Solar panels power your home by converting light energy into DC electricity. But the question is, do they really power your home? Are they beneficial? Yes, when you have the right system, the right solar power system can power your home efficiently and effectively.
How Do They Work? What Happens at Night?
As a matter of fact, solar power systems do not make electricity at night. Solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. Therefore, solar energy is generated only during the daytime, and the maximum production is at the peak sunlight hours. So, the highest solar energy generation is usually between 11 am to 4 pm.
Seemingly this also varies with weather and during the winter months. Whatever solar energy your solar system harvests is used to power your home, while the excess is fed into the grid and stored in your solar battery (if you have one). So, at night, you’ll be using either the electricity that’s stored in your solar battery or the grid electricity (purchased from your energy provider). It can also be a combination of both.
Financial Benefits
In terms of financial benefits, even if you don’t have a solar battery installed, the right solar power system can cover the cost of the electricity purchased during the night. As mentioned earlier, it is through the excess electricity that is fed back into the grid. It is the feed-in tariffs that make up for the charges that you spend during the night. Depending upon the size of your solar system and the pattern of your electricity consumption, you can significantly reduce the power bills with or without a solar battery.
Average Power Usage
In general, an average Australian family consumes electricity anywhere from around 19kWh to 50kWh per day. Therefore, it may cost anywhere around $2,500 to $5,500 per year. It hugely depends upon:
- Size of the family
- The type/size of the property
- Lifestyle
- The energy efficiency of the appliances used.
Moreover, it also depends upon the climatic conditions, and the output varies in the summer and winter months. It’s important to consider all these factors if you are about to install a solar system in your home. Most importantly, check with your solar installer to assess and install the best solar system that powers your home according to your lifestyle.
It is always better if you have some idea about your electrical needs. You have to know the electricity consumption of your home. You can find that in the electricity usage and service calculation section of your electricity bill. Look for the average daily usage in kWh to find out how much electricity you consume daily on average.
Accordingly, you can install a solar panel system that will benefit you. If you are unsatisfied with your current solar system or want to check if it’s the right fit for you, hire an accredited solar installer to have your concerns resolved.
How To Improve Their Efficiency?
If you are looking to improve the efficiency of your current solar system, you can do it by installing or upgrading the solar battery system. Installing a solar battery allows you to store energy for backup during the night and at peak hours, helping you reduce the electricity bill. Moreover, solar batteries offer you the benefit of stacking – meaning you can add additional batteries until you achieve your ideal storage requirement. It also benefits you in case of a power outage.
If you are still unsure about getting the right solar system that suits your needs, reach out to our highly professional, experienced and accredited solar installers at Bila Energy located around Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Nambucca Heads, Taree and Coffs Harbour areas of New South Wales.