Once you’ve decided to install solar panels on your house, we can start the process of designing your solar power system, installing it on your home or building (or garage or carport), and connecting your solar energy to the grid. This process can be complex, but it’s one Cromwell Solar has performed thousands of times for customers in Kansas and Missouri. The end result is a reliably-functioning solar panel installation providing you with clean power and reducing your reliance on the grid.
Cromwell handles every step of the installation process, from designing your system in our custom software to putting our crews to work physically installing panels and wiring them safely to your house and the larger grid. Our work starts before we ever step foot on your roof, with what might be the most important phase of a solar installation project: the solar design.
The solar design process
Designing and installing solar energy systems well plays an important role in ensuring the effectiveness of a solar power system. Solar design factors include the area and structure of the surface the solar panels are being installed on, energy needs, sun angles, location, local regulations, and much more.
The solar design process begins with an initial assessment of your house, business and property, which we use to create blueprints for the installation. Then, we model expected solar output from your system, taking into account solar rules for your area and utility rates. We also include expected weather events in our solar designs, to ensure your system can withstand high winds, hail, and other extremes as necessary. After final blueprints are approved, we secure the necessary solar permits and permissions, after which the installation process can begin.
Learn more about solar design.
The solar installation process
Solar panel installation begins with laying out the system on the roof, including careful measurements to make sure our blueprints line up with your physical roof. Then, we begin attaching the solar rails to the roof, providing the outline of the solar system. After rails are installed, we can begin installing the solar panels themselves, including squirrel guards where necessary to prevent critter damage.
With the solar panels installed, we can start wiring them together and to your home electrical system using solar inverters. Wiring a solar panel system is a delicate task that requires experienced electricians to do properly. With your solar system installed and ready to generate power, we take the extra step of establishing monitoring, which both lets us ensure everything is working properly, and allows you to check the status of your solar panels whenever you need.
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Solar panel interconnection: net metering and parallel generation
After your solar panels have been installed, the final step is connecting them to the power grid, a process often called grid interconnection. There are two general ways to do this: net metering and parallel generation. Each system has its pros and cons.
No matter which solar grid interconnection option you choose, it’s important to size a solar system to provide power to cover your needs, but not too much. Adding excess solar capacity typically just results in unnecessary installation costs, without benefitting you much. Cromwell takes the time to model your energy needs and solar energy production to make sure you’re buying only the solar panels you need.
What is net metering?
Net energy metering means your utility will credit you for energy that your solar panels produce, but which you do not use. The benefit to net metering is that you usually get compensated for excess solar energy at the full retail electricity rate. Net metering is usually the best option for home solar panels and other smaller solar projects, as it saves you the most money.
Learn more about net metering.
What is parallel generation?
Parallel generation is another means of dealing with an excess power your solar installation generates. Under parallel generation, a utility will pay you for excess power at “avoided cost,” which can vary from state to state. In Kansas and Missouri it is about 25% of the retail cost of power. Parallel generation pays you at a lower rate than net metering does, but it can be a better option for larger commercial solar installations. There are often size caps for net metering interconnection setups, so parallel generation is the best option if your system is large.