How Solar Works & Why You Need It!

I’m going to break this down as easily as possible. I may leave out a few details but to understand something as complicated as solar, a general idea is a good place to start, so bear with me.  

A standard solar system will consist of two main components, panels & inverters.

The panels work by absorbing UV energy from the sun and transferring electrons between silicone cells within the panel to create electricity. The energy generated is DC (direct current) electricity. Typically the electricity is then fed into your inverter which will convert the electricity to AC (alternating current) making it viable for use in our homes for our household appliances. Any excess electricity you produce without using will be sent back to the grid and (depending on your state) you will receive a credit for the electricity you “sell” to the grid. 

Depending on your chosen set-up you may be using a Central Inverter or Micro Inverters. A central inverter will work with a string-line of panels, which basically means all your panels work together and the power they generate will feed into the one inverter (which is usually mounted next to the meter board). These systems are designed to work like a continuous circuit. Which could be compared to Christmas lights. When one stops working you will notice it causes problems with the whole line of lights. In terms of your system if one panel is not working or you have a shaded area on your roof ( from trees or other objects) it will cause performance to drop with the other panels connected on the same string. 

With a micro inverter system this problem is basically solved by adding a smaller (micro) inverter to each panel instead of one large inverter. The inverters will be mounted to the back of the panel essentially converting to AC current immediately. This design is like a closed circuit where each panel will work independently regardless of shading on part of the system. The system will still also have central monitoring software to manage output and production usually connected via Wi-fi. 

If you have battery storage integrated with your system there will be several other components involved but basically the batteries will charge and store the DC electricity produced by the system during the day and discharge power during the evenings extending the usage timeframe of your solar system. Any excess power will be sent back to the grid with the exception of stand-alone installations. Solar batteries are at a point where they are fast becoming viable when considering the Australian energy market but current your state and local government incentives will be a big factor when considering if it’s the right investment for your home. 

Solar is fast becoming the highest ticket item in energy production in Australia (and the rest of the world). The combination of high electricity prices and lowering costs in solar technology are now making it possible to see returns on your investment in as little as two years. This means that going solar is now cheaper for most people than “buying” power from the grid and it’s no longer a long-term investment. While you may have considered waiting for solar, the neighbours are already saving money and they may be paying less upfront than you will if you wait!

Currently you are paying a premium for over-investment in the infrastructure of the grid across eastern NSW. You’re left with no option but to pay premiums on electricity if you aren’t spending every minute of the day watching the meter.  Swapping retailers won’t have a large enough impact alone because electricity prices are based on the wholesale value of electricity and realistically the big guys run the market how they see fit despite the wishes of the regulators. Electricity prices have risen to more than double in the last five years, and at the time of posting, things are only getting worse! 

Solar is essentially a financial safeguard, protecting you from rising price rises on electricity over time. Even calculating the savings at 50% of your average bill over 25 years compared to a modest 7% rise in electricity will show you serious savings over time. This is just a taste of the basic investments in store with solar technology. With the rapid development in battery technology and software alongside smart-home tech it is now possible to produce and consume almost all of your energy from your own solar power system with the grid acting as a backup. It is also possible to sell to the grid at a premium when backup or excess power is needed to “boost” the supply for the grid users. 

Solar finance is another rapidly developing sector in the renewables industry. WIth countless options for purchasing solar from $0 deposit to small-commercial finance at 4% as well as flexible payment plans there has never been a better time to get hooked up!

With battery technology now in stages of refinement and solar panels and inverters being more efficient than ever, the innovation is set to be endless according to the imaginations of inventors and entrepreneurs. 

We are looking at an energy revolution taking place and Australia is firing the first shot. Your only task now is to get the details of your energy bills together, think about how you’re going to invest and get in touch with the team from Solarhunters for the best deals on high-quality solar systems from the very best solar installer in the market! 

Click below to get in touch now!