SunRun has been pushing their PPAs with battery backups as the latest way to get solar power installed.
They state is part of a new California initiative tp store energy generated during the day but needed during the high price 4-9pm tier (after dark)

PPAs have traditionally been a second choice as the poorest ROI and a hinderance to resale of the home since SunRun owns the roof installation and the new buyer is assuming the 25 year lease. The equipment they install is not quite state of the art and won't be upgraded during the lease.

Anyone have thoughts on PPAs versus owning all the equipment?

sp4149 said:

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SunRun has been pushing their PPAs with battery backups as the latest way to get solar power installed.
They state is part of a new California initiative tp store energy generated during the day but needed during the high price 4-9pm tier (after dark)

PPAs have traditionally been a second choice as the poorest ROI and a hinderance to resale of the home since SunRun owns the roof installation and the new buyer is assuming the 25 year lease. The equipment they install is not quite state of the art and won't be upgraded during the lease.

Anyone have thoughts on PPAs versus owning all the equipment?

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I did some research recently. Did not install anything for various reasons. I think it is pretty much as you said. Ownership is better (it is what I would have done). But the PPA is an option for people who can't afford ownership. You pay in other ways.

It is kind of the wild west out there right now. I spoke to 3 companies and got 3 different pitches. Some of them are hiding fees and some aren't. Some are more aggressive about what is effective to put on your roof. Homework is required.

OMG

I would NEVER do a rent my roof scenario.
1. Solar panels are getting so damn cheap. If you look at a1solarstore.com you can see pricing when bought by the pallet. It used to be $1/watt. I've seen 1/5 that for containers.
2. New hybrid inverters, either paired with battery or not, are the becoming available and allow DIY installs.

3. Seems to me the bulk of the cost folks are being asked to pay is the installer margin and the battery. If you didn't put a battery in and didn't have to pay excessive markup on the install it would be like going to Home Depot.
And soon it will be.

There's a reason why so many firms want to do the Nothing Down payment. They lock the customer into wicked expensive rates.

I went to a solar conference in SD 15 years ago. Dude said "solar parity" was coming! Grid nationwide was maybe 10 cents per kWh while long term solar was 16. But grid trend was going up with solar going down, such that parity would hit in maybe 5 more years. Heck, we are way past that!! PG&E charges me over 50 cents.

What's the PPA buyback price they put in the contract? And it adjusts upward annually, too. You're locked in to a long term price per kWh that's was over Solar. Simply because (generic customer) have no idea how to put Solar together.