Frequently Asked

Your Questions, Answered

Got Questions? Check out the FAQs below!

What happens when I buy a property in New Hampshire that already has solar?

Firstly – congratulations on your new home! When buying a property with existing solar panels in New Hampshire, there are a few important steps to take. First, it’s important to make sure the warranties of the system are transferred over to you. Also be sure to check whether the panels are owned or leased by the previous homeowner. If it’s a leased system, be sure to read the fine print of the agreement, and make sure you are comfortable with the terms you’d be signing up for. Finally, conduct a thorough inspection of the system and negotiate the purchase price of the property accordingly. While purchasing a home with solar offers immediate cost savings, environmental benefits, and potential incentives, it’s important to cover your bases to ensure a smooth transfer over to renewable energy!

Can I get paid for my solar production?

In New Hampshire, your solar system can generate Renewable Energy Credits (known as REC’s). A REC is equivalent to 1,000 kWh of solar generation. As a part of the Renewable Portfolio Standard, electric companies are required by law to obtain a certain percent of electricity from renewable sources. To fulfill that requirement, they can purchase REC’s from those producing their own solar power. To sell REC’s, solar owners must register their system with NEPOOL and get connected with a REC aggregator, which Granite State Solar can help customers with.

What is Net-Metering?

Net-Metering refers to the set of regulations around how self-generated renewable power sources are connected to and sent to the utility, and the way in which the utility compensates individuals for that power.

When you go solar your electric company will install a new bi-directional net meter. The net meter will track the amount of electricity you purchase from the grid, as well as the amount of electricity you sell to the grid. Each billing cycle, the electric company will read the meter to see how much electricity was purchased and how much electricity was sold. Within a given billing period if more electricity was sold than what was purchased the electric company will monetarily credit you for those kWh’s, which will then be carried over to the following billing cycle. If more electricity was purchased than sold you will pay that difference. In this instance, any monetary credits you have banked would go towards offsetting those charges. On a seasonal basis it’s in the Spring and Summer months when solar systems overproduce, and those monetary credits accumulate to then use in the Fall and Winter months.

How long do credits last?

I have more than one electric bill. Can solar take care of more than one bill?

In New Hampshire, you can participate in group net-metering. Through this program, the owner of the solar system, also known as the host, can share excess electricity with others, also known as ‘group members’, who do not already have some form of renewable energy. For example, if you have solar on your home and use the same utility as a family or friend who lives a town over, but they do not have a good site for solar, the excess electricity the solar system generates can monetarily credit the other account. Those who want to participate will need to contact their electric company and The Department of Energy.

Will my solar work when there is a power outage?

In short, no. There are Rapid Shutdown measures within the system so that if a grid outage occurs the solar panels will automatically detect this and immediately turn off. This is to protect the lines people working on restoring power on the grid.

However, if you decide to pair solar with a battery, your solar panels could continue to produce. In this scenario, your battery would detect the grid outage and instantaneously create its own micro grid. Your solar panels would continue to produce to power the home, as well as recharge the battery, giving you the ultimate self-sustaining backup system.

What is a battery backup?

A battery backup system is an energy storage system (ESS) that provides backup power in the event of a grid outage. The battery holds a charge from either the grid, or from your solar system, and allows you to keep essentials running, like a well pump, fridge/freezer, or furnace. If you want to run more than just the essentials, like heavier electric loads such as a dryer, heat pump, etc., multiple batteries provide you with that flexibility. Battery backup systems are great for peace of mind during (increasingly frequent) bad weather events.

I don’t see a lot of sun in New England, does solar make sense here?

The good news is solar systems still produce energy even on cloudy or overcast days. The average hours of sun per day in our region is around 4 hours. This is about as much sun seen daily in Germany, a country that is a leader for solar adoption globally!

This is also where net-metering enters the picture. Through net-metering, customers can store the excess credits that they have produced on the sunnier days – and apply them to the consumption on cloudier days when energy production is low. Therefore, you can reliably power your home year-round with solar.

What happens to my solar production when it snows? Do I need to clear snow off the panels?

In New Hampshire, there are sure to be days when your panels get covered in snow. But don’t fear! The black solar panels naturally heat up throughout the day, thanks to the sunlight. This warming effect at the surface of the panel causes the snow to melt and slide off – just as you would see happen on a metal roof. Just make sure you don’t have anything below your array that you don’t want covered in snow! If you’ve got some stubborn snow on your panels and are considering clearing them, be sure to use a gentle scrubber or padded rake, so as not to damage the surface of your panels, as that can impact their efficiency.

I’m thinking about getting solar and I’m putting a new roof on my house. What is the best roof for solar?

The best roof material for solar is typically a metal roof with standing seams. A standing seam roof doesn’t require roof penetrations, as the mounting brackets are clamped directly to the seam. This is the least intrusive install and guarantees no penetrations are made.

We also install solar on asphalt shingle and corrugated metal roofs. On these types of roofs, the mounting brackets are secured into the rafters, which will require drilling.

Wait…you need to drill holes into my roof to install solar panels?

Yes, assuming you have an asphalt shingle or corrugated metal roof, we would need to drill holes to secure the roof attachments that will hold your panels. However, our installers are highly skilled, with a keen attention to detail to ensure each penetration has a watertight seal. Our installations are some of the best in the industry and are backed by our 12-year workmanship warranty, so you know you are getting top-quality craftsmanship and the peace of mind knowing that your investment is fully protected, should any issues arise.

How about solar shingles? Are they as good as solar panels?

I’m thinking about getting an electric car…and solar. How many solar panels do I need to power my electric vehicle?

There are several factors that come into play when estimating the number of solar panels needed to power your electric car. Some of those factors include how many miles you drive annually, what kind of car you have, and how efficient it is. The average consumer tends to drive 10-12,000 miles annually. To support charging your car for that distance annually over 25 years, we’ve calculated that you’d need about 8-10 panels added to your solar system.