Ecowise Power Overview
Ecowise Power is a full-service distributor, installer and integrator of renewable energy systems and energy saving products, located in Des Moines, Iowa, and also operating in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Ecowise Power is the exclusive representative for Harvest Solar (formerly Harvest Energy Limited). Operating since 2016, the company’s solar services has been recognized by organizations such as Solar Power World Top 250 Solar Contractor’s list.
Ecowise Power specializes in serving agricultural, commercial and residential clients across the state of Iowa. They handle both high-cost and low-cost projects and offer services such as complimentary site analysis, solar design and solar installation and engineering services, as well as construction and system monitoring for solar systems.
Ecowise Power Services and Specifics
Ecowise Power provides the following services;
- Energy Consultation: Ecowise Power offers energy consultation for clients who wish to go solar. The consultation is usually followed by a solar design that is customized to the energy needs of the client.
- Solar Design: Ecowise Power experts design solar systems that are configured for a property’s energy needs. The company’s solar experts help the client choose the best solar panel, inverters, etc. depending on the client’s budget or energy preferences.
- Solar Installations: Ecowise Power provides solar panel installations based on a solar design for residential, commercial and non-profits clients.
Ecowise Power services has not received enough reviews from their clients to enable us give our best objective analysis, nevertheless the company has provided a portfolio containing an impressive number of completed projects ranging different scales from residential homes to commercial properties to agricultural facilities. Based on this, Ecowise Power has demonstrated sound competence in their ability to design and install solar solutions for clients. Their jobs are neat and professional-looking. We can’t tell how fast their service delivery is as this is normally extracted from customer reviews (which there is a lack of). However, we will update this review with regards to their services as Ecowise Power receives more feedback over time.
Solar Panels and Services offered by Ecowise Power
Ecowise Power offers the following solar products to their clients;
- Enphase Microinverters: Ecowise Power offers the smart-grid ready Enphase IQ 7 Microinverter series. These inverters achieve a CEC efficiency of 96.5% which is one of the highest in the industry. Their polymeric enclosure and cabling system also simplifies installation effectively.
- SolarEdge Power Optimizers: This is a DC/DC converter that is connected to each solar panel or embedded by the solar manufacturers. It increases the energy output from solar systems by constantly tracking the maximum power point (MPPT) of each module individually. The power optimizers monitor the performance of each module and communicate performance data to the SolarEdge monitoring portal for enhanced, cost-effective module-level maintenance. Each power optimizer is also equipped to automatically shut down panels’ DC voltage whenever the inverter or grid power is shut down.
- SolarEdge Solar PV Inverter: The SolarEdge DC-AC PV inverter is specifically designed to work with the SolarEdge power optimizers. MPPT and voltage management are handled separately for each module by the power optimizer, that means the inverter is only responsible for DC to AC inversion, making it more reliable and more cost-effective. The inverter’s efficiency is rated >97%, one of the best in today’s solar market.
Specific Solar Panels Offered
Ecowise Power offers the following solar products to their clients;
- SolarWorld Sunmodule Solar Panels: They have a rated output of 300 watts and efficiency of 18%, which is good for a standard solar panel.
- Canadian Solar CS6X-P MAXPOWER: These are high performance solar panels, with output power range of 315 to 325 watts (depending on the model) and efficiency of 16.94%
Specific Types of Solar Offered
Ecowise Power LLC offers grid-tied solar installations. They handle the following types of solar projects;
- Residential Solar – Grid tied: In this service, Ecowise Power LLC installs a complete solar energy kit customized to the electricity needs of a resident’s home. The system is grid-tied so the client benefits from net metering.
- Commercial Solar – Grid tied: This service is designed for business organizations. It targets business owners who wish to opt for more economical energy-saving strategies to maximize profit long term.
- Agricultural Solar: Ecowise Power also specializes in agricultural solar systems design and installations. The company has partnered with the following organizations to standardize their farm solar solutions;
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- Farm Bureau
Installation costs and process
Costs
The cost of going solar with Ecowise Power is estimated to be about $2.53 per watt before any solar incentive. There are several solar incentives available that could cut these costs to very affordable levels. Incentives such as;
- Federal Solar Tax Credit (ITC): With this solar incentive, every solar patronizer in the US is eligible to a 26% tax credit for solar systems installed in the years 2020 to 2022, then it comes down to 22% in 2023. This means you can reduce the total cost of installing a solar system for your home or business by 26%. But remember this incentive applies to those who buy their system either by cash purchase or solar loan, and not leases.
- Net Metering Program: Iowa has passed legislation that mandated all electric utilities to offer “true net metering” to customers with solar PV systems.
Some of the solar incentives available in Iowa include;
- Property Tax Exemption: Iowa’s Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems prevents clients from paying additional property taxes after their home value increases from installing solar. This incentive lasts for a 5-year period.
- Iowa Solar Tax Exemption: Solar panels are exempt from the 7% sales tax in Iowa.
Ecowise Power offers the following financing options;
- Lease – Low monthly payments to add solar to your home or business..
- Loan – You can apply for a loan through your local bank or credit union or explore Ecowise Power’s loan options, allowing you to finance your solar system even if you cannot purchase it outright. Clients can also utilize tax credits and rebates for a cheaper payment.
Legitimacy
- Ecowise Power is registered and licensed to operate under the jurisdiction of Iowa.
- The company’s solar engineers are NABCEP-certified.
- Ecowise Power is the exclusive representative of a BBB accredited company, Harvest Solar.
- Ecowise Power’s website is online as at the time of this review.
- The company’s contact details are publicly available. These include their street address and phone number.
Based on our findings, Ecowise Power is a registered and legitimate business but the absence of customer reviews makes us less confident in the company’s legitimacy.
Maintenance
Ecowise Power provides after sales support and the company’s solar products come with the following warranties;
- 25-year performance warranty (Canadian Solar’s CS6X solar panels)
- 12-year warranty, extendable to 20 or 25 years (SolarEdge Solar PV Inverter)
- 25-year warranty (SolarEdge Power Optimizer)
- 25-year linear warranty, extension up to 10 years (SolarWorld Sunmodule solar panels)
N.B. May vary with solar manufacturer
There is currently no data to use and analyse Ecowise Power’s maintenance team. We will update this review as Ecowise Power receives more feedback over time.
Customer service
Like the maintenance service, Ecowise Power has received no review about their customer service. We will update this review as the company receives more feedback over time.
The SolarEmpower View
Ecowise Power is a solar energy solutions provider located in Des Moines, Iowa, and operating in several other states in the Midwest. The company also serves as the exclusive reps of the acclaimed Harvest Solar in Iowa.
Ecowise Power is roughly six years old, which means they have good experience in the field. Based on their portfolio, Ecowise Power seems like an excellent company to work with if you want to go solar in the Midwest. Their engineers are NABCEP certified, which boosts our confidence in their level of competence in the field.
However, the biggest letdown comes from the extreme lack of customer reviews. This greatly reduces our confidence in recommending the company as a solar installer. We would advise any reader interested in doing business with Ecowise Power to ask for references from previous customers, that should be enough to clear any doubts with regards to their services.
The table below is a summarized review of Ecowise Power:
| Locations served | Located at Des Moines, Illinois. Also operates in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. |
| Services | Energy Consultation, Solar Design, Solar Installations |
| Solar brands used | SolarWorld, Enphase, Canadian Solar, Solaredge |
| Warranty |
N.B. May vary with solar manufacturer |
| Cost (Expected, not confirmed) | $2.53 per watt (before solar incentives) |
| Legitimacy | Fully registered and licensed in Iowa, Website is online, NABCEP certified engineers, exclusive reps of Harvest Solar, contact details publicly available. |
