Ground Mounted Solar Panel Installation in Sonoma County, CA
Whether your roof isn’t a good fit for solar panels or you don’t like the way they look, ground mounted solar panels are a good alternative. Taylor Energy installs custom solar power systems for houses in Santa Rosa, CA, and throughout all of Sonoma County. If you’re interested in a ground mount solar installation, we are the solar installer for you.
Types of Residential Ground Mounted Solar Panels
Most of the time, you see ground mounted solar panels in commercial settings. If you’ve ever seen a solar farm on the side of the highway or in a big field, they are ground mounted. But they’re not exclusively used for commercial projects. Ground mounted solar panels can also work well in a residential setting, as long as you have enough space for them. Residential ground mounted solar panels can be installed in a few different ways.
Standard Ground Mounted Solar Panels - Multiple panels are installed on a metal framework that’s positioned fairly close to the ground.
Pole Mounted Solar Panels - Panels are mounted on a single pole that’s elevated, often several feet above the ground. Pole mounts can be ideal when space is limited.
Solar Canopies & Shade Covers - Panels are mounted on a structure that has an additional use, like a pergola or patio cover. While not conventional ground mounts, these systems are another alternative to rooftop solar panels.
Benefits of Ground-Mounted Solar Panels
Fewer Size Restrictions - Since you’re not limited by roof size, you can install more panels and generate more power. This can be ideal for houses that use a lot of electricity.
Better Sunlight Access - Ground mounts can be positioned in the ideal location and direction for sunlight access so you can generate more electricity.
Fewer Aesthetic Concerns - Depending on the amount of yard space you have, you can position ground mounts away from your home and keep them out of sight.
Easy Cleaning & Maintenance - Since they’re low to the ground, it’s easier to clean and maintain ground mounted solar panels.
When to Choose Ground Mounts Over Rooftop Solar
Ground mounted solar panels are more expensive than rooftop systems, especially if land clearance or grading is required. In most cases, if rooftop solar is a viable option, we recommend going in that direction. But there are cases where rooftop solar isn’t the best choice. Ground mounts may be better for your home if:
Your roof is small, heavily shaded, or otherwise unfit for solar panels.
You consume a lot of electricity. Houses with a combination of heat pumps, pool pumps, EV chargers, garden irrigation systems, and other power-hungry appliances may need more power than a rooftop solar system can produce.
You live a fairly rural or off-grid lifestyle with your own well and septic system and need more power to run your home. (Keep in mind that we do not install fully off-grid solar systems).
You have enough yard space to install a ground mounted system.
Incentives for Ground Mounted Solar Panels in California
Solar panel ground mounts are eligible for the same financing and incentive opportunities as rooftop solar systems. The best solar incentive currently available in California is the federal solar tax credit. The tax credit is worth 30% of your total installation costs and can be applied to your federal income taxes for the year you install your solar panels. The tax credit effectively reduces your solar costs by 30 percent, which can make ground mounts significantly more affordable.
Ground Mount Solar Panel Installers in Sonoma County
Taylor Energy is the go-to solar company for ground mounted and pole mounted solar panels in Santa Rosa and throughout all of Sonoma County. We are a local company that’s built on quality. Our team is professional, knowledgeable, and courteous and will make the process easy for you. We handle everything, including permitting and inspections, for you and will communicate with you regularly. You will always know what’s happening with your project as it progresses and be able to reach us quickly if you have questions.
Interested in solar ground mounts? Call (707) 785-8773 or contact us for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Commercial Solar Project Gallery
Check out some of our latest commercial solar installations in California.
Testimonials
“To everyone thinking of adding solar, I was skeptical of the cost benefit for many years, but Taylor Energy took the time to explain all of the benefits to us; including cost savings. We now have three systems online and are very pleased with the installation, operation and cost savings. I highly recommend Taylor Energy for these systems.”
- Jim Pacette (Sebastopol)
"We are saving $130,000 a year that would have gone to PG&E that we can now reinvest back into the wines, back into the vineyards or back into more sustainability."
- Anthony Beckman, Winemaker & Vice President (Balletto Vineyards)
“Having reviewed a number of proposals for solar installation, I'm very happy to have chosen Taylor Energy. They were highly professional from the first meeting, through coordinating with my roofing contractor, (who they had never met, but with whom they had to work in lock-step during the installation) to the installation and follow-up. They are of the highest skills, professionalism and integrity.”
- Ross Halleck (Sebastopol)
