Brief Guide to Buying Solar Power Systems

Solar energy is free, clean and easy to tap. It involves harvesting the energy produced by the sun and converting it into electricity for use in our homes and businesses. A complete solar power system includes individual components such as solar panels, a solar inverter, storage battery, cabling, frames, mounting stands as well as measuring and monitoring devices.

Solar has become far more accessible to consumers in Australia, considering prices of solar power systems have dropped by over 60% in the last 5 years. If you are thinking of investing in a solar power system, you’ll probably want to learn more about how solar works, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy before making a final decision.

How Does Solar Energy Work?

Basically, solar power is generated from the energy that is tapped from the sun and is converted into usable electricity for industrial, commercial and residential purposes. Solar technology relies on solar panels that are made up of a combination of silicon cells, metal frames, glass casing and appropriate wiring to transmit power. 

Solar power technology is constantly evolving, but it’s important to consider the orientation of your home before buying a system. You can install solar panels on your roof, or you can choose ground mounts in places that get direct sunlight.

Solar Power and Grid Connection

Most solar power systems in the country are connected to the main electricity grid. With a grid connection, you don’t have to solely depend on your solar power system for your power needs. Off-grid systems are more common in rural areas where connecting to the grid is not viable.

If your system is connected to the grid, any excess electricity you generate can be fed back into the grid, and you’ll earn a discount from your power company.

Advantages of Solar Energy

• Long-life cycle
• Renewable
• Save on bills
• Minimal maintenance
• Diverse applications

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

• High initial cost
• Dependent on weather
• Requires space

Solar Power Systems: What Do You Need to Buy?

A typical solar power system includes a variety of components like solar panels, a battery, and wiring. What’s included and what you need to buy depends largely on the size of the application of the system.

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?

When deciding on your system size, consider what goals you want to achieve – saving money, maximising your ROI, reducing your carbon footprint or anything else – and consider your circumstances. Your circumstances include the availability of sunlight in your region, available roof or ground space, how much energy you use and your budget.

Solar power system sizes are described using their capacities as opposed to the number of solar panels they have. In Australia, a typical household can use an average of 20 kWh every day. A 5kW solar power system can comfortably match this level of consumption. The best way to establish the best solar power system for you is to find out your usage by checking your electricity bill and dividing it by 4 to know the appropriate system capacity for you.

Choosing Solar Panels: What To Consider Before Buying

When choosing solar panels, you need to consider factors like specifications, manufacturer, warranty, quality, accreditation and efficiency levels.

Energy Savings

How much you save on your electricity bill will depend on a wide range of factors including; energy-use patterns, energy consumption, feed-in-tariffs with your power company, size of the system, location (amount of sunlight). Factors like inverter type and panel configuration can also affect efficiency and hence, savings.

Investing in a solar power system is excellent to secure your future energy consumption needs. Solar is a renewable and reliable source of power for both homes and businesses in Australia.

If you are looking for a trusted local solar company in Hervey Bay, please contact us today at GCR Electrical Systems on (07) 4120 7004 or leave an enquiry if you would like more information about our solar installation services.