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> Rooftop residential solar is still 3x-5x more expensive than ground mount

which is puzzling to me, because most feasible rooftop solar needs close to zero prep work to be able to mount the panels on the roof. Ground mount needs either helical screws or concrete footings, both of which are relatively expensive in terms of either material and/or labor/time.

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You need a scaffold, which costs. The roof must be able to hold the additional mass (can be problematic in older buildings), you have to remove tiles and attach supports to the rafters and properly close the roof again. Sure, it's quick once work starts, but there's still some investment in material and tools you don't need on the ground.

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