Solar power in its various forms can certainly be confusing if you’re new to the world of renewable energy. Below is our solar power FAQ where answers to common questions we see asked about solar power in relation to residential grid connect systems. This solar power FAQ is divided up into sections of different interest, such as climate, installation and general questions.
General grid connect solar power FAQ
Grid connect systems, often located in built up areas, supply solar electricity through an inverter directly to the household and to the electricity grid if the system is providing more energy than the house needs. When power is supplied to the mains grid, the home owner usually receives a credit or a payment for that electricity. This is called a feed in tariff.
The strength of the solar energy (radiation) available depends on the time of year, the time of day, and the latitude of the generation point. The amount of energy generated can be further affected by the amount of dust and water vapour in the air, the amount of cloud cover and any shading of the solar panels and the quality of the solar modules. You can learn more about solar radiation levels for your area in our solar power system builder.
Most certainly. For example, a system with solar panels facing in a southerly direction will generate far less than one with a northerly aspect. However, east/west installations can be a good option depending on the installation scenario.
A feed in tariff is whereby a grid connect system owner is paid for the electricity their system generates by a utility or government agency. There are two different types of tariffs, gross and net. A gross feed in tariff pays a premium on all electricity produced whereas a net feed in tariff only pays on surplus energy created by the system. In Australia, net feed in tariffs are predominant.
That entirely depends on your energy usage and your geographical location. A 1.5 kW system is currently the “entry point” for grid connect.It will cover between 16 and 25% of the energy consumption of a medium household. A 4-5 kW system will cover 100% of the energy consumption of a medium energy use household. Learn more about solar power system sizing.
Any size grid connect solar power system will reduce your yearly power consumption and your power bill. Naturally, the bigger the system, the bigger the benefit.
To make the most of solar power, the key is to implement simple energy efficiency strategies. It is easy to conserve energy by using appropriate lighting and efficient appliances. Running high power appliances such as electric bar heaters, electric hot water systems and air conditioners etc. is really not economical.
Instead of considering a very large solar system; you can also invest in energy efficient heaters, solar hot water and design features such as strategically placed vents or insulation to avoid heat entering the house in the first place. In summary – all your energy can be supplied by solar power and your budget and daily energy usage will determine the size of your solar power system.
Several aspects will need to be evaluated to determine if your home is a good solar site, such as orientation, space available, shadows on the space available and your current electricity usage. The best site will be one with adequate north-facing roofs that have no shade. Variations on that will cut into the productivity of the system.
The life of Solar modules that have been tested in the field showing small reductions in power output after 20 years, mostly because the glass surface becomes a bit dull and reflects more light. All our solar panels carry an output warranty of 25 years. There are solar panels delivering power in Australia today that were installed more that 30 years ago. The electronic components such as inverters, being the most sensitive, will last 10 -15 years.
Learn more about the components Energy Matters uses in grid connect systems.
- Solar Panels: minimum 10 year product warranty and 25 year performance guarantee
- Inverter: 5 – 10 year warranty.
- Mounting System: 10-year product warranty (manufacturer)
- Workmanship: 5 year warranty on workmanship (installer)
Between monocrystalline and polycrystalline there isn’t a lot of difference except that a polycrystalline panel is slightly larger than the equivalent wattage in monocrystalline. Thin film panels are larger again and the extra space can take up valuable rooftop real estate in terms of adding extra panels at a later date. There are other issues to consider with thin film panels, explained in further detail here.
A base installation rate includes the grid connect system being installed on a pitched metal roof facing north with appropriate surface area available.
Additional costs will be incurred for a flat or tiled roof; any equipment upgrades and extended warranties.
Most insurers will allow you to include the system under your home and contents insurance, but please check with your insurance company first.
Yes. Additional solar panels can be added at any time to increase generating capability but you might have to upgrade to a larger inverter. Alternatively you could purchase a larger inverter when installing the system initially and then plan to add some extra solar panels later.
In a grid connect system, as you are still tied to the mains power supply, any deficit will come from the mains grid.
As the Solar Shop Online systems are designed to Australian Standards, the reliability of components and consistency of power supply will be more than adequate for the loads specified.
Although solar electricity is pollution-free, PV systems require a certain amount of energy, which must be ‘reimbursed’ before they can be considered as renewable and clean. This is known as “embodied energy”. An assessment from the International Energy Agency concluded in mid 2006 that roof-top solar PV systems recover their energy content (from manufacturing and recycling) within 1.6 to 1.8 years in Australia. That figure has since improved.
Once they have reimbursed their initial energy input, roof-top PV systems can avoid the emission of 40 tonnes of CO2, depending on their location and on the local electricity mix available. Roof-top PV systems in Australia during their 30 year lifespan are expected to produce around 17 times the amount of energy needed for manufacture, installation and dismantling.
Using a comparison to a car, the average vehicle in Australia travels 20 000 km per annum, which is equivalent to 3.3 tons of carbon dioxide discharge annually. A 2kw grid connected system will prevent 3.3 tons of carbon dioxide being generated through coal fired power generation – so it’s the equivalent of taking a car off the road each year. Solar power system components
The heart of a photovoltaic solar system is the solar array. Made up of multiple panels (individually measuring roughly 1 by 1.5 meters), this array absorbs the energy of a specific range of available sunlight and converts this energy into electrical energy. The array is mounted on a frame that allows the panels to be securely mounted with minimal interference with the waterproofing and structure of the roof, as well as providing the correct aspect and elevation for the array so as that the maximum amount of available sunlight in received and converted.
A cable is run down from the array to the inverter, a device designed to efficiently convert the widely fluctuating power from the solar array into a predictable and usable energy feed. A second cable connects the inverter to your house’s switchboard, which is in turn connected to the main power grid, creating a continuous and dynamic system for the contribution of solar energy to your house. The inverter also acts as a simple data logger; an information screen on the inverter will display total energy production, daily energy production, and instantaneous power. These figures will fluctuate depending on the time of year, the cloud cover, and temperature, and will allow you to keep a record of your system’s performance.
Solar power systems can also be optionally fitted with easy-to-use remote monitors, internet enabled data loggers, and even sensors to determine solar availability, panel temperature, air temperature, and wind speed.
With a grid connected system, there is very little maintenance required. Electronic components should be maintenance free. Solar Shop Online systems come with complete instructions for maintenance.
Electrical & installation solar power FAQ
No, the inverter handles the incoming charge and converts it to AC electricity for use in your home. Solar regulators are used in off-grid systems.
In order to install a grid connected solar power system at your premises, you will need to have a compatible switchboard and meter.
A meter exchange may be required after the installation of your new solar system. The energy produced by your solar system interacts with the main power grid and the loads in your house. Without an appropriate mains meter, any energy you sell to the power grid can be inaccurately measured, or even completely disregarded, greatly reducing the system’s effectiveness in reducing your energy bill. A ‘bi-directional’ meter is installed in place of the existing one-way ‘detented’ meter, allowing the reading of energy in both directions; both buy and sell.
Grid connect systems direct excess electricity produced during the day back into the local electricity grid. You then receive a credit for any power that your system supplied to the grid. During the night when your system does not produce and electricity you draw your power from the grid and your electricity meter measures your consumption.
The grid connect inverter will automatically shut itself off within a few milliseconds of a blackout, to avoid the potential of a dangerous “brown-out” in your home and to prevent back feeding into the grid. Therefore even though you have a solar system during a blackout you will not have power available. If you want to keep on having electricity available during a blackout then you would need to have back up batteries installed as well, which will add to the cost of the system.
Yes, battery backup systems require additional components – which can be costly; although pricing is rapidly dropping.
The solar system is wired into your existing fuse box via a 15amp circuit breaker.
Usually the inverter is placed alongside the fuse box. The inverter is silent and has a display to show the electricity generated and other data options such as total electricity generated since installation, are available.
Solar panels take light from the sun and make electricity. Solar hot water systems take heat from the sun and heat water. It is easy to remember:
- Heat from the sun heats the water.
- Light from the sun turns on the lights.
1.0 KW system needs approximately 10m2, a 1.5KW system needs approximately 15m2 and so forth.
The system weighs approximately 27 kilograms per square meter (a 1KW system is approximately 10 square meters).
