Brand neutral for a reason.
At YES, we believe in choices. That’s why we are a technology neutral company and offer panels from 4 top solar manufacturers, each with decades of solar experience. Every YES client gets a customized solution. We avoid the “off the rack” approach.
Why go name brand?
The solar industry is rapidly expanding and new manufacturers pop up all the time. Their financial performance and product reliability are unproven. Therefore, so is their warranty. If they fail, a lost warranty will negate all solar savings.
That’s why the brands we represent have been in business for decades, are solar pioneers, and will be there to stand behind their product.
Solar Panels
DC Rating: Maximum electricity production for the panel in ideal lab-created conditions. Solar panel manufactures market their products using these numbers.
Annual Solar Production (Per Panel): How much actual electricity the solar panel will produce over a year in typical California conditions. Numbers assume a south-facing roof with no obstructions (such as chimneys) blocking sunlight to the panel. Because these numbers will vary, a site survey will ensure accurate solar production estimates.
# of Panels for Min 10,000 kW / Year: The number of panels that will be required to produce at least 10,000 kilowatts of actual electricity per year. Since the number of solar panels cannot be fractions, numbers are rounded up to the next solar panel. For example, 18 LG 330 W panels would actually produce 10,089 kilowatts of electricity.
All Black: Solar panes tend to be black or dark blue with white lines. If aesthetics are important, a premium option is to go with solar panels that are all-black.
| DC Rating | Annual Solar Production (Per Panel) |
# of Panels for Min 10,000 kW / Year |
All Black | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Solar | 280 W | 476 kW | 21 | Yes |
| 300 W | 510 kW | 20 | Yes | |
| Hyundai | 290 W | 493 kW | 21 | |
| 300 W | 510 kW | 20 | ||
| Mitsubishi | 275 W | 468 kW | 22 | |
| 280 W | 476 kW | 21 | ||
| Q-Cell | 305 W | 519 kW | 20 | |
| 305 W | 527 kW | 19 | ||
| 310 W | 544 kW | 19 | ||
| SolarWorld | 290 W | 493 kW | 21 | Yes |
| Solaria | 325 W | 553 kW | 19 | Yes |
| 350 W | 595 kW | 17 | Yes | |
| Panasonic | 330 W | 561 kW | 18 | |
| LG | 300 W | 510 kW | 20 | |
| 320 W | 544 kW | 19 | Yes | |
| 330 W | 561 kW | 18 | ||
| 335 W | 570 kW | 18 | ||
| 350 W | 595 kW | 17 | ||
| 355 W | 604 kW | 17 | ||
| 360 W | 612 kW | 17 | ||
| 365 W | 621 kW | 17 | ||
| SunPower | 335 W | 570 kW | 18 | Yes |
| 345 W | 587 kW | 18 | ||
| 360 W | 612 kW | 17 |
Install Photos
LG
LG All-Black
SunPower
Japan Solar
Mitsubsihi
SunPower All-Black
So which panel is “best”?
Higher Efficiency ≠ Better Quality
The manufactures we represent offer exceptional and reliable solar panels. In terms of reliability, no panel we offer is “better” than any other. For efficiency, let your roof be your guide. If you have limited roof space, you’ll likely need the high-efficiency of SunPower or LG panels. If you have plenty of roof space, we recommend saving money on the system by purchasing Mitsubishi solar panels.
For example, a system sized around 6.2 kilowatts DC can be comprised of:
- 18 SunPower 345-watt panels
- 20 LG 320-watt panels
- 22 SolarWorld 285-watt panels
- 23 Mitsubishi 275-watt panels
All 4 options will give you around the same “real world” production. Each will produce the same amount of electricity per year. However, the SunPower system will be the most expensive.
23 Mitsubishi or 18 SunPower Panels
Same real world production. Only difference is roof space.
How many solar panels do I need?
It depends on how much electricity you want your solar system to produce and the efficiency of the solar panel. The more efficient the panel, less number of panels needed.
Click to Learn MoreTo get started, it is best to find out how much electricity, in kilowatts, your home consumed in the past year. This information can be obtained directly from your Utility company. For example, if your consumption is 10,000 kilowatts and want your solar system to produce 10,000 kilowatts, the table above shows how many panels are needed.
To calculate the number of panels needed for any amount of consumption, use the following formula:
Number of Solar Panels = Consumption ÷ Annual Solar Production (Per Panel)
For example, suppose you consume 8000 kilowatts and you want your solar system to produce 8000 kilowatts of electricity per year. You are interested in LG 330 W panels, which has an Annual Solar Production of 561 kilowatts per panel (as shown on the table above). Then:
Number of Solar Panels = Consumption ÷ Annual Solar Production (Per Panel)
Number of Solar Panels = 8000 ÷ 561 = 14.26 ≈ 15 solar panels (round up)
Since you cannot install a fraction of a solar panel, the number of panels needed is 15.
Please note that these numbers are estimates and should be used as a guide. Differences in roof angle, direction the roof faces, and if the panels get shaded by obstructions such as chimneys will causes these numbers to vary. A site survey by Your Energy Solutions will calculate the exact amount of solar panels needed.
Pricing
SunPower is the most efficient panel and has the highest cost per watt while Mitsubishi has the lowest. LG and SolarWorld are between the two. If roof space isn’t an issue, the best choice is Mitsubishi. However, if you have limited roof space and want to maximize production, SunPower or LG are ideal.
Turning on the Solar
Solar panels output power in direct current (DC), but homes, businesses, and the grid are wired in alternating current (AC). The inverter’s function is to covert DC power into AC. Learn about the inverters we offer.
