The True Cost of Rural Solar Shortcuts: Why You Should "Do It Once, Do It Right”
Building solar solutions in rural areas is a different beast — even before we start the system design process. For example, when heading out to a site assessment, we don’t simply go by the street address. On more than one occasion, Google Maps has told us to hop out of the car in the middle of a dirt road and hike a mile to the house.
Then, we’d better know how to reach the property, because many places don’t have cell service. We look up the satellite view, find the driveway, confirm with the client we’re indeed looking at the right structure, and ask for any access information (e.g., gate code) before we head out for what sometimes turns out to be a challenging drive up bumpy dirt roads.
We love these adventures. But they’re also why it’s often frustrating to find anyone to repair anything in rural areas. The fee to just come "take a look" already stings; the wait time could put essential activities on hold, and no-shows aren’t uncommon.
The challenge also highlights why getting things done right the first time is more important for rural residents and businesses. A poorly designed or built appliance or system requires more service calls down the line, costing time, money, and opportunities.
And we all have the experience of (or at least have heard of) how fixing one thing in an old or sloppily put-together system breaks three others, leading to four (very expensive) service calls that end up costing more than a modern, reliable solution.
The cost of a poorly designed or implemented solar solution
For solar solutions, the stakes go beyond repeated service calls that run into money.
A temperamental off-grid system could leave you in a bind for weeks, as water supply, communication, food preservation, and other vital functions are left in limbo. Even if you have a backup (e.g., a generator), you get an eye-watering fuel tab while foregoing many creature comforts and modern conveniences.
Safety is even a bigger concern. For example, we’ve seen a fair share of undersized wiring and insufficient current protection in home-brewed or “budget” systems. Setups without adequate safety measures still work, but these mistakes could become costly and dangerous fire risks and safety hazards — especially in hot, dry environments.
Doing it right the first time has long-term benefits, too
A properly engineered and implemented system is an asset, while one that’s cobbled together and doesn’t perform reliably is a liability.
When you sell your property in the future, can you demonstrate that your solar solution is indeed an asset? Will your system add to the property value rather than being the Achilles' heel that kills a deal? Or will your property be truly an asset when you pass it to the next generation?
How we “do it right” for our clients to optimize their total cost of ownership
We talk about the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a solar system because this is the number that matters in the long run. Cutting corners may save you a few bucks in the beginning, but more likely than not, you pay for it over the next decade or two in the form of disruptions, insufficient capacity, endless service calls, first risks, premature component failures, and more.
On the other hand, a properly engineered and implemented system may cost you more initially but doesn’t require much attention afterward. Remote monitoring and a physical check every one or two years are often all you need to keep everything running.
So, how do we “do it once and do it right?”
Wiring together a bunch of components and saying that “it works” doesn’t work. The production, conversion, and storage capacities must meet the specific requirements of each client and property for the solution to function properly.
That means analyzing load requirements, calculating each site’s production potential, balancing production, storage, and conversion capacities, optimizing the operating environment for equipment longevity, and more. Our 9-step engineering framework covers all the bases and helps us ensure that every solution is fit for purpose.
Then, there’s component selection. Amazon’s back-alley specials aren’t the way to save if you want to minimize issues and repair expenses. We use equipment from reputable brands and spec the right components (e.g., wires, breakers, fuses) for each application.
However, that doesn’t mean we don’t help our clients lower costs whenever possible. Rather than cutting corners, we incorporate resource optimization into the system design process. For instance, by calculating the current a wire needs to sustain, we right-size the cables instead of over-dimensioning them. This process ensures system safety and longevity without the client paying for things they don’t need.
Finally, a system must be implemented properly to ensure longevity, safety, and serviceability. For example, wires must be the correct thickness and materials, while right-sized fuses and breakers must be in the right place.
Everything should be labeled according to industry standards so that any professionals performing repair or upgrade work don’t have to spend hours deciphering a bunch of spicy spaghetti (aka live wires) and hoping no one gets zapped (ask us how we know).
A well-designed system rarely needs attention
When you do it right the first time, you won’t need to talk to us much afterwards. And we like it that way. Whether you need to implement a whole-property off-grid solar system from scratch, a grid-independent solution to boost resilience, or improve an existing solar system — let’s talk.
