Download the Solar Energy Residential Recommendations (PDF)
Buying a home solar system is a major investment. SGCPC’s Solar Energy Residential Recommendations guide helps you become an informed buyer and choose a qualified installer. For the full version, read our article Suggestions for SGCPC Customers When Considering the Purchase of a Residential Solar-Energy System.
Before you start
If you are planning a rooftop system, make sure your roof has at least 15 years of life left and no leaks. Repairing a roof after solar is installed costs much more.
The five steps
- Get educated. Take a free introductory course (for example from Solar Energy International or HeatSpring), and fact-check installer claims. Solar will not make your bill disappear, and the utility does not buy back energy at the retail rate.
- Plan your financing. Paying cash or taking a bank loan is usually better than installer financing, which is often a lease that can complicate selling your home.
- Research installers. The installing electrician must be Bahamian-licensed, and SGCPC will not approve work by unlicensed installers. Get everything in writing.
- Interview them. Ask about licenses, insurance, NABCEP certification, energy production estimates, engineered and sealed drawings, quality control, in-house crews, local references, payment schedules, and contract terms.
- Compare proposals fairly. Ask each company to quote the same layout and system size so you are comparing like for like.
Equipment tips for our islands
- Inverters: often more critical than panels. Check the warranty and monitoring app, and make sure rooftop arrays have rapid shutdown.
- Racking: use engineered, wind-tunnel-tested racking rated for 180 mph winds, with 316 stainless hardware, and clamp each module individually to avoid “zipper” failures.
- Panels: choose current n-type modules with a strong uplift rating (around 4,000 Pa) and 25-year production warranties.
- Batteries: choose UL 9540-certified systems, installed to the manufacturer’s manual and NFPA 855. Don’t choose on price alone.
SGCPC does not endorse any installer or product. Call us with questions about approval or sizing before you sign a contract.