Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A: Solar energy is simply power from the sun, and here in Baja we have plenty of it! Solar panels (usually on your roof) absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity for your home. This electricity flows through a device called an inverter, which turns it into the standard power that runs your lights, fridge, and other appliances. In short, the sun’s energy is turned into usable power for your household. Every day our Baja sunshine can keep your home running while cutting down your CFE bill.

A: Absolutely. Baja Sur is one of the best places for solar. We enjoy abundant sunshine year-round. In fact, areas like Todos Santos and La Paz see over 300 sunny days a year. That means your panels have plenty of fuel (sunlight) to work with. Additionally, electricity from the grid can be expensive here, so using our plentiful sun to power your home just makes sense. Solar panels actually perform well in our dry, sunny climate. All around the region, homeowners and businesses are choosing solar because it’s such a perfect match for Baja’s environment and lifestyle.

A: A typical home solar setup has a few key parts. First are the solar panels themselves, which capture sunlight and turn it into electricity. Next is an inverter, a box that converts the panels’ power into standard AC electricity that your home can use. You’ll also have mounting hardware securing the panels to your roof and wiring that connects everything to your electrical panel. If you choose to add batteries, those are another component: they store extra solar energy for use at night or during outages. And for grid-connected systems, CFE will install a bi-directional meter that tracks the energy you send to and draw from the grid. All these pieces work together so you can safely use solar power in your home.

A: These terms describe how your solar system interacts with the electric grid. A grid-tied system is connected to CFE’s grid. It uses solar power when the sun is shining, but draws power from CFE at night or whenever you need more electricity than your panels are producing. Any surplus solar energy you produce can go back into the grid for credit (lowering your bill). An off-grid system is completely independent. There’s no connection to CFE at all. Off-grid setups use batteries to store power and often have a generator as backup, so you’re truly self-sufficient. A hybrid system is the best of both: you’re connected to CFE and you have batteries. With a hybrid system, you use your solar power first, have batteries to keep critical loads running during outages or at night, and still have the grid as a backup. Many homeowners in Baja choose hybrid setups for reliability. You get energy savings and peace of mind during the occasional CFE outage.

A: Solar panels are very durable and long-lasting. Most come with a warranty around 25 years, guaranteeing that they’ll still produce a high percentage of their original power by the end of that period. In practice, panels often last 30 years or more. They don’t usually fail. They just very slowly produce a bit less as they age. Other components like inverters typically have warranties of 5 to 10 years (and often last about 10–15 years before needing replacement). The good news is that these lifespans are long, and our team will help with any warranty claims if something does come up. Once your system is installed, you can expect decades of clean power, and the warranties give you peace of mind along the way.

A: Not necessarily. If you’re connected to CFE (the utility grid) and your goal is mainly to save on electric bills, you can have a grid-tied solar system without batteries – the grid will supply power when your panels aren’t producing (like at night). However, if you want backup power when the grid goes down, or if you live in a remote area with no CFE connection, then adding batteries is important. Batteries store excess solar energy so you can use it after sunset or during outages. They do add to the cost of the system, but they provide energy security. It really comes down to your needs: many folks start with just solar panels tied to the grid, and later on, they add a battery for backup as needed. We can design your system either way and even make it “battery-ready” for the future.

A: Solar panels do need sunlight to produce power. They will still work on a cloudy day, but they generate less electricity than on a bright, clear day. (Fortunately, we don’t get too many cloudy days here in Baja California Sur.) At night, solar panels go into “sleep” mode since there’s no sunlight. Your home would then use electricity from the CFE grid or from a battery system if you have one, to keep everything running after dark.

A: It depends on your energy needs, but we’ll help you figure it out. Every home is different. For example, a small casita with basic appliances might only need a handful of panels, while a larger home with air conditioning and a pool might require a dozen or more. We typically look at your CFE bills or electricity usage to determine the right system size. From there, we design a custom solution with the appropriate number of panels to meet your needs. Don’t worry, you won’t have to guess the number of panels yourself. Our team will make sure your system is sized just right for your lifestyle, with room to grow if needed.

A: Not necessarily. If you’re connected to CFE (the utility grid) and your goal is mainly to save on electric bills, you can have a grid-tied solar system without batteries – the grid will supply power when your panels aren’t producing (like at night). However, if you want backup power when the grid goes down, or if you live in a remote area with no CFE connection, then adding batteries is important. Batteries store excess solar energy so you can use it after sunset or during outages. They do add to the cost of the system, but they provide energy security. It really comes down to your needs: many folks start with just solar panels tied to the grid, and later on, they add a battery for backup as needed. We can design your system either way and even make it “battery-ready” for the future.

A: With a standard grid-tied system (no batteries), the answer is no. If the CFE grid goes down, a grid-tied solar inverter automatically shuts off for safety. This means your solar panels won’t supply power to your home during an outage unless you have a backup in place. However, if you have a battery backup or generator as part of your system, then yes, you can have power when the grid is out. A solar system equipped with batteries (or a “hybrid” system) will detect the outage and switch to powering essential circuits in your home from the batteries. Many of our Baja neighbors opt for a battery so that their lights, fridge, and fans stay on during an outage. We can design your solar setup with this in mind, ensuring you have the option to keep going even if CFE power is down.

A: Yes, with a properly sized system, solar can power virtually all your home’s needs, even energy-hungry appliances like air conditioners. We design the system based on your usage, so if you run AC, pool pumps, or other big appliances, we account for that in the number of panels and, if needed, batteries. During the sunny hours, your panels can often produce enough electricity to run your A/C, fridge, lights, and more simultaneously. At night, if you don’t have batteries, you might draw from CFE for things like A/C, or you can add a battery system to cover that. Many homes here in Baja Sur use solar to comfortably power their AC units through the hot summer afternoons, dramatically cutting their grid consumption. We’ll work with you to make sure your solar setup lets you enjoy all your modern comforts, including a nice cool home, while still saving money.

A: The installation itself (the work on your roof) is pretty quick. It usually takes one to two days for a standard home system. The overall timeline from when you say “go” to when your solar is turned on is often about 2 to 4 weeks. This accounts for the site visit, system design, ordering any specific equipment, scheduling the install team, and getting CFE’s approval and meter installed. We handle all the coordination, so while there might be a bit of waiting for the paperwork and utility steps, you won’t need to do anything. We’ll keep you updated at each stage. Once everything is approved, we schedule the install and get your solar panels up and running in no time.