consider when choosing a solar energy system. Your rooftop inclination determines how well your system will perform and how much energy you will produce. The higher the number, the better. However, if you live in Australia and your system produces more energy than you need, you might want to consider putting it lower so that it does not obstruct the view from your rooftop.
Electricity consumption is yet another important factor to consider when choosing a solar energy system. The less electricity you consume, the more energy you will produce. Your system will perform better if you reduce your electricity bill. You can achieve savings of up to 30% by going solar. This is mostly because solar energy systems allow you to generate more energy than you need, and in some cases, you will use no electrical appliances during the day.
PV module efficiency is yet another important factor to consider when choosing a solar energy system. This refers to the efficiency of the solar panels that you will use to convert sunlight into electricity. The higher the efficiency, the better. However, you will have to pay more for the panels.
Financing Options
Another important consideration when choosing a solar energy system is how you will pay for it. There are a number of different finance options that you can choose from. These can be categorized into three types:
- Purchase
- Lease
- Rent
Let’s examine each of these options in more detail.
- Purchase
- Lease
- Rent
When you purchase a solar energy system, you are agreeing to pay the entire cost of it upfront. This could be anything from a few thousand dollars to several million dollars, depending on the system that you buy.
A lease with a solar provider is similar to purchasing a system, but instead of paying the entire cost upfront, you will be required to pay a lease fee and then an amount based on the actual energy that you generate. This is typically a month-to-month agreement, but can also be a yearly contract. Lease contracts range from a few thousand to several million dollars, depending on the size of your system and whether or not you are covering the maintenance and improvement of it.
Renting a solar system is very similar to leasing one, except instead of paying a monthly lease fee, you will be paying a one-time fee for using the solar energy system. You will not be affected by electricity bills, but you will have to pay for the system itself. This could range from a few thousand to several million dollars, depending on the size of your system and whether or not you are covering the maintenance and improvement of it.
California Climate Change Legislation
If you are following the legislation that is currently unfolding in California, you will notice that it is heavily focused on reducing emissions and climate change. Governor Newsom’s office established the Non-Carbon Emission Reduction Team (NECERT) to lead the charge against climate change in the state. It’s responsible for developing the strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045. The team will also establish new standards for energy efficiency based on the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) guidelines. To meet these new standards and reduce energy consumption, the state will have to significantly change the way that it produces and uses energy.
The Solar Energy Standard
The aforementioned legislation requires that California achieve 25% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. To meet this goal, your first step should be to determine how much energy you need. To do this, you will need to consult with an energy advisor or engineer. They will be able to help you figure out how much energy you can generate with your solar energy system and how much you will need to consume. The next step will be to choose a system that is big enough to produce the amount of energy that you need.
To be clear, the solar energy standard does not require you to go solar. However, if you want to be able to produce the highest amount of energy possible, it is your best option. To learn more, please visit the NECERT website or contact them via phone at (916) 445-2858.