Solar In Oregon
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Solar energy works in Oregon! The Willamette Valley receives about as much sunlight as the national average. Yes, it rains a lot in the winter, but the constant summer sun makes up for the rainy winters.
There are many incentives which help make solar energy affordable to the end-user. The federal government offers the 30% Investment Tax Credit to both residential and commercial system owners.
Many electric utilities in Oregon also offer cash payment incentives, or will pay for electricity generated.
See this US Department of Energy website for more information: http://www.dsireusa.org/
Return on Investment
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Solar energy systems installed in Oregon pay for themselves over time. There are many variables which influence the amount of time it takes for a solar energy system to pay for itself, including available government and utility incentives, the cost and forecasted cost increases of utility-supplied electricity, the type of installation and related cost, and financing mechanisms used to pay for the installation.
Payback periods will vary, but typical payback periods generally range from just 2 to 12 years.
Grid Outage
Will my solar energy system work when there is an electric grid outage?
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Unfortunately, a grid-tied solar electric system will not power your home when the utility grid is experiencing a failure. Inverters have a mechanism which shuts down the PV system when they do not
sense utility-supplied electricity. This safety mechanism is in place to protect electric utility line workers.
If the line workers assume that the lines they are working on have no power, a nearby solar electric system producing electricity could deliver a potentially lethal shock. Most utilities require a utility
disconnect for PV systems. The system will be disconnected before line workers work in the area, which serves as an additional safety precaution.
Solar Warranty
How long does a solar energy system continue to operate? What is the warranty?
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Solar electric systems are expected to last 35 years, but may last longer depending upon the quality of the solar electric modules. Over time certain materials in a PV module degrade, such as the back sheet and encapsulate seal. While the silicon cells would last indefinitely, eventually moisture
penetration corrodes the electrical connections, reducing the power output of the module. For this reason, AES recommends using high-quality PV modules, which we specify by default for all of our installations.
Solar electric systems require an inverter to convert the DC electricity they produce into AC electricity, such as AC electricity supplied by an electric utility. Inverters may need fine-tuning from time to time,
particularly in the first year of operation. After the first year of operation, an inverter should function without interruption for 10 to 20 years. It is likely that the PV modules may outlive the inverter, and a new inverter may need to be installed after approximately 15 years of system operation. Some inverters carry warranties of up to 25 years. Many inverter manufacturers offer extended warranty options.
Solar thermal (water heating) systems may operate indefinitely, provided that regular minimal maintenance procedures are followed.
Solar Install Costs
Is the price of solar energy falling? Should I wait until prices hit the bottom before I buy a system?
View Answer
The price of solar electric modules in particular has dropped a great deal in the past few years. Prices are beginning to stabilize, but may drop a little lower still. However, incentives for solar electric
systems in Oregon are also changing. As the prices for PV components drop, the incentives offered by the government and utility companies are being reduced.
Again, there are many variables which affect PV system payback. Our advice: The best time to install a solar energy system is now!
Do you have more questions?
Is your roof playing solar hide-and-seek? At AES, we assure you, there’s no such thing as a ‘dumb’ solar question. Feel free to drop us a line 
Robert ChamperOctober 9, 2023We recently had AES design and install a 13.6 kW system on our home. Their team was top drawer all the way! We have been thrilled with the performance of the system, which we have monitored daily using the Enphase app. If you want solar, go with Advanced Energy Systems!Will PriceOctober 5, 2023Great experience with exceptional people.Aaron MillisAugust 24, 2023Very seamless and upfront process. Payments for the install are upfront and simple to understand. The install team also was very professional and did top notch work. We didn't really loose any space in the garage, despite AES installing some significant electrical infrastructure. Also, the solar panels are lined up perfectly on the roof and the team was able to take an on-site request to leave me a walk-way for future cleaning [of the panels], which was super helpful. All and all we are very please. When they turned the panels on, the utility bill went to half of what it is normally, but that was middle-ish of the month. Can't wait to see what a full month of production does.Kayl EndersMay 11, 2023If you as a customer are planning to go solar, then you MUST consider going with a local solar company that has been in business for many years and will continue to be in business. Solar is a major investment and you need to ensure the team will be around to conduct any repairs or honor their warranty. Although AES is not the cheapest solar company, you will most likely get the best value and you can rest assured that AES will most likely be around for the lifetime of your system. Don't make the mistake of going with a fly-by-night solar outfit because of your quote. I truly love Eric, and his team. He is a wealth of information on solar and one of few people in the state that has a real proven track record. There is no bigger authority figure in Oregon. Just look at his projects on his website where AES has conducted the biggest solar installs in the State for ODOT, Kettle, universities, corporations, etc.Dan DingfieldMay 8, 2023From the outset, AES was a professional, reliable enterprise. They provided complete services for our solar installation, from concept through design then construction and initiation, and there was never a hitch. They were on time, on budget, and very helpful along the way. It couldn't have been easier.Willy HartMarch 24, 2023Good communication on equipment order status and problem -solving issues during installation. Very pleased with design, product and installation.Toni BrownDecember 20, 2022If you are interested in adding solar to your home, do yourself a favor and call AES. My system is now up and running with 27 panels on the roof and 2 backup batteries in case of power outages. The AES team was wonderful to work with; they are professional, friendly, good communicators and very focused on the work that they do. It was a pleasure to have them here and I couldn't be more pleased with my system.Gary KellisNovember 16, 2022The people at AES are courteous and conscientious. They coordinated with the utility and customer. I would recommend them for any PV design and installation. Gary K. (retired I.B.E.W.)Mark RoosaNovember 13, 2022We could not be more pleased with our AES solar system. Installation went quickly and everyone on the crew that we met was professional, friendly and helpful. would recommend them to anyone considering a solar system.Len SeligmanSeptember 30, 2022I had a very positive experience with our residential solar installation from AES. The team was very polite, efficient, and they cleaned up nicely after themselves. Everything was explained clearly and there were no problems. All in all, a great experience.
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