Solar Panels In St. Louis, MO
Join the St. Louis solar movement with American-made solar panels and expert installation.
How Solar Panels Work
Your solar panel system uses the sun’s rays to generate electricity for your home. In order to produce energy, the panels follow this process:
- When sunlight hits the panels, it causes photons and electrons to interact. This creates an electrical current.
- The electrical current from your panels flows into your solar inverter. This converts the energy from your panels into usable electricity for your home.
- The electricity is sent from the inverter to your breaker box, which circulates the energy throughout your home.
- Any unused excess energy gets sent back to your utility meter to be used later. Depending on where you live, this excess energy often also can be used for net metering purposes, meaning it can be sent back to the grid and used to earn energy credits on your next electric bill.
Benefits Of Solar In St. Louis
Going solar is a great option for homeowners in the St. Louis area. The financial and environmental benefits make adding solar a win-win for you and the environment.
- Own Your Power — As utility costs continue to rise, you can respond by owning your power and setting up your home to be less reliant on the grid. Producing your own electricity means fewer worries about constantly rising utility prices.
- Potentially Reduce Your Electric Bill — Because you can generate your own electricity, your solar panels can potentially save you thousands of dollars on your electric bills over the years.
- Qualify For Federal Tax Credit — St. Louis Homeowners can currently claim a federal tax credit of up to 26% for installing solar panels on their property.5
- Potentially Increase Your Property’s Value — As solar energy becomes more mainstream, more people see the potential in having solar panels for their homes. Studies show that solar might increase your home’s value, which could result in an increased return on investment if you choose to sell your home.
- Reduce Your Carbon Footprint — Solar energy is a clean alternative to fossil fuels that can reduce your carbon emissions and allow you to do your part for the environment.
What Happens To Excess Solar Energy?
Depending on the weather and the amount of sunlight your panels receive, it’s possible that your solar system will produce more energy than your home uses. What you don’t use can be put to use in a couple of ways.
Store excess energy in a backup battery.3
If your solar panels produce excess energy, the extra power can be stored in your Pink Energy battery backup to be used in the event of a grid power outage or at night when your panels are not producing any electricity. In addition, the stored energy can fill the gaps when your home’s solar panels are not producing at full capacity.
Use excess energy via net metering.
Net metering is the process of sending extra energy that your solar panels produce back to the grid in exchange for credits on future electric bills. If your panels produce extra energy, you can be credited for the energy you sell back (often at a 1-to-1 ratio), meaning that you sell it back at the same price you would buy it. This is a great incentive for using solar energy, but it’s important to note that some utility companies do not offer net metering. Availability, excess credits and other requirements vary by area and utility providers.
Solar Panel FAQs
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels operate using the power of the sun. Once sunlight hits the panels, electrons come loose from their atoms, forming an electrical circuit with the conductors in solar cells. These electrons traveling through the circuit create electricity.
How long do solar panels last in St. Louis?
Typically, a solar panel’s lifetime is about 25 years with proper care and maintenance. Pink Energy’s panels fall into this timeline; our panels last about 25 years.⁶
How many solar panels do I need in St. Louis?
How many solar panels are needed for your home depends on several factors: your electricity usage, how much shade your roof receives, your location, and the size of your home. Other factors may play a role in determining how many panels are necessary, but these are the most common.
Do solar panels work on cloudy days?
Clouds do not stop sunlight from reaching your solar panels. Even if you live in one of the cloudiest parts of the country, you’ll be able to make use of solar panels. It is worth noting that solar panels will not produce the same amount of electricity as locations that receive mostly sunny days.
Do solar panels need direct sunlight?
No, though that is the easiest way to generate electricity. As long as the sun is out, even if you can’t see it yourself, your solar panels will be working.
What direction should solar panels face in St. Louis?
We recommend your solar panels face south or west, as those directions get the most direct sun exposure. If your roof does not face in that direction, though, you can still produce electricity with solar panels!
How do you clean solar panels?
Simple is best when it comes to cleaning your solar panels. Some clean water and a sponge or small towel will work in most cases. Do not use pressure washers on solar panels, as this can damage them.
How do you use solar panels during a power outage?
During an outage, you can make use of the energy from your solar panels by using a battery backup system. That will power up select portions of your home, enough to keep limited backup loads running for a limited amount of time.
How do you keep snow off your solar panels?
There is no one true way to keep snow off your solar panels. However, since solar panels are installed where they will get the most sun, snow should melt off with time once the sun does its work.
Are solar panels waterproof?
Yes! Pink Energy’s panels are protected with a sheet of glass. That glass covers up the delicate working parts that create the solar panels, so water is no trouble at all for your panels.
What is net metering?
Net metering is the process through which you send excess solar energy produced by your solar panels back to the grid for points off your upcoming electric bills. It may or may not be offered in your area, so check your local and state government sites for more information.⁸
How does net metering work?
At certain times throughout the day, your solar panels may produce more electricity than your home needs. You might be able to send this energy to your battery backup system for later use, but another option could be to send it to the grid. By doing so, you might receive points off your upcoming electric bill as compensation for the energy – at no cost to you depending on local legislation and policy.⁸
