Over the years, significant numbers of people in Australia have been installing solar panels on their roofs. They are using the sun’s power to make electricity for their homes. Because of new technology, solar energy has become cheaper.
Hence, many more are thinking about getting solar panels. But before you start your solar journey, there are some key factors you should know and consider. We have come up with 7 key factors to consider before installing solar panels in Australia.
Installing solar is a significant investment in terms of time and upfront cost. Read below to learn the 7 key factors for installing solar panels in Australia and other relevant information. But before we get into it, consider the basics first.
Why Understanding Energy Consumption is Important
Before putting solar panels on your house, consider how much energy your family uses. Look at your energy bills to see how much electricity you use monthly.
It will help you determine how big your solar panel system needs to be to give you enough power. Ensure your solar panel system can handle your current energy use and any changes in the future.
If your home uses less energy, your solar panels will work better. So, try to save energy before you install them.
Choosing the Right Size Solar System
It’s essential to pick the right size for your solar energy system to get the most out of it and save money. You need to balance how much space you have on your roof, your budget, and how much energy you want.
Bigger systems make more electricity. But you might not need a big one, depending on how much energy you use.
A good solar company can check out your house, looking at how your roof faces, if there are any shadows, and how much sun you get.
This check will help determine your solar panel system’s best size and setup.
Getting Quality and Efficiency
Investing in quality solar panels that will last a long time and work well is wise. Even though cheaper options seem tempting, they might need to work better or last longer.
Look for solar panels with good warranties and certifications. Efficient panels will produce more electricity from the sun, which is excellent if you want to generate a lot of energy.
Benefits of Solar Panels for Homeowners
Solar panels have many benefits for Australian homeowners:
- Save money: Solar panels can help you save money on your electricity bills because they use the sun’s energy, which is free.
- Reduce carbon footprint: Solar panels produce clean energy, which means they don’t release harmful gases into the air like other forms of energy. It helps to reduce pollution and fight climate change.
- Energy independence: By generating electricity with solar panels, you become less reliant on traditional energy sources like coal or gas. It can give you more control over your energy usage and costs.
- Government incentives: The Australian government offers incentives such as rebates and feed-in tariffs for solar panel installation, making them more affordable for homeowners.
- Increase property value: Homes with solar panels are often more attractive to buyers because they come with lower energy bills and environmental benefits, potentially increasing the value of your property.
Overall, solar panels are a smart investment for Australian homeowners. This investment offers savings, environmental benefits, and energy independence.
7 Key Factors To Consider Before Installing Solar Panels In Australia
How Much Does Solar Cost?
A quality solar panel system can cost between $1,500 to $2,000 per kilowatt (kW). It includes REC Alpha Pure panels with inverters. For example, if you want a 10kW system, it might cost around $16,000 to $18,000.
A middle-of-the-road panel with inverters will be about $1,000 to $1,500 per kW. For instance, using Q Cells panels with inverters, a 6.6kW system might cost around $10,000 to $11,000.
As electricity prices increase, a quality solar panel system can pay for itself in 3 to 5 years. For example, a 10kW system might save you around $3,500 to $4,000 on your annual bills.
The bigger the system and the more solar power you use at home, the more you’ll save on your bills. Not only is solar power cheap, it’s much more affordable than getting power from the grid.
Now, you don’t have to settle for low-quality solar panels. You can invest in top-notch ones for your home that will work well for many years.
Check out our solar packages and get a free solar quote today!
Is Your Home Suitable for Solar Panels?
We at Solar Emporium can audit your property’s energy to accurately determine how many solar panels can fit on your house. Sometimes, we might need to visit your home to double-check the measurements.
We can also help you understand if your roof gets enough sun and if any shadows are blocking the sunlight.
If your roof works for solar power, we can help you decide how many panels you need and suggest which brands and types of systems are best for your house. Then, we’ll give you a fixed price for the installation and set a date for when we can do it.
Solar Panel Durability
When buying solar panels, it’s crucial to consider their durability. If you get panels that last a long time, you won’t have to worry about replacing them often.
Because Australia sometimes has strong winds, solar panels need to be durable. It helps reduce the time they’re not working because of damage.
You should find solar panels that can handle strong winds and at least some protection from hail. Also, it’s good to have panels that can handle heavy snow. If a panel can handle a lot of snow, it can also handle other heavy things on top of it without breaking.
Also, you should look for solar panels that can resist damage from the surrounding environment.
What About Solar Rebate and Incentives?
Many rebates are available for homes and businesses in Australia for solar panel installation and other renewable energy systems. The government’s program is called an “incentive” instead of a rebate.
This incentive helps reduce the cost of solar systems by creating Renewable Energy Certificates when you install one. Energy companies buy these certificates as part of their commitment to using renewable energy.
The value of these certificates can vary, and they can either lower the price of your solar system or be sold through a particular system run by the Clean Energy Regulator.
There are also more incentives and grants available for commercial systems. If you’re interested, our commercial consultants can discuss them.
Additionally, the Victorian State government has its solar rebate program.
What is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)?
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a way to measure energy, and it’s what your energy company uses to charge you.
A kWh means one kilowatt of power used or measured over one hour. For example, an air conditioner with 3kW of power will use up to 3 kWh every hour.
So, if your energy company charges you 25 cents per kWh, running the air conditioner for an hour will cost you 75 cents.
Similarly, if you have an 8kW solar system, it will generate 8 kWh of power for every hour it’s running at full power.
For instance, on a sunny day in summer, if a 10kW system runs at full power for 4 hours and you use all that power at home, you’ll save $10.00 on your power bill (10kW x 4 hours x 25 cents).
How much power does a solar system make?
It depends on where you live, how your roof is facing, the angle of your solar panels, the weather, the seasons, and how big your system is.
Because of this, we use averages and advice from the Clean Energy Council.
For example, in Sydney, the Clean Energy Council says a solar system should make around 3.9 kWh of energy per day for every kW of solar installed, considering the seasons and weather.
But this number can be very different on different days. In Melbourne, solar power is about 3.6 kWh per day per kW.
A 2kW system should make around 7.8 kWh on average, and a 10kW system will make about 39 kWh a day.
Using this, a simple way to guess how much power a solar system will make is to multiply its size by 4. A 2kW system will likely make around 8 kWh of energy on an average day.
Solar panel systems produce more power in summer than in winter, which is better for homes in Australia because our summers are hot.
Usually, people use more electricity in summer because of things like air conditioners and pool pumps and because many people are home from work during the summer holidays.
Is A New Digital Meter Necessary?
Yes, you will need a new digital meter for all solar systems. These meters can track how much extra solar power you send to the grid and how much power you buy from your energy company.
Even if you already have a digital meter, you’ll still need a new one because it won’t be set up for solar power. It’s your energy company’s job to replace or install the meter.
Contact Solar Emporium for any residential solar solutions.
