Power move: expanding your solar meets growing needs

One mtvSolar customer is getting to see the benefits of their recent solar expansion add up as 2025 comes to a close. The Shepherdstown, WV clients decided, after having solar on their home for five years, to add more panels to better meet their power needs.

The expansion project, which went live in March of 2025, took the home’s solar panel system from an 18.6 kW system to a 27.2 kW system. They previously had (2) existing SolarEdge 11400-watt inverters with one string available on each inverter. Our crews added 10 Silgab 430-watt modules on each inverter.

“In this case, expanding the system was pretty straight forward as they were only utilizing 2 out of 3 potential string inputs with the original system. We simply came along and added more panels on the available third string input,” explains PV Consultant Stuart Smith.

The clients also got the benefit of adding higher wattage panels than those in their original system. The payoff? It’s a pretty clear picture when looking at their production graph on their solar monitoring system.

Screenshot of solar production after a panel expansion.
mtvSolar PV Consultant Stuart Smith

For clients who are installing solar panels for the first time, it’s always a consideration whether they think they’ll want to expand that system at some time in the future. Our mtvSolar team asks that question and plans for it, when the answer is yes. For customers who have older systems, expansion is often possible, even if the original panels are no longer available. It depends on the component parts of the system, whether more modern components can be electrically compatible.

The key, in all cases, is looking at the home or business owner’s needs, Stuart emphasized. How much power do they use, how much power do they need today, and what are the future needs that could affect demand a few years down the road.

For example, a homeowner with enough solar panels to meet 100% of their household needs buys an EV, and their vehicle charging demands mean their panels only give them 80% of the electricity they now need for their household. The addition of any big electrical draw to a home — from an EV charging port to a heated pool to a new garage — could warrant a solar expansion.

Brighter blue panels show the expansion area for a solar customer.

Planning ahead for future expansion of solar is ideal, but any experienced and reputable solar installer can advise a property owner on if and how they can add more solar panels to an existing system. Whether on the roof or on a ground-mount system, more solar panels will deliver bigger power production over time, shoring up energy independence for a property and leveling out electricity costs over the long term.

Solar in the news: American-made renewables take center stage

Energy independence isn’t just for homeowners who want to own their own power sources. It’s a national movement, fueled by the desire to rebuild America’s energy supply-chain and bolster the country’s power infrastructure. Modern demands for electricity are growing, and the grid can’t always keep up with traditional sources of power. Advocates for domestic renewable energy have been on the forefront of the issue for decades, and the day for renewables appears to have arrived.

Homeowners and business owners can now leverage tax incentives that are in place to put American-made renewable energy components front and center. In areas of the country that are transitioning away from traditional fossil-fuel energy economies, those incentives are even bigger.

Photo courtesy of National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The U.S. Department of Energy is harnessing federal funds to encourage installers and customers to buy solar and other power parts that are Made in America. Not only that, there’s a strong push to build out America’s renewable energy section in all its facets — from manufacturing to new technology innovation and workforce training.

The federal Solar Energies Technology Office has crafted several solar-focused American Made Challenges that put cash on the line for new and effective technologies, ways of measuring renewable energy effectiveness and tools to integrate solar, wind and hydroelectric power with the existing power grid.

These efforts to ignite new thinking about renewable energy methods and solidify the market for American-made components will be shaping the energy sector for decades to come. Solar and energy storage technologies will keep getting better as more and more young minds focus their energy on our energy.

mtvSolar has been using American-made solar components since its founding and continues to partner with U.S. companies that make high-quality solar products with proven performance. Many of our customers specifically request American-made components and we are well-versed in the best choices to meet their energy needs and stay on budget.

Build the ultimate backup system

Be ready for anything.

The world’s full of uncertainties. From monster storms to surprise grid hacks, you deserve power on demand. Forget scrambling in the dark – mtvSolar builds ultimate backup systems, crafted for your peace of mind.

No outages, no worries:

  • Stay grid-connected: Enjoy solar power with seamless backup during dips and blackouts.
  • Go fully off-grid: Ditch the grid entirely and embrace independent energy freedom.
  • Fuel for all seasons: An auto-start propane generator can kick in when sunlight is limited and the batteries need a boost, only sipping fuel as needed.
  • Control without being online: We design systems that thrive even without internet reliance.
  • Tailored to you: We craft the perfect backup solution for your needs and budget.

Don’t wait for the lights to go out. Embrace your power today.

Get a free consultation and secure your bright future with Mountain View Solar.