Like other areas of Los Cabos, El Tezal has its challenges with electricity. CFE has recently stated that it needs an advance payment to continue installing electrical meters in El Tezal. As a consequence, more of the condominium and home owners are considering solar as a alternative. Unfortunately, few of the builders have actually anticipated solar by putting in the necessary conduits from rooftops when the structures are being built.

The owners of one of the townhouses in Punta Mirante near the north end of El Tezal wanted solar for their home under construction. Ramon Estavillo of TLVsertec provided them with two alternative quotes – one for 50% coverage of their electrical needs and another for 100%. The main difference between the two was doubling the solar panels, inverters, charge controllers and batteries installed in the townhouse. The quotes ranged from about $18,500 to about $28, 900 for the systems and complete installation.

When we visited the townhouse, construction was still underway and the full system had not yet been installed (although it was functioning). Only a portion of the panels had been installed as work was still ongoing on the third-floor roof and roof deck. The panels were Canadian Solar 615 W panels installed on a K2 aluminum racking system. Ultimately, the panels will cover the back of the third -floor deck and the top of the stairway leading to it.

The solar components were installed in a large closet on the second floor of the townhouse with conduit and a box run to the end of the closet where the overall breaker box was installed. Two Victron Inverters were installed on the wall above the battery management cabinet which contains three Pytes 5.12 kW lithium-ion batteries, for a total storage capacity of 15.36 kWs. The Victron Charge controller directs the solar energy where it needs to go to provide electricity to the home and the lithium-ion batteries.

The components in the system hasa 10 -year warranties with a longer warranty for the panels (25 years). TVLsertec also will ensure delivery of a bidirectional CFE meter to deliver excess solar energy to the grid when it is available.