Solar Upgrades & Additions
Add Solar Panels or a Battery to Your Existing System
Your home probably uses more power than it did when your solar went in. SolarTech adds panels, battery storage, and EV charging to existing systems, including ones another company installed, sized to how you live now and planned around your utility’s rules.
Is It Time to Upgrade?
Signs Your System Needs More Power
Most systems were sized for the home you had on install day. These are the changes we see most often.
A New EV in the Garage
Charging a car at home adds a big chunk to your usage, and most older systems weren’t sized for it.
Your Bills Are Creeping Back
If your monthly bill or annual true-up keeps growing, your usage has likely outgrown your production.
New Appliances at Home
Heat pumps, pool pumps, and central AC all draw more power than your system was planned for.
A Bigger Household
More people, a home office, or a new ADU means more energy used every single day.
You Want Backup Power
A battery keeps your essentials running during outages and lets you use your solar after dark.
Aging Equipment
An older inverter or outdated monitoring can hold back a system that still has years of life left.
Upgrade Options
Three Ways to Get More From Your Solar
Add one, or combine them. We look at your usage, your existing equipment, and your rate plan, then recommend the mix that makes sense for your home.
01Add Solar Panels
More Panels, More Production
Adding panels is the most direct way to raise your system’s output. We size the addition from your real usage, match it to the equipment already on your roof, and design it around your utility’s rules so your rate plan stays protected.
- Sized from your actual energy use, not a guess
- Matched to your existing inverter, or paired with a new one
- Rooftop in almost every case, with ground mounts and carports available when roof space runs out
Panel brands we install
02Add Battery Storage
Store Your Solar for Evenings and Outages
Under NEM 3.0, the credit you get for sending power to the grid is low. A battery stores your midday solar so you can use it in the evening, when power costs the most, and keeps your essentials running when the grid goes down.
- Backup power for outages
- Use your own solar after the sun sets
- Can be added without adding any new panels
On NEM 1.0 or 2.0? Adding a battery generally doesn’t change your net metering plan, which often makes it the smartest first upgrade.
Batteries we install
03Add an EV Charger
Charge Your Car on Sunshine
A dedicated 240V outlet or hardwired wall charger charges your car about 5x faster than a standard outlet. About an hour of charging covers a typical day of driving, and with solar on the roof, much of that power comes from your own system.
- NEMA 14-50 outlets and hardwired wall chargers
- Permits and city inspection handled for you
- Pair it with a few more panels to cover the new load
1 of 3
Next: Battery Storage
Modernize Aging Equipment
Inverters usually wear out long before panels do. We replace aging inverters and update outdated components so the system you already own keeps producing. Pair it with solar monitoring or a system health check to catch issues early.
Before You Add Panels
What to Know Before You Expand
A good upgrade starts with the details that are easy to miss. We check all of these before we design anything.
Protect Your Net Metering Plan
If your system went in under NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0, you’re on a rate plan that’s no longer offered to new customers. California utilities let these homes expand once, by a limited amount, without losing that plan. Go past the limit and the whole system can move to the current net billing tariff, which pays much less for the power you export.
We review your interconnection agreement first, then design an upgrade that protects your plan.
- The expansion limitUp to 1 kW or 10% of your original system size, whichever is greater, and only once.
- BatteriesAdding storage generally doesn’t count toward that limit.
- ArizonaUtilities have their own rules for system additions, and we check those too.
Equipment Compatibility
Many older panel models are discontinued, and inverters have capacity limits. We match new panels to your system or recommend the right equipment upgrade.
Roof Condition
If your roof is near the end of its life, it’s best to handle it first. We offer both roofing and panel removal and reinstall.
Permits and Utility Approval
Upgrades need a permit, a city inspection, and approval from your utility. If your electrical panel needs an upgrade too, we coordinate that with the utility. We handle the paperwork from start to finish.
Our Process
From Assessment to Permission to Operate
We handle every step, including the paperwork. Most expansions are finished in 30 to 60 days.
- Free AssessmentWe review your usage, your bills, your rate plan, and your existing equipment, no matter who installed it.
- Custom DesignWe size the upgrade and match it to the system you already have.
- Permits and Utility ApplicationWe file the permit with your city and the interconnection request with your utility.
- InstallationOur in-house crews install your new panels, battery, or charger.
- Inspection and ApprovalWe pass the city inspection and get your utility’s permission to operate.
Get Started
Ready to Get More From Your Solar?
Tell us what’s changed at home and we’ll recommend the right upgrade. Estimates are free, and financing is available.
- Upgrades planned around your existing warranties
- We upgrade systems from any installer
- In-house crews and service technicians
- Permits, inspection, and utility approval handled for you
- 25+ years and 15,000+ solar installs
TESTIMONIALS
Thousands of satisfied customers
Hear from our satisfied customers and why they choose SolarTech for their roofing and solar services.
4.6 out of 5 stars based on 1572 customer reviews.
Looking to Upgrade Your System?
Contact us today by submitting the form or by calling our Solar Care specialists at (619) 485-5521.
Upgrade your solar system today for greater efficiency, reliability, and savings. Our experts will design and install the perfect solution to meet your energy needs, backed by our industry-leading warranties and in-house service.
Contact Your Solar Expert Today
"*" indicates required fields
Top FAQs About Solar Panel Upgrades
Your Questions About Solar Upgrades Answered
Contact SolarTech Support
Phone
(619) 485 5521
service@solartechonline.com
Yes. In most cases we can add panels to an existing system. Depending on your equipment, the addition may need its own inverter or an inverter upgrade, plus a permit and utility approval, which we handle for you.
Yes. We add panels, batteries, and EV chargers to systems from any installer, including companies that are no longer in business. We start by checking the existing equipment so the upgrade works with what’s already on your roof.
It can if the addition is too large. California utilities let NEM 1.0 and 2.0 homes expand once by up to 1 kW or 10% of the original system size, whichever is greater, without losing their plan. We review your interconnection agreement before we design anything so your plan stays protected.
Generally, no. Battery storage on its own doesn’t count toward the expansion limit, which is why a battery is often the best first upgrade for homes on NEM 1.0 or 2.0. We confirm the details with your utility’s rules before we start.
It depends on your rate plan and your goals. Panels raise production. A battery lets you use more of the solar you already make and gives you backup power. Under NEM 3.0, storage often adds more value. Our free assessment compares both for your home.
Not exactly. Many older panel models are discontinued, so we choose new panels that work safely with your system. Sometimes that means giving the addition its own inverter or upgrading the existing one.
We respect every warranty on your system, including manufacturer and installer warranties, and plan each upgrade to work within them. If anything about your coverage needs attention, we’ll walk you through it before work starts.
Yes. We replace aging inverters and update outdated components, either on their own or as part of a larger upgrade.
Almost every upgrade we do goes on the roof. When there’s no room left, we can build a ground mount or a solar carport instead.
Most system expansions take about 30 to 60 days from start to finish, including permits, inspection, and utility approval. If your home also needs an electrical panel upgrade, plan for 2 to 6 months, because the timing depends on when your utility schedules its own work order.
Yes. Flexible financing is available through our lending partners. See our financing options or ask your SolarTech advisor.
It depends on what you add and how large the upgrade is. Estimates are free, so the quickest way to know is a short assessment with our team.