Due to rising electricity prices, solar energy has become a top-rated renewable source of generating electricity to meet the energy requirements. The amazing thing is that – while reducing the electricity bill, you are saving the future of the environment as well by decreasing the carbon emissions.
The continuous advancements in solar technology have flooded the market with a wide variety of solar panel and inverter variants. The price of solar panels has decreased in recent years, and the government is also providing rebates to all homeowners.
It’s a significant investment so should be done wisely, below-mentioned information would help you make the right decision.
It’s quite simple, solar panels absorb sunlight and produce electricity which is converted from Direct Current into Alternating Current with the help of Inverter so that can be used at home. If the system produces more power than you use, then you have two options – either you can store it by using a battery, or you can export it back to the grid for which you will get Feed-in Tariff.
In Australia, virtually every rooftop is suitable for solar panels; however there are few things to consider:
Angle/Direction: Solar panels must be installed at an appropriate angle/ direction to receive maximum sunlight throughout the day.
Roof Condition: The condition of the roof should be good before panel installation. If you are not sure of the condition, get it analysed by a competent installer before proceeding further.
Shade Issues: Your roof should be clear of shade from surrounding trees, buildings and other obstructions.
As such, a solar panel system does not require much maintenance. Still there are some recommendations for maximum efficiency. One must clean the panels periodically for good results. Click here to get detailed information on cleaning and maintenance tips.
If your panels produce more electricity than you consume, you can export the excess to the electricity grid. Your retailer will pay you for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity exported – usually around 7 to 12 cents per kWh.
Solar batteries are quite in demand nowadays and are an innovative solution to store the power for later usage. Otherwise, the excess electricity produced flows on to the grid.
Though the customer receives ‘feed-in tariff’ for each kWh of electricity fed into the grid, the electricity usage rates are much higher than feed-in rates. Thus, it would be more beneficial to store the excess solar energy produced to use for themselves. This way, your dependence on the amount of electricity from the grid will be less, and you can save even more on your power.
It’s also true that batteries don’t come cheap. A standard battery can cost you between $8,000 – $12,000, though the price varies depending upon the size. It generally takes 10-15 years to pay for itself, but once again, this depends upon price and energy usage habits. Regardless, the battery can be a good investment if you use a lot of electricity or you live in an area where the new grid connection is too expensive, or your retailer has imposed a solar limit.
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