1. What is a Price per Watt Solar Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the cost per watt of a solar energy system by dividing the total system cost by its total wattage.

Purpose: It helps homeowners and businesses compare solar system costs and evaluate the economic efficiency of different solar installations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Price per Watt — Cost per watt of solar capacity (dollars per watt)
• Total Cost — Complete system cost including panels, inverter, installation, etc. (dollars)
• Total Wattage — Combined wattage of all solar panels in the system (watts)

Explanation: This metric standardizes solar system costs regardless of size, allowing for easy comparison between different systems.

3. Importance of Price per Watt Calculation

Details: A lower price per watt indicates better value. This metric helps assess system affordability and is commonly used in solar industry benchmarking.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total system cost in dollars and the total system wattage in watts. Both values must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a good price per watt for solar?
A: As of 2023, residential systems typically range $2.50-$3.50/W before incentives. Commercial systems are often lower.

Q2: Does this include installation costs?
A: Yes, the total cost should include all components, labor, permits, and other installation expenses.

Q3: Should I use panel nameplate rating or actual output?
A: Use the nameplate (STC) rating for this calculation. Actual output depends on conditions and is used for energy production estimates.

Q4: How does system size affect price per watt?
A: Larger systems often have lower $/W due to economies of scale in equipment and installation.

Q5: Does this account for solar incentives?
A: No, this calculates gross price per watt. For net cost after incentives, subtract rebates/credits from total cost first.