Spark energy

Solar power is clean, renewable and cost effective, but it also needs time to develop.

16/07/2022

Does wave energy have a role to play in a net-zero future?

According to the International Energy Agency, renewable electricity growth is accelerating faster than ever. Enhanced by national promises and COP 26’s climate goals, the international renewable energy output increased by 290 GW over the last year. The IEA estimates that the global renewable energy economy is on track to reach 4800 GW by 2026.

Such growth rates, however, are not nearly high enough to ensure that all renewable energy targets will be met. California, for example, has promised to reach a 60% renewable energy threshold by 2030. As of 2020, solar and wind power accounted for 13.23% and 11.13% of California’s total energy output, respectively. Total renewable power accounts for just 33% of California’s total energy output – just half of the proposed 60% baseline by 2030.

To reach its goal, California (and others) must look outside the wind and solar industries. Two fundamental problems exist in a majority wind-solar portfolio. First, solar and wind are not complementary energy sources, despite being often labeled as such. Second, as previously hinted, neither industry is growing fast enough to support the majority reliance on the two industries alone.

03/07/2022

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Tesla Megapack container on fire at site of Australia’s biggest battery 30/07/2021

Spark energy

Tesla Megapack container on fire at site of Australia’s biggest battery Fire erupts in Tesla Megapack battery container at the Victoria Big Battery in Geelong.

29/12/2020

SPARK Energy

Race is on as carmakers shut, switch or sell combustion engine factories
Manufacturers’ share prices will be dependent on their ability to avoid losses on ‘stranded assets’, says analyst
Sun 27 Dec 2020 08.19 EST
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Carmakers will increasingly find themselves in a race to shut, switch or sell factories producing vehicles with internal combustion engines to avoid being left with “stranded assets”, as regulators set a course for a decade of electrification to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Traditional manufacturers are currently playing a “zero sum game” because growth in electric car sales eats into the value of internal combustion engine factories, which “are effectively stranded assets”, a leading analyst has warned.

Philippe Houchois, an analyst at Jefferies, an investment bank, said carmakers’ share prices will be in large part dependent on their ability to avoid losses on fossil fuel assets. “If you want to be a better valued carmaker you need to find a way to shrink your assets faster than a gradual transition to electric vehicles would suggest,” he said.
The industry has already made significant steps away from fossil fuels. The year 2020 will be seen as key for electric cars because of new EU regulations that mandated a limit on average carbon dioxide emissions of 95g/km across all cars sold. The UK has committed to carrying on its emissions regime at an equivalent or stronger level after the Brexit transition period ends on 1 January 2021.
The regulations have prompted a rapid increase in electric car sales as carmakers scrambled to avoid fines worth hundreds of millions of euros – although Volkswagen has already conceded that it will miss its 2020 target, incurring a fine estimated at around €270m (£248m).

BMW announced on Sunday it would build 250,000 more electric cars than it had previously planned between now and 2023. Oliver Zipse, the company’s chief executive, said he wanted roughly 20% of cars it sells to be electric by 2023, up from 8% this year.
More than 560,000 battery electric cars were sold in the year to November in western Europe, according to figures from Matthias Schmidt, a Berlin-based automotive analyst. Battery electric vehicles accounted for 8.7% of total car sales in November, up from just 2.7% the year before. Despite missing its emissions target, Volkswagen’s ID.3 became Europe’s most popular BEV, with 10,500 sold in October – although that still represented about a third of the sales of the internal combustion bestseller, the Volkswagen Golf.
The EU regulations will become slightly tougher during 2021 but carmakers already have their eye on two key milestones in the next decade. Carmakers will have to cut carbon emissions by 15% between 2021 and 2025, and by 37.5% from 2030, a requirement that will lead to the rapid decline of mass-market internal combustion engines.

However, tougher rules are expected as the EU aims to produce net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. In the autumn EU officials floated halving car emissions within a decade.
Transport & Environment, a Brussels-based campaign group, has called for a final date of 2035 for the sale of all fossil-fuelled cars in the EU, a move that would match the UK’s ban. T&E’s forecasts suggest that the current targets allow carmakers to slow their rollout of electric cars, which the group argues would represent a missed opportunity for Europe to retain its lead over rivals including China.
Julia Poliscanova, T&E’s senior director for vehicles, said: “The current electric momentum risks fizzling out as soon as 2022 unless stricter CO2 rules are put in place.”

David Bailey, a professor of business economics at the University of Birmingham, said the likelihood of even tighter regulations raised the risks of stranded assets particularly for German carmakers, who were paying the price for taking the “wrong path” of investing heavily in diesels. The diesel industry was then rocked by costly emissions-cheating scandals, albeit related to harmful nitrogen oxides rather than carbon dioxide.
“You’re going to see the massive investment by the German makers in EVs, but they’ve got a huge sunk asset in diesels,” he said. “They’re trying to eke out some sort of profit from their existing lineup while investing in new technologies.”
Bailey added that the “big issue” for the car industry and workers will be in the supply chain, among companies who do not have the flexibility to move away easily from making parts for internal combustion engines.

The transition is also likely to cause a painful reshaping of the industry for automotive workers, including in the UK. Union leaders emphasise the need for government support to switch production at factories making internal combustion engines towards electric technologies, or risk thousands of job losses when internal combustion engine technologies are no longer viable.

03/12/2020

SPARK ENERGY

Renewable Energy is the Future for Pakistan’s Power System: A New World Bank Study

A new World Bank study launched today suggests that Pakistan should quickly implement a major scale-up of solar and wind generation.

The Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) Integration and Planning Study finds that Pakistan needs to urgently implement a major expansion of solar and wind (“variable renewable energy”, or VRE), to achieve a share of at least 30% of total capacity by 2030. This would help lower the cost of power, achieve greater energy security, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Following an optimal scenario with a major scale-up of VRE would save Pakistan US$5 billion costs over the next 20 years, mainly from reduced fuel consumption.

“A large and sustained expansion of solar photovoltaic and wind power, alongside hydropower and substantial investments in the grid, is both achievable and desirable,” says Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. “Such an initiative would lead to immediate and long-term economic and environmental benefits. It would enhance security of supply as well as positioning Pakistan at the forefront of the global energy transition. We stand ready to support Pakistan in achieving the goal of affordable, reliable power for all by 2030”.

According to the study, many sources of fossil fuel generation are no longer competitive and should be retired or their use significantly reduced. This includes domestic and imported coal, which is not economical over the next 10 years compared to VRE and has the additional downsides of GHG emissions, air pollution, and use of scarce water resources.

The study, based on an hour-by-hour analysis of all generation options, finds that a substantial and immediate scaling up of VRE capacity represents a “least-cost” strategy for expanding capacity in Pakistan, including consideration of the costs of integrating the variable supply from solar and wind. Short term reductions in demand growth—even a stagnation in demand as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic—does not impact this finding, and the country’s energy policy needs to be considered over much longer time horizons. Even allowing for the relatively short development and construction times associated with solar PV and wind projects, competitive bidding for new VRE capacity and associated investments in the transmission system should start immediately if Pakistan hopes to reap the cost, energy security, and environmental benefits outlined in the study.

"We understand that for achieving the renewable energy targets set through Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy 2019, we need to make sufficient investments in the transmission system, including modern automation and control systems and a reliable forecasting system," says Dr. Khawaja Riffat Hassan, Managing Director, National Transmission & Despatch Company. "We are convinced that with political commitment, investment in technical capacity and planning tools, and flexibility on the part of existing operators and investors, Pakistan is in a strong position to reap the benefits of greater reliance on our indigenous resources of solar and wind.”

Pakistan needs to avoid repeating the cycle of load shedding followed by emergency procurement and oversupply as it has been doing in the past. This implies that it continues the planning for new capacity (from VRE) even when the country is in a position of supply surplus, recognizing that new capacity will take several years to come on stream.

05/11/2020

SPARK ENERGY

Overview of Blockchain in Renewable Energy Market 2020-2025:

Global Blockchain in Renewable Energy Market 2020 research report presents analysis of market size, share, and growth, trends, cost structure, statistical and comprehensive data of the global market. Research reports analyses the major opportunities, CAGR, yearly growth rates to help the readers to understand the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the Global Blockchain in Renewable Energy Market. The competition landscape, company overview, financials, recent developments and long-term investments related to the Global Blockchain in Renewable Energy Market are mentioned in this report.

The key segments covered in this report are geographical segments, end-use/application segments, and competitor segments. The local segment, regional supply, application, and wise demand, major players, prices are also available by 2025. Global Blockchain in Renewable Energy Market are mentioned in the competition landscape, company overview, financials, recent developments and long-term investments.

18/08/2020

Pakistan to boost renewables and continue coal expansion

8 AUG 2020

Mix of renewables to include mainly wind and solar power, but also geothermal, tidal, wave and biomass energy, according to Syed Aqeel Hussain Jafry, policy director for the government's Alternative Energy Development Board.

Pakistan's biggest Tarbela Dam is observed from a helicopter in Tarbela, Pakistan, November 18, 2005. ( AP )
Pakistan has set in motion a plan this week to boost the share of its electric power that comes from renewables to 30 percent by 2030, up from about 4 percent today.

“The targets in the newly announced policy are a 20 percent share of renewables in installed capacity of Pakistan’s power mix by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030,” said Syed Aqeel Hussain Jafry, policy director for the government's Alternative Energy Development Board.

That will include mainly wind and solar power, but also geothermal, tidal, wave and biomass energy, he said.

With boosts in hydropower capacity expected as well, the shift could bring the share of clean energy in Pakistan's electricity mix to 65 percent by 2030, said Nadeem Babar, head of a task force on energy reforms in Pakistan.

But the legislation leaves in place plans to build seven more coal-fired power plants as part of the second phase of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project - something that could impede scale-up of renewable power, warned Zeeshan Ashfaq, a solar and wind energy developer in Pakistan.

"A coal pipeline of around 4,000-5,000 megawatts will not provide much space for renewables," said Ashfaq, managing director of SOWITEC (Solar Wind Technology) Pakistan.

The new national renewables policy, approved by the prime minister's cabinet last December, was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and as negotiators tried to resolve disputes with individual provinces.

But Asad Umar, federal minister for planning and development, said on social media the resolution of those disputes now opened the way to "unleash Pakistan's full potential" for renewables.

Reorganised sector

Hobbled by decades of energy shortages, successive Pakistani governments have pursued private sector investment in power production, offering lucrative returns backed by sovereign guarantees.

Up until 2017, prolonged power outages hit the country’s industrial production.

Power cuts and scheduled outages, known as load shedding, in urban areas were sharply reduced from about 12 hours a day previously to only occasional outages by mid 2018.

Despite the progress, seasonal production gaps and distribution woes remain.

New investment in renewable energy is also expected to come from private investors, with potential suppliers bidding in annual auctions and low-tariff proposals winning, said Nadeem Babar, chair of the energy task force and now special assistant to the prime minister.

Jafry, of the alternative energy board, said the policy represented a significant shift from the past, when investors approached the government with individual projects.

17/05/2020

Zonergy Rawalpindi office
10,main khy e tanveer road chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

In Iftars, some prefer Jam-e-Shirin while some go for Tang. Everyone has their own likes & dislikes.

When the Earth was asked about its favorite drink by a friend Solar Panel, she replied:
“Renewable Energy is my favorite drink because
it does not pollute me
it is abundant
It helps me breathe.”

Help her by providing her favorite drink. Get in touch with Zonergy now!
@ 0310-5811111
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.zonergy.com.pk

15/05/2020

zonergy Rawalpindi office
10,main Khy e tanveer road chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

14/05/2020

Distance is just a word in this age. This Ramadan, enjoy cooking together or connecting your family through an uninterruptible power supply that ensures your appliances and internet are always up!

To schedule an appointment, get in touch with us today by:
📞@ 0310-5811111
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.zonergy.com.pk

14/05/2020

Spark energy and zonergy becomes a joint venture in Pakistan
10,main khy e tanveer road chaklala scheme Rawalpindi

14/05/2020

Spark energy and zonergy becomes a joint venture in Pakistan
10,main khy e tanveer road chaklala scheme Rawalpindi

Zonergy is not your seasonal friend. We won’t break-up even if it is too hot OR too cold.
In case, you have missed our astonishing heating plates in the winter, we are giving them away for FREE to partake the blessings of Holy-Ramadan. Say Alhumdulillah and Call Now for a FREE consultancy.
NOTE: OFFER LASTS TILL RAMADAN LASTS
Interested? Call now!
📞@ 0310-5811111
Or Visit our website
🌐 http://zonergy.com.pk/
or Email
📧 [email protected]

13/05/2020

Zonergy
Regional office
10,main khy e tanveer chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

Zonergy takes pride in announcing the final launch of its website for the assistance of its devoted customers. We appreciate your persistence and commitment with Zonergy.

Zonergy is LIVE with the best interface and dedicated customer support! Try now: https://zonergy.com.pk

Feedback and suggestions are welcomed as ever. Thank you for choosing Zonergy!

13/05/2020

Zonergy
Regional office
10,main khy e tanveer chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

If you're wondering if the Solar Power System is a good investment, it’s not just a free energy source, but in 3.5 years you cover all the costs for installing your system! 😃

If you would like to know more about a solar energy system with cost benefits get in touch by:
📞@ 0310-5811111
or emailing
📧 [email protected]

13/05/2020

Zonergy
Regional office
10,main khy e tanveer chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

To make sure this Ramadan goes well for you without any difficulties, we’re here to help you by providing a clean and reliable energy source. 😊
For more information get in touch with us today by calling
📞@ 0310-5811111
or emailing
📧 [email protected]

Timeline photos 13/05/2020

Zonergy
Regional office
10,main khy e tanveer chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

Here's everything you need to know about our 5kW Grid Tie PV System.
We believe in helping you make an informed decision!

For more information regarding our solar solutions:

📞@ 0310-5811111
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.zonergy.com.pk

Photos from Zonergy-Clean Energy Everywhere's post 13/05/2020

Zonergy
Regional office
10,main khy e tanveer chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

13/05/2020

Zonergy
Regional office
10,main khy e tanveer chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

DOUBLE RAMADAN OFFER 🌙

Ramadan comes with countless blessings and we would like you to add one more to it.
Sign-up for our Smart Solar Net Metering Solution and get complimentary heating plates FREE! 🤩

We got your summers covered with uninterrupted power supply and winters with our most exquisite and stylish heating plates.
What are you waiting for?

Terms and Conditions Apply

For more information about our Ramadan Offers:
📞@ 0310-5811111
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.zonergy.com.pk

13/05/2020

Zonergy
Regional office
10,main khy e tanveer chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

Published in Roznama Express Dated 13-05-2020

https://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1107430549&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20200513

Usman Buzdar
Punjab Government - Pakistan

13/05/2020

Zonergy
Regional office
10,main khy e tanveer chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
03009544556

Zonergy is not your seasonal friend. We won’t break-up even if it is too hot OR too cold.
In case, you have missed our astonishing heating plates in the winter, we are giving them away for FREE to partake the blessings of Holy-Ramadan. Say Alhumdulillah and Call Now for a FREE consultancy.
NOTE: OFFER LASTS TILL END OF MAY
Interested? Call now!
📞@ 0310-5811111
Or Visit our website
🌐 http://zonergy.com.pk/
or Email
📧 [email protected]

Photos from Spark energy's post 13/05/2020

Spark energy and zonergy becomes a joint venture in Pakistan
10,main khy e tanveer road chaklala scheme Rawalpindi

Photos from Alternative Energy Development Board - AEDB's post 12/05/2020
Photos from Alternative Energy Development Board - AEDB's post 23/04/2020

Spark Energy

10/04/2020

Oil Companies Are Collapsing, but Wind and Solar Energy Keep Growing

The renewable-energy business is expected to keep growing, though more slowly, in contrast to fossil fuel companies, which have been hammered by low oil and gas prices.

8minute Solar Energy temporarily stopped building a solar farm near Fresno, Calif., because of the coronavirus pandemic.
8minute Solar Energy temporarily stopped building a solar farm near Fresno, Calif., because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A few years ago, the kind of double-digit drop in oil and gas prices the world is experiencing now because of the coronavirus pandemic might have increased the use of fossil fuels and hurt renewable energy sources like wind and solar farms.

That is not happening.

In fact, renewable energy sources are set to account for nearly 21 percent of the electricity the United States uses for the first time this year, up from about 18 percent last year and 10 percent in 2010, according to one forecast published last week. And while work on some solar and wind projects has been delayed by the outbreak, industry executives and analysts expect the renewable business to continue growing in 2020 and next year even as oil, gas and coal companies struggle financially or seek bankruptcy protection.

In many parts of the world, including California and Texas, wind turbines and solar panels now produce electricity more cheaply than natural gas and coal. That has made them attractive to electric utilities and investors alike. It also helps that while oil prices have been more than halved since the pandemic forced most state governments to order people to stay home, natural gas and coal prices have not dropped nearly as much.

Even the decline in electricity use in recent weeks as businesses halted operations could help renewables, according to analysts at Raymond James & Associates. That’s because utilities, as revenue suffers, will try to get more electricity from wind and solar farms, which cost little to operate, and less from power plants fueled by fossil fuels.
“Renewables are on a growth trajectory today that I think isn’t going to be set back long term,” said Dan Reicher, the founding executive director of the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance at Stanford University and an assistant energy secretary in the Clinton administration. “This will be a bump in the road.”

Of course, the economic slowdown caused by the fight against the coronavirus is taking a toll on parts of the renewable energy industry just as it is on the rest of the economy. Businesses that until recently were adding workers are laying people off and putting off investments. Among the hardest hit are smaller companies that sell solar panels for rooftops. Their orders have dropped steeply as customers put off installations to avoid possible contact with the virus.
Luminalt, a solar and electricity storage company based in San Francisco that employs 42 people, recently told most of its installers to seek unemployment benefits as the company’s residential jobs — normally six a week — have all but evaporated. Jeanine Cotter, Luminalt’s chief executive, told workers that the company would cover their benefits but that there was no money coming in to pay all of them.

A half-dozen employees are installing solar at an affordable-housing project that has kept them working, and some who handle business operations are working from home. But Ms. Cotter worries about some installers who joined the company through San Francisco’s work force development program and depend on weekly paychecks to make ends meet.
“Revenue has stopped,” said Ms. Cotter, who helped found the business 15 years ago. “It’s very confusing right now.”

04/04/2020

Spark energy

⚠🚫 *WARNiNG*🚫⚠

Spark energy not responsible for any kind of government act.

*گروپ کے تمام ممبروں سے خصوصی طور پر درخواست کی جارہی ہے، کورونا وائرس کے متعلق اس گروپ پر کوئی معلومات ، دستاویزات (سچ یا غلط) پوسٹ نہیں کرے گا۔*
*آج رات 12 بجے سے ہی ملک بھر میں ڈیزاسٹر مینجمنٹ ایکٹ نافذ ہوگا*
*حکومت کے علاوہ کوئی بھی شہری جو کورونا کے بارے میں کچھ بھی شیر کرے گا* ، *اسے دفعہ 68 ، 140 اور 188 کے تحت قابل سزا سمجھا جائے گا۔ اس دفعہ کے تحت گروپ ایڈمن کو بھی گرفتار کیا جائے گا۔*
*برائے مہربانی محتاط رہیں ..*

Photos from Spark energy's post 22/02/2020

Stainless steel solar water heater installation at Trarkhel AJK
Spark Energy
18,main Khayaban e tanveer road chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
www.sparkenergy.pk
03009544556

Photos from Spark energy's post 22/02/2020

3.2 kva installed at Gujarkhar .

Spark Energy
18,main Khayaban e Tanveer road chaklala scheme 3 Rawalpindi
www.sparkenergy.pk
03009544556

08/02/2020

Is your customer considering battery storage? Answer these 4 questions for them

Panasonic lithium-ion battery technology powers the world’s most advanced electric cars and is now available to power your home. Panasonic’s new battery storage system helps solar contractors offer homeowners a complete solar + storage solution. This intelligent energy storage system collects and stores the excess energy your Panasonic solar panels generate during the day for instant access during peak hours and grid outages.

As solar power becomes increasingly popular, more homeowners are exploring how they can store more of the energy their solar panels generate with battery storage.

Dan Glaser, a senior sales engineer for Panasonic, says that a desire by homeowners to be more self-sufficient is driving the demand for energy storage.

“Some of the interest is from homeowners who want access to backup power during grid outages,” he says. “In other cases, people are interested in strategically using stored power, especially if they live in areas where they can’t put it back on the grid.”

An energy storage system, which is an on-site unit for storing energy generated by your solar panels, makes this possible. Glaser says that asking these key questions before you buy ensures you find the right system for your home and budget.

What components do you need for a proper battery storage system?

A standard battery storage system (also referred to as energy storage or solar storage systems) comprises batteries for storing the power and at least one inverter for converting the energy into a usable form. In some instances, there’s also a software component for monitoring energy usage remotely. Glaser notes that you can purchase one unit that includes all these components, often in conjunction with your solar panel purchase. Or you can buy a standalone system to retrofit an existing photovoltaic (PV) setup.

Whichever you decide, Glaser says this is not a DIY project. “The technology is complex enough that you want a professional installer who is familiar with how it works, and aware of local codes and regulations.”

AC or DC battery storage?

These terms — alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) — refer to the direction the power flows. Solar panels produce DC electricity and that’s what most batteries store. However, your house and most of the appliances in it require AC power.

The system that works best for your home depends on whether you already have an existing solar power system. While an AC-coupled system requires two inverters and is often less efficient, if you have a pre-existing solar setup, then it’s the only option available.

If you are purchasing a new PV system, you’ll want to evaluate both AC and DC-coupled energy storage solutions. DC coupled solutions typically have fewer efficiency losses. However, if you choose a microinverter or optimized solar module, then an AC-coupled system may be the best option. Every installation is unique, so you’ll want to consult your installer during your decision-making process.

How much power do you need to store?

The battery storage system size your home needs requires a thorough energy audit and detailed analysis by an experienced contractor. You can roughly estimate how much storage you’ll need based on your daily electricity usage. The average residential utility customer is about 28 kWh per day. Usage can vary depending on certain factors, such as the climate where you live. In this case, to provide back-up power for an entire house, you’ll need a system producing at least 28 kWh.

The actual analysis for your home requires detailed math and customization. It’s also worth noting that many residential storage solutions only offer a single system size. This keeps installation simple. However, the tradeoff is you can end up with an undersized or oversized system. An experienced installer can help determine which size works best.

Are there ways to decrease the cost?

Energy storage is a smart investment that pays for itself over time. But finding ways to save money at the outset can make your project more feasible. Entry-level energy storage systems typically cost between $10,000 and $25,000, Glaser says, with larger capacity systems falling on the higher end of that range, or greater. Whole-house backup can cost more, depending on what loads you require during an outage. There are many local incentives and tax breaks too, so be sure to consult your authorized installer on the best path forward.

Homeowners can lower some of the costs with tax credits, manufacturer rebates, and incentives from their local utility companies. For instance, with the federal solar tax credit, you can deduct 30% of the cost of your energy storage system (and there’s no upper limit). Investigate what’s available locally in your area and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Lastly, be sure to inquire about warranties on your storage system. “You want to go with a trustworthy brand,” Glaser says. “Look for a company that’s been around for a long time — these systems last decades and you want to work with a company that will as well.”

Building an on-site battery storage system ensures you have the power you need — when you need it most. Approach the buying process thoughtfully, and you’ll end up with an energy system that fits your family’s needs and budget.

07/02/2020

Some people find the residential solar power industry to be the “salesperson’s dream.”

It starts with strong homeowner motivations, whether it’s reducing energy bills or saving the planet. Then there are sweeteners that can be used to close deals like the still-available tax incentives, fact-based calculators for number crunching customers and the growing body of long-term solar users who can provide convincing references.

But, in fact, there are three big reasons solar projects are indeed still hard to sell:

Upfront Cost. The up-front cost of a solar project exceeds the available savings of many homeowners. In fact, Modernize surveys show that when homeowners cancel or delay a home improvement project, 43% of the time it’s because the project became “too expensive.”
Lack of urgency. Unlike leaky roofs or failing air conditioners that must be replaced, a home solar installation is an optional project. Since homeowners can easily put off doing a solar project, Modernize research shows that 14% of homeowners who cancel projects do so because they’re just not that urgent.
Competition. You know there’s a lot of competition. Here’s a statistic that backs it up: One-third of residential solar shoppers get exactly two quotes, and a whopping 60% get three or more competing proposals.
In this competitive environment, good salesmanship is needed to win. Imagine how much you could improve your residential solar sales numbers and bottom line if your team could close just one additional deal for every 10 proposals you make.

To win more business, consider the customers’ perspective. Each quarter Modernize surveys over 1,000 homeowners about their attitudes, beliefs and behaviors about solar energy projects they’re considering for their home. One key question in the survey is “What attribute of a contractor’s sales process would make you most likely to not hire them?” More than 80% of the turn-off factors boiled down to four things: tardiness, lack of communication, lack of expertise and an unclear/confusing quote.

Let’s look at each of these in turn, with the lessons they can tell us about how to avoid “deal-killers” with residential solar customers.

Tardiness

The first of our deal-killing factors, mentioned by 16% of surveyed homeowners, is tardiness – meaning late for or missed appointments. Customers simply don’t want to work with people who don’t value their time. One customer we surveyed, Wayne, told us: “After waiting half an hour past our confirmed appointment time, I finally called the contractor’s 800 number. The office tried to convince me there wasn’t an appointment that Friday, that they had me booked for Monday, so I simply canceled them altogether.”

Proactive contractors, like Charles Kennett and Ron Williams, owners of Vegas Solar in Las Vegas, have a philosophy — If you’re not early, you’re late. To ensure their promptness, they rely on shared Google Calendars and automatic reminders that give them sufficient notice to be on-time. Kennett cautioned, “When another person or another company like Modernize sets up your appointments, it’s triply important to show up when scheduled. The customer shouldn’t have to worry about our internal communications.”

Lack of communication

Another barrier, indicated by 20% of solar prospects in our survey, was that poor communications led them to rule out a particular contractor. An extreme example is the contractor who is simply non-responsive, described by customer Ray, “Nobody showed, nobody called, nobody did anything. Now I’m thinking the whole operation is a scam.”

Communication also means keeping the customer’s interests at the forefront. Another solar prospect’s horror story: “The ‘estimator’ was personable but too much like a used car salesman. After polite social banter, he wasted three hours giving the demo spiel, company history and competitive comparisons, then failed to provide a dollar quote. He called later with an outrageous estimate, then danced around pitching a monthly payment scheme. I would never hire a company that uses such hard sales tactics.”

When we asked Vegas Solar team members how they kept communications in line, they stressed followup and expectation setting, such as letting the customers know exactly who would be showing up at their doors. Williams added, about their solar sales techniques, “It’s important to go beyond the standard cookie-cutter presentation. Find out what the consumer is really looking for. Does their interest in a solar project mean they want to rework the entire roof? Are they concerned about power outages? You don’t know if you don’t ask and listen.”

Lack of expertise

21% of solar prospects surveyed indicated their perceived lack of expertise was a barrier. A solar installation is not a do-it-yourself project, so customers are clearly going to want to work with someone they see as knowledgeable.

Expertise can mean knowing how to work with customers. Our survey respondent Tom complained, “The contractor’s rep was knowledgeable about his products but could not read what we needed as a homeowner. He kept getting off track and wouldn’t complete a thought, so he didn’t get the bid.”

When we discussed this point with the Vegas Solar team, they cautioned that product knowledge can be a two-edged sword and offered this about using expertise in the solar sales process: “Some customers, but not all, need to tap into deep product and industry expertise. It’s important to tune into how to educate potential customers,” said Williams. “Customers sourced from door-knocking often need more education. Other prospects, like those sourced from lead-generation companies, are educated and ready to buy. It’s best not to come across as too expert because it can be seen as arrogance.”

Unclear or confusing quote

The No. 1 factor identified by solar prospects of why they would not choose a contractor, selected by 25% or our respondents, was receiving an unclear or confusing quote. Doesn’t that seem like the easiest factor to control, as well?

Williams and Kennett told us, “When we took over this business, the first thing we changed was how we did quotes. While Sighten and Aurora create strong designs and accurate estimates, they were designed by engineers, not salespeople. We take their output, tailor it to the customer’s interests and package it into a Keynote presentation.”

Regarding presentation medium, they warn against being too technical. “Some packages assume you’ll present on an iPad. We find that with Baby Boomer prospects, that can be a turn-off. That’s why we like to deliver a paper version of our proposals.”

Contractors, take heed. Watch out for those common deal-killers, and turn up the win-rates on your opportunities with these solar sales tips!

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