About BigEnergyCo — Free Solar Method
One person, one free tool, open arithmetic. BigEnergyCo is a free solar sizing estimator built and given away by Lucas Ballek. Not a company, not incorporated, nothing for sale, no signup, no tracking profile. It answers one question honestly — what size solar and battery does my load need at my address, and what does that cost in honest ranges?
Who runs this
My name is Lucas Ballek, running this site as one person in my own time. No company, no sales team, no installer network, no commission — because there is nothing to buy. Contact: [email protected], answered as a favour when time allows, not as a support desk. Any reply is friendly opinion for further research, not professional engineering or financial advice. For anything you build or spend money on, talk to a licensed electrician or engineer in your area.
What this site does — and does not do
It does: estimate off-grid sizes (kW PV, usable kWh storage, kW inverter), grid-tie bill-cut targets (60/80/95%), battery-chemistry lifetime comparisons, and component-cost ranges with dated scopes — deterministically, free, no account.
It does not: sell hardware, take a cut, issue stamped designs or quotes, certify safety, or promise savings. Output is automated educational estimates and may be wrong. Chat text is sent to the AI provider to generate a reply and is not stored here; do not type anything sensitive into it.
Method: how numbers are produced
- Five years of hourly NASA POWER weather at your exact coordinates — not one average sun-hours figure.
- Worst-week sizing: arrays and banks are driven by the darkest week of five years, not the annual mean.
- Explicit derates: temperature, soiling, wiring, and inverter losses as stated factors.
- Tier A / B / C autonomy: from common cloudy spells through worst-week cover, each with explicit kW and kWh.
- Grid-tie targets: 60%, 80%, 95% bill reductions against your load timing.
- Deterministic engine: same inputs always produce the same sizes. The AI explains; it does not compute.
Pricing honesty: scopes, ranges, dates
- Ex-factory (Aug 2026): $45–70/kWh batteries, $0.11–0.20/W panels — before freight, duty, BMS, labor.
- Landed DIY: $80–125/kWh LFP ($88–138 sodium-ion), $0.16–0.28/W panels — shipped and duty-paid, you assemble.
- Budget retail (Aug 2026): $110–165/kWh LFP ($110–175 sodium-ion), $0.28–0.38/W panels — shipped retail.
Results run ex-factory low through retail high with regional freight multipliers applied openly. All figures exclude mounting, wiring, permits, and labor — check current local prices.
Update cadence
Catalog scopes checked Aug 2026; tariff boxes reflect 2025–2026 averages and are overwritten by typed user rates. Guides carry publication dates in the header. If a claim looks stale, assume it is and verify locally — corrections welcome at [email protected].
Why trust a free tool from one person
- Shows arithmetic: inputs, derates, worst week, and ranges are all stated and checkable.
- Open deterministic engine: no account, no paywall, no incentive to inflate — nothing for sale.
- Argues against itself: pages state where solar loses and when a retained generator wins.
- No signup means no leverage: the only thing the site can earn is being right enough to be linked.
Liability: read before building
Provided free and as-is, with no warranty. Estimates are educational only and may be inaccurate. Batteries, high DC current, and mains wiring can cause fire, serious injury, and death — you are responsible for your safety, decisions, and local code. Verify everything with a licensed professional. Nothing here is legal, tax, engineering, or financial advice.
Contact
[email protected] — one person, own time, friendly opinion only. For anything you build, consult a licensed electrician or engineer first.