Can you claim the 30% solar tax credit on a new system this year and then later add panels and claim them under the residential clean energy credit up to $1,200 a year?

[mjramage]

In other words, is the solar tax credit completely different from the residential clean energy credit. I've read that you can only clean the solar tax credit once (I'm assuming that means a large deduction on a new system), But we may want to add a few panels a few years down the road and our decision would hinge presumably on whether we could claim a deduction for those under the residential clean energy credit instead (which, unlike the solar, appears to be limited to $1,200 in a year)

[Mike9241]

the energy efficient property tax credit, max $1200 per year under IRC 25C, does not include solar panels.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:26%20section:25C%20edition:prelim) 

the residential clean energy credit formerly residential energy efficient credit 30% of cost under IRC 25D

is for the following types of property

(1)the qualified solar electric property expenditures,
(2)the qualified solar water heating property expenditures,
(3)the qualified fuel cell property expenditures,
(4)the qualified small wind energy property expenditures,
(5)the qualified geothermal heat pump property expenditures, and
(6)the qualified battery storage technology expenditures,
the code says the credit is available when the property is placed into service. it also says

(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an expenditure with respect to an item shall be treated as made when the original installation of the item is completed.

(B)Expenditures part of building construction
In the case of an expenditure in connection with the construction or reconstruction of a structure, such expenditure shall be treated as made when the original use of the constructed or reconstructed structure by the taxpayer begins.

is adding more panels to the original installation also an original  installation? I would think so but no guarantee.