FAQ

Solar Panel System A solar panel system consists of 4 major components: solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, inverters, racking/mounting system, and a performance monitoring system. What are solar panels made out of? Solar panels are usually made of solar cells (made from the element silicon), wiring, a metal frame, and a glass cover. A typical solar panel is about four feet wide, and six feet tall.

How can I start? It seems complicated. You're right, solar energy can feel very complex, especially if you're researching providers, technologies, incentives, municipal requirements, permits, the list goes on. That’s why Palmetto created end-to-end solar energy solutions that allow you to plug into savings with less time and no hassle. From financing and design to installation, tracking, and maintenance, our dedicated Customer Experience Team is here to answer questions, address concerns, and guide you through every step of the process. Visit our product pages to learn more about Palmetto’s solar and storage solutions.

What are the best homes for solar? The best fit for solar would be a single-family, stand-alone home that you own, with a southern-facing roof that’s in good condition and receives very little shading during the day. But even if some of those characteristics aren’t true for your situation, you may still be a good fit for solar!

How can solar energy benefit me? Solar drastically reduces and even eliminates electric bills. Solar avoids rising electric energy costs. Solar increases the property value. Solar comes with a great return on investment (ROI)

How can solar energy benefit the environment? The installation of solar panels reduces the personal environmental footprint, avoiding buying carbon-emitting electricity. A typical residential solar panel system equates the planting of 100 trees annually in the environmental sense, eliminating 3-4 tons of carbon emission.

Are solar batteries needed? Solar batteries can store a percentage of the electricity that is being produced by the solar panels, which can later be used to power the home during the night-time or during power outages. Solar batteries are costly, around $11,000 per battery, and can usually power the home for just a short amount of time. In most cases, solar batteries can’t power everything in the home. There is an analysis with the consultation and that can best help determine if a battery is needed.

What is Net Metering? Duke Energy's net metering program allows customers who generate electricity from their own solar panel system to offset their energy costs. Net metering participants receive bill credit from Duke Energy for the excess energy sent to the grid that is generated by their solar panel system.

Do Solar Panels work in a cloudy area? It’s a common misconception that solar panels won’t work in cloudy, rainy, or snowy areas. In reality, your solar panels can still capture and generate power from indirect light. During the initial survey and design process, we’ll examine your overall electricity usage relative to your potential solar energy production and structure your array to optimize savings. Geography and weather are key factors in this process. In some cases, we may recommend integrating battery storage with your solar energy system to extend the benefits of energy produced across cloudy and inclement weather.

What if I am planning to move? While it is possible to remove a solar panel system and reinstall on a new home, it's often preferable to sell the home with the panels in place. Solar panels increase the value of your home, making it stand out, sell faster, and earn more in the national real estate market.