Solar For Home – All You Need To Know

By Author: Jack Brown
Total Articles: 21
Comment this article

Solar energy is a cost-effective and reliable power source and using solar for home is a great option to help you take an active role in protecting the environment. Research shows that solar energy is plentiful and renewable and can also provide more than 10,000 times the world's energy needs if it is fully harnessed.
You can reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and help fight climate change by utilizing the sun's power and converting it into electricity at home. This article will help you understand all about solar systems for your home.
 
How do residential solar systems work?
Solar panels use the photovoltaic effect to create electricity, which can power your home or business. Photons from sunlight strike electrons in the solar panel and give them enough energy to flow through an electric circuit, creating a current. A solar inverter converts the direct current (DC) power produced by the panels into an alternating current (AC), so you can use it to power your house.
The ...
... strength of this current depends on three variables: sun intensity, temperature, and panel size (concentration). Solar panels use either monocrystalline or multicrystalline panels. Monocrystalline solar panels offer a higher efficiency rate than multi-crystalline, but multi-crystalline panels are less expensive and easier to manufacture.
Solar panel cost is the primary factor governing which type of panel homeowners will purchase; however, an increasing number of consumers prioritize environmental stewardship over economic factors, so the market is trending toward monocrystalline solar panels.
 
Types of solar power systems in Australia
Most residential solar energy systems installed in Australia are grid-connected and do not have solar batteries.
Grid-connected devices permit you to keep your grid connection to get power even at night (and in the event of cloudy weather). Your solar-powered inverter may work in harmony with grid power, allowing it to smartly make use of all solar energy first before drawing energy directly from the grid. In addition, grid-connected solar systems can sell back power into the grid. In general, it's financially unsustainable or feasible to cut off the grid entirely.
Off-grid solutions are an alternative source of power comprising batteries and solar power that provide a 24-hour power source without the grid being connected. It could be a more sustainable and economically efficient option to install a solar and battery standalone power system to help power the building of the new home. It will be a substantial initial expense (usually minimum. US$25,000), but the power is free for the rest of its lifespan.
Hybrid solar systems are grid-connected systems that store solar energy in a battery that can store solar energy for later use when there is no power from the sun (i.e., night-time). Solar Batteries are a great backup power source and can make the most of solar energy, but at their current prices, they cannot provide an excellent yield on your investment. If the average life span of the modern battery is 10 years, it is easy to understand why less than one of 10 households are installing solar-powered batteries.
 
What does it cost to install the solar for home?

Installation cost of solar panels

Assuming that you would wish to install around 5 kW of solar panels, it will cost about US$10,000 plus the inverter installation (inverters are the devices that convert DC generated by solar panels into AC electricity suitable for household appliances). The inverter usually costs another US$600-US$700 on average - taking the total installation cost to approximately US$11,600+.

Cost of estimated energy production

if you consider purchasing a 5 kW system for your home, you will need to spend about US$0.30/kWh for electricity if you use an average amount of solar power each day. Assuming that the system can produce enough electricity for 7 hours per day on average, the total daily production capacity is 3.5 kWh which translates to an annual production capacity of 4500 kWh (3.5 kWh x 24 hrs x 365 days). Your local electricity supplier gives the current cost of producing one unit of power, i.e., 1 Kilowatt-hour. For instance, if your area has a feed-in tariff rate of 12 cents per kWh, it would cost you US$540 per year for the power you get from your solar panels.

Payback period

The payback period on your investment is given by:
Payback period = cost of installation ÷ extra annual savings
i.e., if the total installation costs US$11,000 and you save US$540 each year as estimated above. It would take 10 years to pay back the entire installation cost, which comes to approximately US$110/month or US$3/day. After this period, you will benefit from free electricity as long as your residential solar is functional and the supply lasts. However, this may vary depending upon various factors such as the quality of equipment used during installation, location, and more.
 
How do you choose the best solar home power system?
These are the three critical aspects that will help you decide when you plan to buy solar for your home.
 
1.    Verify the solar panel's efficiency
The efficiency of solar panels is a measure of the speed at which the solar panel can transform the sunlight's energy into electrical power. If you apply an equal amount of light to two panels with differing ratings, one is likely to be more efficient than the other and generates more energy over the same period of time. Power rating, temperature coefficient, and power tolerance are all indicators of how much power the panel can generate. Again, it is suggested that you speak with a solar expert like Sunboost.com to establish these figures.
 
2.    Warranty
The best manufacturers are confident in their products and provide reasonable warranty for their systems. Ensure that the solar panels you purchase are guaranteed for between 10 to 25 years.
 
3.    Price
While everyone would prefer high-end systems, you must be aware that higher costs usually reflect better quality. However, be not all costly panels are of the highest quality. Therefore, it is better to familiarize yourself with the technologies used in solar panels so that you can make an informed purchase.
 
Solar panels have numerous benefits. The sooner you act, the more you reap. If you are looking for Australia, there is no better option than Sunboost, the largest solar company in Australia.