Longer-term studies are now showing that homeowners recoup their investment (sometimes slightly less or more) when installing PV systems. Photovoltaics can be a practical home investment, not just a green statement.
Study: Home Owned PV Improves Resale Value
Homes sell up to twice as fast, for more $$. -NYT, Forbes, NREL, Studies & Articles
More and more people are seeing these photovoltaic systems as attractive, and a value added to any property. They are low to no maintenance, generate a steady return indefinitely, encourage a sense of independence, and make a strong positive statement.
More affluent, educated, motivated buyers are interested in these things and so homes can sell much faster additionally to being worth more to begin with.
Any unused or underused land could be a candidate for a solar PV installation. They make a good wind diffuser along edges of property much like planted trees. They generate energy (and that equals money), which is nice to know every time you look at them.
The operating costs of a rural property are reduced, which is an incentive to buyers. It’s not just urban folks who are keen to cash in on the direction the market is going.
Farmers and large property owners stand to make a great deal back on their investment as solar scales up quickly. Doubling the size of a PV system does not necessarily double its cost, leading to a condition similar to buying in bulk. The more you install, the greater your rate of return and the greater the value of your asset overall.
Solar is an asset that does not depreciate the way a bathroom renovation or new car does. 25-year warranties and lifespans of solar technology far exceeding that help retain value and every time energy prices rise so does the value of your installation.
It’s a new way of thinking but, in terms of value, the more energy costs the more your solar asset is worth. If you can generate all of your power or more with solar that is a serious net benefit. If you can’t generate all your power from the sun, it will still insulate you from future cost increases and save a lot of money while improving your cash flow.