Recent NREL Study Shows that Solar Panels for Lease Are Becoming Increasingly Prevalent

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently commissioned and published an insightful study on the promise held by solar panels for lease arrangements. According to the findings, this mode of ownership is becoming increasingly prevalent in key US markets. By extension, this trend is thought to be a true reflection of matters as they are in the rest of the country. Looking at how the systems work, there can be little doubt why many people are finding the arrangements as attractive.

One of the major impediments that have prevented solar energy from breaking even in comparison with grid power connections is the fact that homeowners had to spend up to tens of thousands of dollars up front. Even with a promise of breaking even about a decade later, this initial investment has continued to be a considerable impediment to low income households. Actually, the NREL study found that it is in low income neighborhoods that this ownership model was proving most applicable.

The study was carried out in Southern California, an area established as among the most open to solar energy solutions in the whole of United States. The study compared solar energy systems by neighbourhoods selected on basis of average household income. Where the customer came from neighborhoods where the average annual income was in excess of $150,000; the study found there was a positive correlation with decisions to buy the solar system outright.

Some conclusions of the study, while way short of being startling, are nonetheless a confirmation of some widely held perceptions. They provide an option that is open for families who are usually locked out through solar equipment home-equity-style financing deals. These deals are usually priced to only fit in with homes that have significant equity value. With no need to secure stringently controlled financing arrangements, even moderately affluent families can enjoy the benefits of low cost green energy.

If it can be proven that the findings as they apply to Southern California are as well applicable in the rest of the country, policy makers in the energy and housing sector have their work cut out for them . While there has been no lack of government driven initiatives in the past aimed at encouraging more households to adopt solar power, there is every reason now to suppose that a large number of households are left out in such arrangements. In fact, the numbers of those without access to such programs could well be close to 13 million, a significant section of the population that cannot continue to be ignored.

Another illuminating outcome that was apparent in the findings is that the market segment that is increasingly attracted to these ownership approaches are decidedly young. What was especially remarkable about this turn of events is that the trend was not affected even when moving from neighborhoods considered more affluent to those inhabited by those that have a much less income level.

The researchers looked at the ownership options going back several years and the results were telling as well. About five years prior, a greater majority of families opted to buy solar panels right off compared to only a fifth who chose to acquire the modules through financing or leasing arrangements. By the end of 2010, the ratio had reduced significantly to show a 1:2 bias. By 2011, the numbers had pretty evened out as be no longer significant.

When one considers how little a homeowner needs to put in as a initial investment and thereby end up owning a pretty comprehensive system, the attractions are clear. In fact, it is not unheard of for owners to invest as little as $3000 and get a system that is powerful enough to power their entire household appliances and equipment. This is the effectiveness that is promising to push leasing to own arrangements for solar panels to the forefront.


Solar Systems USA has had many years of continued cooperation with the best solar manufacturers around the globe. We only stock the highest quality solar panels at the most affordable prices you can get on the web.