Here are five steps to go solar with confidence:

Step 1: Decide if solar works for you

Rooftop solar panel systems have plenty of benefits, but not every property is suitable for solar. Here's a quick check list to see if solar might be right for you:

• You own your property
• Your roof or property has enough space and sunlight
• You’re eligible for tax incentives
• Your installation will give you a favorable return on investment

Even if you don't meet all the criteria above, going solar can still make sense. Use this solar panel calculator to quickly estimate your solar potential.

Step 2: Receive and compare quotes from local installers

Once you’re confident that going solar is worth considering, it’s time to connect with local installers to find a solar panel system that fits your needs and budget. The EnergySage Marketplace is a free online service that helps you gather and compare solar quotes directly from vetted installers in your area with the support of a vendor-neutral expert Energy Advisor.

Step 3: Choose an installer

After comparing prices, the quality of solar equipment, financing options, and the reputation of your potential installers, you should pick the installer that you have the most confidence in to perform an efficient and cost-effective installation with long-lasting equipment.

Step 4: Pay for your solar installation

Solar panel systems can typically save West Central Florida area homeowners about $70,000 over 25 years, but the upfront costs can still seem high. Luckily, you have options—if you don't want to pay for your system with cash, you can take out a loan, or, if you don't care about owning your system, sign a lease or power purchase agreement. Learn more about how to pay for solar here.

Step 5: Have your system installed

Most solar installations take about 1-3 days to complete. Once your installers are finished, they’ll submit a solar interconnection application (and a battery interconnection application, if applicable), to Tampa Electric. After receiving the application, Tampa Electric will perform an inspection of the system, including the disconnect switch. Please be aware that this can take up to 30 calendar days. Once inspections are complete, you're ready to generate power with your new solar system.

Learn more about how to go solar.

The price you pay for a solar panel system depends on it’s size, the equipment, your installer, and the features of your roof or land. The average solar system size in West Central Florida is about 14kW, which costs $31,000.That means the average cost of solar in West Central Florida is $2.21 per watt (W) as of 2024.

Federal, state, and local incentives can cut these costs by thousands of dollars. For example, the federal solar tax credit alone can lower the cost of solar by 30%. Solar owners in the West Central Florida area who pay for their system up-front will typically recover their solar investment in about 7.7 years. For those who finance their systems, the timing of the savings will depend on the terms of your loan. Between our state’s climate and available incentives, solar panels typically save West Central Florida area residents about $70,000 over 25 years.

There are three main methods to pay for solar installations: Pay with cash upfront, take out a solar loan, or sign a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA). Paying with cash generates the most savings over time but requires a significant upfront investment. Solar loans allow you to pay for your installation in monthly installments while maintaining ownership of your system. Leasing your solar panels or signing a PPA are often affordable ways to go solar but may disqualify you from financial incentives and limit your potential savings.

Learn more about the cost of solar in Florida.

To get the most out of your system, you’ll need to choose the right equipment. The type of panel, power output, efficiency, temperature coefficient, lifespan, and warranty all contribute to a solar panel’s ability to meet your unique energy needs.

Power output & efficiency

A solar panel’s power output refers to the amount of electricity it generates, and its efficiency measures how well it converts sunlight into electricity and is measured as a percentage.

For example, most solar panels convert between 17% and 20% of the sunlight exposed to their cells into electricity. However, high-efficiency solar panels can exceed 22% efficiency.

If you have limited space for your solar panel system, choosing a more efficient solar panel may be worth the investment as fewer panels are needed to meet your demands.

Temperature coefficient

A solar panel’s wattage and output are measured under ideal conditions, meaning you should expect less when the weather takes a turn. Your panel’s temperature coefficient indicates how much its efficiency drops under less-than-ideal conditions.

For example, a temperature coefficient of 0.5 means that for every 1 degree above 25 degrees Celsius, the solar panels decrease .05% in efficiency. Solar panels with lower temperature coefficients (typically around 0.3) tend to perform better in hotter climates.

Due to Florida’s consistently high temperatures, choosing a solar panel with a low temperature coefficient is beneficial to maximize your system's electricity production.

Lifespan & warranty

A home solar panel system is a substantial investment that should last you decades, so it’s important to choose a solar panel brand with reliable product and performance warranties to confidently protect your purchase. Product warranties usually cover manufacturing defects like premature wear and tear, while performance warranties guarantee that your panels will maintain a certain amount of output throughout their lifetime. To get the most out of your solar investment, we recommend reviewing EnergySage’s article on solar panel warranties.

Learn more about how to choose solar panels.

On average, Floridians need 28 solar panels to cover 100% of their electricity usage. In addition to your budget and goals, the number of solar panels you’ll need depends on your annual electricity consumption, the wattage of your solar panels, and the estimated production ratio of your solar system.

Annual electricity usage

 When you’re determining how many solar panels to install, consider both your current and future energy needs. Especially during Florida’s long, hot summers, swimming pools, AC systems, and other appliances can significantly increase the energy usage of your solar panel system.

Production ratio

The amount of energy your system produces relative to its actual rated size is known as the production ratio. For example, a 10 kW system that produces 15 kWh of electricity annually has a production ratio of 1.5 (14/10 = 1.5). That's the average production ratio we see in Florida.

One of the biggest factors in production ratio is the amount of sunlight your system gets (which is primarily based on your geographic location), but it's also influenced by your roof's angle and orientation. In the U.S., production ratios are usually between 0.9 and 1.6. The production ratio in Florida leans toward the higher side since it's closer to the equator than other states.

Solar panel wattage

According to EnergySage, most residential solar panels quoted today have ratings of about 400 watts. But, they vary by model. The higher the wattage rating, the higher the output. If you have limited space, you many want to consider high efficiency panels so you can produce the most amount of energy needed with fewer panels.

Putting it all together

Here's how to calculate how many solar panels you need:

Annual electricity usage (kWh) / production ratio / solar panel output (W)

Taking the numbers from above:

13,467 kWh / 1.5 / 400 W = 23 solar panels

Learn more about how many solar panels you’ll need.

The lifespan of a solar panel is measured by its usefulness rather than its ability to generate power.. Solar panels typically have a useful life of about 25-30 years. The power output of a solar panel is highest at the beginning of its life and slowly degrades over time. Eventually, energy production falls by what manufacturers consider a significant amount, and the solar panel’s lifetime is considered complete.

The rate at which a solar panel’s output declines is called the solar panel degradation rate. For example, a solar panel with a 0.5% degradation rate will still operate at 87.5% of its original output after 25 years. Thanks to improvements in solar panel technology, a solar degradation rate below 1% percent is now the industry standard. Most solar manufacturers guarantee a certain amount of output each year through performance warranties.

Performance and product warranties

Solar panels come with multiple warranties that can provide peace of mind when investing in a solar system.

Product warranties are offered by manufacturers and protect against manufacturing defects. Importantly, damage or defects caused by factors outside of the manufacturer’s control, like natural disasters, aren’t usually covered under product warranties.

Performance warranties, also known as power warranties, can help you understand how long your solar panels may last. Performance warranties typically last 25 years and guarantee that your panels will produce a certain percentage of their original output each year.

Learn more about solar panel lifespans.