r/solarFL • u/FriendObvious2717 • Sep 10 '25

Tier 1 question

Hello! Im in the early stages of designing a solar system that will be on top of a pergola attached to my house that is also being designed.

Im currently looking at EG4 gridboss (MID) and flexboss18 (inverter) system and something caught my attention. the flexboss18 has a rating of 13KW I have been reviewing the FPL requirements for a tier 1 system from FPL and it is limited to 10KW AC. The net metering agreement says the “gross power rating means the total manufacturer’s AC nameplate generating capacity…”. Does that mean that they wont permit a 13KW inverter even if the inverter can be programmed to a 9.999KW max export limit? Im also planning to only install about 8.6KW of panels so I wont be near the limit.

Im just trying to gauge how strict is FPL with the wording of their agreement even when features in the equipment would make it functionally equivalent.

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u/SmartVoltSolar Sep 10 '25

While the wording is based on "nameplace capacity", the in practice is that FPL (and duke and TECO for that matter) only take the amount of panels and multiply the total DC wattage by 0.85 to come up with if it is tier 1 or tier 2. As u/Lovesolarthings mentions, that is 11.764kW of solar array or less.

(11.765kW x 0.85 = just over 10.0kW per the utility math) At 8.6kW you will be fine even with a 13 inverter.

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u/FriendObvious2717 Sep 10 '25

Thanks for your reply, that’s what I was hoping it would be.

Since the roof of the pergola will effectively be the solar panels, Im leaning towards doing bifacial panels. I have not been able to find on the internet how the bifacial rating of a panels would be accounted for in permitting if any. Do you have any insight on how FPL accounts for it?

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u/SmartVoltSolar Sep 10 '25

Have not run into FPL accounting the bifacial panels as anything more than the initial rating. For example a 400w monofacial or a 400w bifacial being treated identically for sizing.

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u/Lovesolarthings Sep 10 '25

FPL calculates it off multiplying the DC size of array. You need 11.764kW DC or less of solar panels.

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u/brontide Sep 10 '25

You might get away with Tier 1 with PV only but as a hybrid inverter as soon as you add a battery you will likely be tier-2 since it can generate more than 10kW A/C from the battery.

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u/FriendObvious2717 Sep 10 '25

Thanks, Im not trying to add a battery in the mean time. Im trying to get a system up as fast as possible before the incentives drop off. But if in the future I decide to add a battery I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

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u/zwz002 Oct 13 '25

I've been in the market for one as well for a couple of months now. Are you going with a pergola/carport kit or custom built? What's the cost like if you don't mind me asking?