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Fully Managed Solar Programs For New Jersey Families

Solar Energy Monitoring and Performance Guarantee

Zep Solar Composition Mounts Reduct The Risk Of Leaks

Micro Inverters Produce Up To 30% More Energy

Zep Solar Array skirt as the finishing touch

“The management team of Chris and Glen were most knowledgeable and carefully explained the process and the equipment so that it was easy for the homeowner to understand. We highly recommend Green Sun Energy to get the job done. Do not hesitate to contact them."
- Linda A. Farmingdale, NJ

Solar Basics Solar Programs Solar Purchase Solar Lease Portfolio Hall of Shame FAQs

Solar Energy Basics

How Does Solar Work?

There are two primary types of solar available today: Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic (or solar electric). When most people mention "solar power," they are referring to the photovoltaic effect. This occurs when certain materials, such as semiconductors are struck by solar irradiation from the Sun. This radiation charges these materials' electrons into a higher energy state, which generates electricity.

Solar panel systems (or solar energy systems) use Photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert sunlight into Direct Current (DC) electricity. Solar cells are made from silicon are wired together in panels that typically measure about 4 feet by 2 ft by 1.5 inches deep. A group of solar panels mounted on a frame is called a solar panel solar panel array.

When the sun is shining, electricity travels from the panels through wires into a piece of equipment called an inverter. An inverter converts the DC electricity produced by the panels into the type of power your house uses (called Alternating Current, or AC). Once the electricity goes through the inverter, it then travels through wire into your home’s electrical panel.

Since solar systems are made up of individual modules and panels, so they can be designed to meet most electrical requirements, large and small. The size of the system is expressed in terms of kilowatts (kW) of power, and the electricity produced by a system is expressed in kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy.

Systems are said to be “gridconnected” when they remain connected to the local electric utility. Gridconnected systems rely on their utility to provide power at night. But during the day, your solar panels may produce more power than you consume, feeding power back into the utility grid, supplying clean electricity to your community and spinning your meter backwards!

All of our SolarBase™ and LeaseBase™ solutions are gridconnected and most utilize micro-inverters, to convert the DC to AC energy at the individual panel, increasing your overall energy harvest! Please visit SolarBase Programs to learn more about our intelligent design services.

Source: Department of Energy

How are Solar Panels Made?

New Jersey Solar

Your New Jersey home probably gets more sun than you think! Believe it or not, we get 50% more sunshine than Germany, the world leader in solar installations. Sunlight is free, so let us help you harness the sun’s full potential to save you money on electricity.

New Jersey electricity rates have increased by about 56% in just 10 years! Solar is a great way to protect your family from volatile electricity prices and save thousands in energy costs over the lifetime of your home solar system.

Once we install your solar panels, you no longer have to worry about rising electricity prices for the portion of your electricity that comes from solar. As utility prices increase, you receive an even bigger benefit from making the switch to home solar power.

Residential electric prices in New Jersey

New Jersey has an excellent financial environment for going solar. To make installing solar power more attractive, the federal government is providing a 30% tax credit for solar energy installation costs to homeowners. In addition, the New Jersey state legislature is doing its part by offering additional incentives known as New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Sertificates (SRECs).

If you are a homeowner in New Jersey, solar may be a great way to save on your energy costs. We can help you take advantage of the solar incentives and/or creative $0 down solar lease (a/k/a free solar) options to make solar not only affordable, but start paying for itself within the very first year.

NJ Solar Panels

Solar panels are currently priced very affordably in the market, and the cost can be lowered further by federal and state incentives. Your NJ solar panels will produce power on your roof for more than 25 years – so, choosing the right solar panel can increase your energy production and maximize your profits over the life of your NJ solar system.

When you install solar power for your home, you are investing in a future energy solution that should last for at least 25 years. Green Sun Energy Services will make sure you get the full lifetime benefit of this investment by only using high rated panels and more importantly EnPhase micro inveters, guaranteed to be efficient and protected against weather and damage.

NJ Solar Installers

It is imperative that when you install a NJ solar system, the process is done right the first time to avoid failures. Such failures can range from performance issues such as reduced power output to fire hazards, electrical hazards, leaks, or structural hazards. You may not notice the inadequacies in your system until the second or third year, by which time it might be too late to get have your installer repair the problem. Spending a little more on a quality company initially can save you thousands of dollars in repairs and maintenance over the duration of your solar systems' life.

Therefore, it is best to make your decision on which NJ solar installer you will choose based on more than just price. In fact, the price is merely one of over a dozen issues you should consider about your NJ solar installer before you sign a contract to install solar panels on your home.

Government Programs For Solar

Aided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, providing an Investment Tax Credit equal to 30% of qualified expenditures for photovoltaic (solar) systems, and New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan, the Garden State has ranked number 2 in the Nation for solar installations. The Energy Master Plan requires all electric producers to reduce energy usage by 20% and produce 30% of their energy (4,400 MW) from renewable sources by 2020; of which 1/3 of the goal is targeted to come from solar. In other words, we will need to install solar on the equivalent of 10,000 houses a year to meet the solar goal.

Investment Tax Credit

Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the income taxes that a person or company claiming the credit would otherwise pay the federal government. The ITC is based on the amount of investment in solar property.

A taxpayer may claim a credit for qualified expenditures for a system that serves a dwelling unit located in the United States that is owned and used as a residence by the taxpayer. Expenditures with respect to the equipment are treated as made when the installation is completed. If the installation is at a new home, the "placed in service" date is the date of occupancy by the homeowner. Expenditures include labor costs for on-site preparation, assembly or original system installation, and for piping or wiring to interconnect a system to the home. If the federal tax credit exceeds tax liability, the excess amount may be carried forward to the succeeding taxable year.

For Solar-electric property, A taxpayer may claim a credit of:

30% for systems placed in service by 12/31/2019
26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2021
22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2020 and before 01/01/2022
There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2021.
The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allows taxpayers eligible for the federal renewable electricity production tax credit (PTC)** to take the federal business energy investment tax credit (ITC) or to receive a grant from the U.S. Treasury Department instead of taking the PTC for new installations. The new law also allows taxpayers eligible for the business ITC to receive a grant from the U.S. Treasury Department instead of taking the business ITC for new installations. The grant is only available to systems where construction begins prior to December 31, 2011. The Treasury Department issued Notice 2009-52 in June 2009, giving limited guidance on how to take the federal business ITC instead of the federal renewable electricity production tax credit. The federal business energy investment tax credit available under 26 USC § 48 was expanded significantly by the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 (H.R. 1424), enacted in October 2008. This law extended the duration -- by eight years -- of the existing credits for solar energy, fuel cells and microturbines; increased the credit amount for fuel cells; established new credits for small wind-energy systems, geothermal heat pumps, and combined heat and power (CHP) systems; allowed utilities to use the credits; and allowed taxpayers to take the credit against the alternative minimum tax (AMT), subject to certain limitations. The credit was further expanded by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, enacted in February 2009. The federal Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) has been amended a number of times, most recently in December 2015. The bullets below shows the value of the investment tax credit for each technology by year. The expiration date for solar technologies and wind is based on when construction begins. For all other technologies, the expiration date is based on when the system is placed in service (fully installed and being used for its intended purpose).

For Solar-electric property, A taxpayer may claim a credit of:

30% for systems placed in service by 12/31/2019
26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2021
22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2020 and before 01/01/2022
20% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2022

Eligible solar energy property includes equipment that uses solar energy to generate electricity, to heat or cool (or provide hot water for use in) a structure, or to provide solar process heat. Hybrid solar lighting systems, which use solar energy to illuminate the inside of a structure using fiber-optic distributed sunlight, are eligible. Passive solar systems and solar pool-heating systems are not eligible. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed in December 2015, extended the expiration date for PV and solar thermal technologies, and introduced a gradual step down in the credit value for these technologies. The credit for all other technologies will expire at the end of 2016.

New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)

New Jersey’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires electricity suppliers to secure a portion of their electricity from solar facilities connected to the local distribution grid in New Jersey. Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) represent the renewable attributes from your solar facility, bundled in minimum denominations of one megawatt hour of production. SRECs are designed to provide you with an economic incentive to investing in solar electric systems which improve our electric distribution grid. The SRECs program provides a means for solar certificates to be created on your behalf and sold to electric suppliers to meet their solar RPS requirement. All electric suppliers are required to use the SRECs program to show compliance with this part of the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

EDC Solar Financing Incentive (ESFI)

To encourage participation in the EDC SREC-Based Financing Program, incentives will be available to those SRP projects which enter into a long term contract to sell SRECs to either JCP and L, ACE or RECO. PSEG solar loan projects, and any other bi-lateral contracts negotiated between SREC buyers and sellers which are not the result of participation in the EDC SREC auctions, are not eligible for participation in the ESFI. The total 2011 budget for ESFI is $3.8 million. An incentive of $.50/Watt will be available to all eligible SRP projects that are awarded a Board approved SREC Purchase and Sale Agreement with their EDC resulting from their participation in an EDC SREC solicitation bid occurring between 1/1/2011 and 12/31/2011.

New Jersey Renewable Energy Manufacturing Incentive (NJREMI)

The New Jersey Renewable Energy Manufacturing Incentive (NJREMI) continues to be available for solar projects which are supplied with panels, inverters or racking systems from New Jersey manufacturers. These incentives begin at $.15 per watt for racking system and inverters and up to $.25 per watt for panels. Additional details and the incentive schedule may be found in the NJ REMI section of this document.

New Jersey Solar Energy Sales Tax Exemption

New Jersey offers a full exemption from the state's sales tax (currently 7%) for all solar energy equipment. This exemption is available to all taxpayers.

Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems

In October 2008, New Jersey enacted legislation exempting renewable energy systems used to meet on-site electricity, heating, cooling, or general energy needs from local property taxes.

To learn more about the Federal and State Programs and Incentives, visit The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.

Primary Service Areas

Green Sun Energy Services provides a host of PV solar panel programs to homeowners and small businesses throughout Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, Somerset, Mercer and Union County New Jersey.

Green Sun Energy Services empowers New Jersey homeowners to become more energy independent. We are a leading provider of solar panel installation programs, GAF Timberline roofing systems, and Generac generators. Headquartered in Middletown, NJ our local team supports clients throughout Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, Somerset, Mercer and Union County.