What does a photo voltaic system embrace?

A photo voltaic system (in any other case generally known as a photovoltaic or PV system) consists of photo voltaic panels and a type of inverter/s.

There are two essential varieties of inverters: a string inverter (that’s put in on a wall with all photo voltaic panels linked to it), and microinverters (which are connected to the again of every photo voltaic panel). Inverters convert the electrical energy generated by panels into 240V AC energy, making it appropriate for family use.

The variety of panels in your photo voltaic system will rely upon its measurement, which is often decided by the scale of your roof, and the power necessities of your family. 

What measurement photo voltaic system does my dwelling want? 

To reply this query requires firstly answering three different questions: how a lot energy does your own home use; how a lot area do you’ve got for photo voltaic panels; and what are your objectives?

In case your purpose is to function your property off-grid (i.e. with no connection to the primary electrical energy grid, aka the community that carries electrical energy from energy stations throughout the nation to your own home) you’ll need a bigger extra advanced photo voltaic system than somebody who’s fascinated by utilizing photo voltaic at the side of electrical energy from the grid. 

Most solar-powered properties in Australia use a mixture of solar energy generated on their rooftop, and electrical energy provided by the grid. The grid connection is used to provide energy at night time (when the solar isn’t shining!) and instances when the photo voltaic panels can’t generate sufficient energy, resembling on low-sunlight days.

You may get an concept of the very best measurement system for your own home by utilizing on-line calculators resembling Photo voltaic Quotes and Photo voltaic Calculator. A great photo voltaic supplier will totally assess your power wants, and make a suggestion of the very best system for you. 

Why doesn’t everybody function their home off-grid?

There are three essential causes that the majority photo voltaic homeowners stay linked to the grid: price, way of life, and area. 

Many householders merely don’t have the roof/land area for a big sufficient system to go off-grid (which requires a battery along with photo voltaic panels, and infrequently a backup generator), or the upfront funds to spend money on a system of this measurement.

Properties that run off-grid additionally must be significantly energy-efficient and the load demand must be well-managed all through the day.

Do I would like a battery?

A battery (or batteries) is an elective further element of a photo voltaic system that shops energy to make use of at night time and on low-sunlight days. A battery will enormously improve your photo voltaic system, guaranteeing you need to use solar energy at dwelling even when the solar isn’t shining, but it surely does come at important additional price.

Batteries are available a variety of sizes to go well with numerous family wants. With out a battery, photo voltaic powered properties draw on grid electrical energy when their panels will not be producing sufficient energy to run their family. Conversely, any extra energy their photo voltaic system creates that can’t be used instantly by the family is fed again into the grid and compensated by way of a ‘feed-in tariff’ (FiT). 

Director of BREC Power Luke Serdar typically advises prospects observe how their photo voltaic system capabilities earlier than investing in a battery. ‘We’d set up photo voltaic first, educate the shopper on learn how to get probably the most out of that funding, assess the information over the following 3-12 months after which revisit the shopper to see whether or not a battery is price it for them,’ Luke explains. ‘We’ve repeated this course of twice with some shoppers; we’ve put in photo voltaic first, waited a yr, put in a battery, waited one other yr, after which put in one other battery. Every step of the way in which we’re reassessing the information, all simply to verify the shopper isn’t losing cash.’

How a lot does a photo voltaic system and battery price?

As an estimate, director of BREC Power’s Luke Serdar says an excellent high quality photo voltaic system (together with set up, however relying on the complexity of the set up and merchandise used) prices round:

 – $1,800-$3,000 per kW of photo voltaic

 – $1,000-$2,000 per kWh of battery storage 

As a case research, occupational therapist and maker Catherine Spillane spent $12,250 (worth inclusive of a $3,750 rebate, obtainable on the time of buy) on a 12kW photo voltaic system (with premium panels designed for top salt mist places) put in in her Anglesea, Victoria property in 2021. She additionally bought a battery at a later date for $6,500 (worth inclusive of a $3,500 rebate, obtainable on the time of buy).  

Spillane’s photo voltaic system and battery covers 70 per cent of her energy wants throughout her household dwelling, pool, and separate vacation home that’s occupied 4 nights per week. The property is fully electrical, and the excellent energy payments are roughly $50 a month. 

The nationwide Small-scale Renewable Power Scheme (SRES) offers a monetary incentive (aka rebate) for Australians to put in solar energy, and a few states supply further rebates.

Everytime you see an advert for solar energy, the marketed worth will often already embrace the rebate. The installer claims the rebate in your behalf once you purchase a system, so that you solely pay the marketed worth.

How lengthy does photo voltaic take to ‘pay itself off?’

Precisely predicting the time it takes for an funding in photo voltaic to pay is sophisticated, because it is dependent upon many variables, together with your obtainable daylight, electrical energy costs, energy use, and photo voltaic feed-in tariffs. 

Feed-in tariffs are mainly a credit score that​​ photo voltaic system homeowners obtain from their electrical energy retailer in return for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) that they generate and feed again into the grid  (as organised by their photo voltaic supplier).

Reviews by each the Australian Power Council and Different Expertise Affiliation present most 5kW techniques will obtain payback in 3-7 years, relying on their location.

How do I select a photo voltaic installer?

A high quality photo voltaic system begins with a high quality installer. To director of BREC Power Luke Serdar, which means discovering an organization that’s enthusiastic about their work, makes use of well-made photo voltaic panels, and can take the time to coach you about your wants.

Slightly than Googling ‘photo voltaic installers’ and getting 1000’s of outcomes, converse to family and friends who’ve had photo voltaic put in for his or her suggestions, or flip to social media.  

‘It’d sound a little bit of an odd perspective, however I really feel just like the installers which have an excellent social media presence and persistently submit about their work are the individuals you need to discuss to,’ says Luke. ‘Keep away from the salespeople and steer towards the small companies which have the individual educating you with what’s proper to your dwelling or enterprise, and now have on-the-tools expertise. They’re those who actually understand how photo voltaic works.’

What can I count on when contacting a photo voltaic installer?

Once you contact a photo voltaic installer, they are going to both go to your property in individual or view the location by way of satellite tv for pc pictures to find out its orientation, obtainable area, and necessities. 

‘For the skilled installers, the fashion of locations which require a go to and which don’t… If the home appears to be like tough, a web site go to is paramount for getting the quote appropriate,’ explains BREC Power director Luke Serdar.

A great photo voltaic installer will even request to see as much as 12 months of electrical energy payments to your family (if obtainable), to totally perceive how a lot power your family makes use of, in all seasons of the yr.

From there, Luke says it’s all about educating prospects about what’s concerned, managing expectations, and figuring out the very best system for them. ‘Even in the event you solely have one roof face to play with, I really feel prefer it’s tremendous necessary for the shopper to know the restrictions or advantages for panels going through a sure route.’

Do photo voltaic panels differ in high quality? What merchandise are the very best? 

Sure, photo voltaic panels differ in high quality, which implies some will last more than others (which is necessary to contemplate from each an environmental and monetary perspective).

Photo voltaic panels from high quality producers will typically have an extended alternative guarantee than those who don’t. Director of BREC Power Luke Serdar says entry stage panels can have a alternative guarantee of round 12-15 years, and the very best have a alternative guarantee between 25-40 years. 

Photo voltaic panels even have a efficiency guarantee to guard from degradation, which typically occurs at a charge of round 0.5 per cent yearly. Degradation is unavoidable attributable to regular put on and tear, publicity to UV rays, and opposed climate situations. ‘The intense temps we get right here in Australia actually require high quality merchandise to keep away from failure,’ says Luke. 

Luke says photo voltaic panels bought in Australia often assure delivering no less than 80 per cent of their rated energy after 25 years. Panels can be recycled on the finish of their life by way of corporations resembling Ecoactiv.

Do I must do something as soon as my photo voltaic is put in?

Working a photo voltaic system requires common engagement and adjustment for optimum efficiency. In actual fact, director of BREC Power Luke Serdar says educating prospects and conducting a radical handover is crucial piece of the puzzle.

Most significantly, to get probably the most out of their system, prospects ought to alter their family habits to make use of solar energy when it’s obtainable (i.e. when the solar is shining!). This may be achieved by making small changes to your family routines, like setting your dishwasher and washer to timers for use within the day when photo voltaic is being generated.

A great photo voltaic supplier will set you up with a monitoring system that can present you simply how a lot electrical energy your photo voltaic system is producing, and the way a lot energy your family is utilizing at any given second. In all chance, you’ll be amazed at how rapidly you turn into conscious of your power consumption, and the miraculous advantages of rooftop photo voltaic!

Momentum Power are owned by Australia’s largest renewable power generator. Signal as much as one in every of Australia’s greenest energy corporations.