Energy Costs Are Skyrocketing – Is Solar the Affordable Solution?
Around the world, countries are facing a gruelling energy crisis, and Australia is no exception. A perfect storm of unfortunate global events has led to millions of people facing a tough few months with rising energy costs and uncertainty.
Although this time is particularly bad, rising energy costs are nothing new, and as time goes on this scenario might even become more common. Many people and governments are looking for a solution, and solar is one potential option.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what’s causing the current energy crisis and how solar power can help families and businesses weather the storm and plan for a more affordable and reliable energy future.
According to Jeff Dimery, Chief Executive of Alina, at the Energy & Climate Summit in Sydney, “Next year, using the current market prices, tariffs are going up a minimum of 35 per cent.” This is a big jump and has many families wondering why.
There are many factors at play. Right now, the two main issues are the Russia-Ukraine conflict and constricted global supply issues of oil and gas. This has impacted the entire global economy, leading to a lasting crisis.
Ultimately, this situation is happening because of our dependence on fossil fuels. Oil, coal, and gas have supplied humanity with energy for over a century and allowed for many great feats of engineering and progress that would otherwise have been impossible — but they come with a cost.
This year’s energy crisis is just the most recent example of what can happen when we rely too heavily on non-renewable energy sources. In the future, this kind of scenario will almost certainly be repeated.
So what’s the answer? How can you shield yourself and your family from these kinds of crises and keep your long-term energy costs down? One potential solution is solar energy.
Many people around the world are already turning to solar power as a way of mitigating the ongoing energy crisis. For example, Bloomberg NEF reported that Europe has imported huge numbers of solar modules, with installers fully booked for the next weeks and months.
Why are so many people embracing solar? Here’s how solar energy can help you protect yourself against energy crises:
Right now, most homes get their energy from the grid which services their region or country. The energy in this grid comes primarily from fossil fuels — sources like coal, oil, and gas which are impacted by the current crisis.
When you install a solar system, your home or business is able to generate its own power most of the time. This helps insulate you against rising energy prices because you no longer need to rely on the grid and associated utility costs as much.
Although Australia is fairly self-sufficient in terms of energy production compared to the rest of the world, major global events can still have a large impact on energy prices which directly affects ordinary Australians.
If you use solar to generate most of your power, you’ll be less exposed to these global forces. That means that unstable countries and faraway geopolitical events won’t have nearly as much of an effect on your utility costs.
But what about the cost of installing solar panels? Doesn’t this offset any savings you would make from breaking free of the energy grid?
It’s true that solar panels cost money to install, but if properly maintained they can last several decades. Once your solar system is up and running, you’ll save enough on utilities to cover the cost of your panels fairly quickly — on average it takes about 4 years to break even on solar costs in Australia.
At SnapSolar, we know that rising energy costs are a huge concern for millions of people in Australia. We also know that many people are turning to solar to give themselves, their families, and their businesses a more secure energy future and avoid any further crises and cost increases.
We help households and companies in Mackay and the surrounding Queensland area choose, install, and maintain solar panel systems. Contact us to find out how we can help you do the same.
With solar panels, you can take control of your energy production, reduce your dependence on the regional power grid, save money, and do your bit for the environment.
However, solar panels also come with challenges. One of the biggest questions for new solar customers is, “what happens to my solar panels during a power cut?”
In this article, we’ll take a look at how solar panels function during a power cut, whether they are a good alternative to traditional energy during this time, and the steps you need to take to make your home resistant to power outages.
Solar panels can generate electricity with nothing more than sunlight, so it’s natural to assume they would be able to function as normal, providing your home with light, warmth, and electricity even when the power grid is unavailable.
However, there’s a problem with this.
Your solar system does not always use all the electricity it produces. When your supply of energy exceeds your need, your solar system passes the excess energy to the grid, and you can receive compensation for this. It’s a way of ensuring no power goes to waste and maximizing the cost-efficiency of your panels.
Usually, this process works without issue… unless there’s a power cut. When the grid goes down, maintenance workers show up to repair the problem and get things running again as quickly as possible. If your panels are continuing to pump electricity into the grid while people are working on it, it can be extremely dangerous.
As a result, solar energy inverters are forced to shut down whenever the grid as a whole goes down. In other words, when the overall grid is unavailable, your solar panels stop working and you’re left in the same position as everyone else.
Pretty frustrating. But is there a way to maintain your solar power even when the grid has a power outage?
Here’s some good news — there are steps you can take to maintain your solar energy production and keep your home supplied with energy even during a power outage. Let’s take a look.
Solar batteries are one of the most effective ways to weather the storm of a power cut with your solar system. Solar batteries allow you to store excess energy from your panels and access it at a later time when your panels aren’t producing sufficient energy. This can be during the night, during periods of low sunlight, or during a power outage.
The cost of solar batteries depends on a few different factors, like your location, the type of batteries you use, and how much storage capacity you need. When you have to rely on your batteries, such as during a power cut, it makes sense to ration your energy usage and only use electricity for things you need.
Off-grid solar systems are essentially a more sophisticated extension of the solar batteries method. They require enough batteries to ensure your home can be powered for long periods of time by relying purely on the surplus energy your panels generate. In theory, this allows you to completely eliminate your dependence on the grid, so power cuts are no longer a concern.
In practice, off-grid solar systems are extremely expensive. Costs vary based on the size of your home, your location, and your energy usage, but can easily exceed $20,000 for a standard Australian home. If you live in an area that’s prone to power outages, or a very remote part of the country, an off-grid system may make sense, but for most people won’t be worth it.
A backup generator based on fossil fuel energy, typically gas, is a good emergency option for when your panels no longer work. Generators are fairly affordable, with simple ones costing just a few thousand dollars, and they offer reliable energy when your panels and the grid are no longer doing the job.
Many generators are capable of powering your entire home for a prolonged period of time, so they make an excellent backup plan. Of course, they rely on non-renewable energy so they aren’t the most sustainable or environmentally-friendly option, but they make a great plan B when you have no other option.
As you can see, a power cut doesn’t have to mean you’ll be plunged into total darkness for hours on end if your home relies on solar power. There are several methods that allow you to keep the lights on even when the grid is down.
At SnapSolar, we help households and businesses in Queensland work out the best solar plan for them. We can help you decide the best backup plan for power outages and how to put it into action. Contact us to learn more.
Installing solar panels is a good idea for many reasons, but the initial cost can be a barrier for some people. Many solar customers can justify the cost because solar panels will add value to their homes, allowing them to sell them for a higher price than they otherwise would.
How true is this? So solar panels really increase your home value, and how much? And what factors impact how much value solar panels add? In this article, we’ll dig into these questions and help you get a better idea of how solar panels affect the value of your home.
The short answer here is “yes”.
Generally speaking, a solar system can not only add value to your home but also help you sell it faster when the time comes. Research suggests that homes with solar panels sell up to 20% faster than those without, and the Real Estate Survey of Australia found that over 85% of people agreed that solar panels added value to their property.
This is all good news if you’re considering adding solar panels to your home since the increase in value can go a long way to offsetting the initial installation cost. But what are some of the factors that impact how much value your panels will add?
Probably the biggest factor in how much value solar panels will add to your property is how many you install. Studies have shown that each 1kW of solar you install can increase the value of your home by $5,911 USD, or $9099 AUD. That means a typical home solar system of around 4kW could add a significant amount of value to your property.
This is an important factor to consider if you are unsure about whether to add a few more panels to your system and are hesitating based on cost. Each additional panel will contribute further to the added value of your home.
Not all solar panel systems are the same. Some are simply more sophisticated and advanced than others, and the quality of your system and associated infrastructure will have an impact on how much value it adds to your home.
Here are some of the key factors:
Some areas are simply better suited to solar panels than others. Mackay, Queensland is an excellent choice for solar panels because of the consistent sunlight it receives year-round. Other parts of the world receive less sunlight, and so won’t get as much value from a solar panel system.
If your home is located in an area with lots of sunlight hours, a solar system will be considered more useful and will add more value to your home compared to less sunny regions.
If you don’t care for your solar panels correctly, they will degrade more quickly and be in worse condition for whoever buys your home. If your solar system is in shoddy condition due to a lack of proper maintenance, it won’t add as much value to your home.
Here are some steps you can take to maintain your solar panels:
At SnapSolar, we help homeowners and businesses throughout Queensland with everything related to solar panels. We can guide you through the process of choosing, installing, and maintaining the right solar system for your home and energy needs. We’ll answer all your questions, including how your solar panels will affect the value of your property. Contact us to learn more.
There is a lot to consider when it comes to installing a system of solar panels in your home. One of the most important things to consider is how large your solar system will need to be.
Everyone’s case is unique here. The size of your solar system will depend on a range of factors, from physical constraints to your personal needs and geographical location. In this article, we’ll take a look at what impacts the size of your solar system and how to calculate its size.
The final size of your solar panel system will depend on a number of variables. Here are some of the main things you’ll need to consider:
As an example, we can do a rough calculation for a typical house in Mackay, Queensland.
Let’s start with your electricity needs. On average, households in Queensland use 5,535kWh of energy every year. Divided by the number of days in a year (365), that gives us an average daily usage of 15.16kWh per day. This isn’t an exact figure, as daily usage varies according to the season, but it’s a good starting point.
Now let’s work out the average peak sun hours. Mackay is lucky here — the average rooftop gets 5.5 hours of peak sunlight a day (again, this varies by season).
Finally, let’s work out the efficiency of our solar panels. This is something you’ll need to confirm with your provider, but a typical range is 15-18%. Let’s assume we’re on the lower end at 15%.
Now we need to plug all the above into this equation:
(Daily energy use in kWh ÷ average peak sun hours) x efficiency factor = solar system size
So: (15.16/5.5) x 1.15 = 3.17kWh
This is pretty close to the actual Mackay average of 3.74kW. Armed with this information, you’ll be able to work out how much space you need for your solar system if it falls within your budget, and how efficient your panels will need to be.
After working out the size your solar panel system will be, the next step is to install it. This stage should always begin with a meeting and inspection from qualified solar panel experts.
At Snap Solar, it’s our job to help you choose and set up the best possible solar system for your needs. We’ll guide you through every step of the process so you avoid any mistakes and get the most out of your panels. Get in touch with us to find out more.
Solar batteries can take your solar panel system to the next level, boosting cost savings, efficiency, and self-sufficiency.
Many solar customers today opt for the additional cost of batteries from the very beginning. But is it worth it? And how much do solar batteries really cost? In this article, we’ll take a look at the main factors impacting the cost of solar batteries to help you make the decision.
Solar panels often produce more energy than you need during the daytime and sunny times of the year. At other times, however, like at night, in winter, or during cloudy spells, they produce less than you need, forcing you to rely on the energy grid and its associated utility bills.
How do you solve this conundrum? Enter solar batteries — which allow you to save the excess energy your panels generate during sunny periods and use it when sunshine is scarce. It’s a way of making hay (or rather, energy) while the sun shines so you can make the most of your solar panels.
Solar batteries can lead to great cost savings this way by reducing your dependence on expensive fossil fuel energy. But how much do they cost?
View SnapSolar’s Range of Solar Batteries
Solar batteries in Australia tend to cost between $1000 per kWh and $2000 kWh, and a 10kWh battery can power a typical home for around 10 hours. This cost depends on a number of factors, however, such as:
Not all solar batteries are created equal. There is now a wide range of different manufacturers and brands, all producing different models with different features and specs. Higher-end batteries tend to be more durable, have a higher storage capacity, and are more reliable. However, they also come at a higher price point.
In addition to different brands, there are also different types of solar batteries. The three most common types are lithium-ion batteries, AGM batteries, and GEL batteries. According to research by climatebiz.com:
There are also variations within each battery type. For example, lithium-ion batteries can be made from nickel manganese cobalt (which has more power density) or lithium iron phosphate (which tends to last longer and is more expensive).
If your home or business needs to store more energy, you’ll need to spend more on batteries. A smaller home might only need one or two batteries to provide you with enough backup power to keep everything running, whereas a larger property or a business will likely need more.
While solar batteries are perfectly capable of doing their job on their own, you may choose to invest in some additional tools and features to improve performance. For example, a sub-panel can ensure your battery power is diverted to the highest-priority appliances in your home during events like power outages. Upgrades like this will increase the cost of your batteries.
Solar batteries can be an extremely useful feature of your overall solar panel system, allowing you to save money, increase reliability, and reduce your dependence on the electrical grid. At SnapSolar we help our customers through every step of the solar panel installation process, including helping you decide if batteries are right for you and which ones to opt for.
Get in touch to find out more.
Solar power is one of the most effective ways to reduce your energy bill and become more self-sufficient when it comes to powering your home — especially if you live in a sunny area like Queensland.
But can solar power ever fully replace your reliance on traditional energy sources? Do you still get an electricity bill when you have solar power? And what can you do to get as close to that as possible? In this article, we’ll tackle all of these questions and more.
The short answer, for the vast majority of people, is yes.
It’s extremely difficult to ever truly break free of the energy grid and provide all your electricity needs through solar power. This is because generating enough consistent energy through solar to power a home or business 24/7 requires an enormous amount of infrastructure.
Realistically, you will still have to rely on the energy grid for at least some part of your energy needs, so you’ll still have to pay some bills.
Now for the good news — you can significantly reduce your energy bill by using solar power. We’ll show you how to do that, but first, let’s take a look at the main factors that affect how much money you can save.
Now let’s take a look at the most effective ways to maximise the amount of money you save by using solar power.
The more efficient your solar panels are, the more energy they will generate and the less you’ll have to rely on traditional energy sources. Here are some ways to maximise the efficiency of your solar panel system:
As mentioned, it’s best to do energy-intensive tasks during the day if possible, especially if you don’t have batteries to store your excess solar energy. Your panels will, of course, receive much more sunlight in the bright daytime hours than in the evening, so it’s best to capitalise on this when it comes to energy usage.
The state of Queensland now offers feed-in tariffs, which means you can essentially return excess energy to the grid in exchange for a payment. This way, if your solar panels are producing more energy than you use during the day, you can get compensated for this additional energy and use the money to offset your bills.
Solar batteries allow you to store the excess energy your panels produce. This allows you to stock up on energy when production is high — during the daytime and sunny periods — and use it during times with less sunlight. This way, you can simply draw on your stored energy instead of paying for the grid.
Many solar panel users also own a backup generator that uses fossil fuels to cover energy needs when their solar system isn’t sufficient. This isn’t the most environmentally-friendly strategy, but it does allow you to rely less on the grid and save money on utility bills.
Solar panels might not lead to complete energy independence straight away, but they can still result in impressive cost savings on energy bills over time. At SnapSolar we can guide you through the process of choosing, installing, and maintaining the right solar panel system for you and your needs.
Get in touch to learn more.
Solar power is quickly becoming a popular way for many families to provide energy to their homes and businesses. Solar energy is an excellent option in places like Mackay and other parts of Queensland, where sunlight is plentiful for much of the year.
There are many benefits to installing your own system of solar panels. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most significant benefits of solar power and show you how to start accessing it for yourself.
Solar energy is renewable, meaning there’s an effectively endless supply of it. The earth receives more solar energy from the sun than we can ever use, and it replenishes constantly. Unlike fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal, solar energy never runs out and it doesn’t harm the planet and contribute to climate change by producing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. As a result, solar power is a popular choice for families and businesses who want to make a positive impact on the environment and reduce their carbon footprint.
While solar panels certainly aren’t free to install, the initial setup cost is usually offset within a few years by the cost savings you’ll make on utility bills. This is because using solar power for a certain percentage of your energy needs means you rely less on the energy grid and don’t have to pay quite as much in bills to energy suppliers. Depending on factors like your location and the quality of your solar panels, you could save a significant amount of money this way.
Relying less on your regional energy grid isn’t just good for your wallet. It also means you’re less likely to fall victim to interruptions like blackouts since you’ll have your own independent source of energy in the form of your solar panels. If you live in an area where energy shortages are common, solar can be an excellent way to avoid these disruptions.
Adding solar panels to your home could lead to a significant increase in your property’s resale value. For all the above reasons, homes with solar systems fitted tend to be worth more than those without, and this trend is likely to continue as time goes on. This means that even a fairly large initial investment in solar could work out to be a long-term financial gain — even if you don’t take utility savings into account.
In many parts of the world, governments have introduced financial incentives to encourage people to adopt solar power. Queensland is no exception — Queenslanders who install a solar system are eligible for a discount from the government under a scheme called small-scale technology certificates where people can recoup some of the cost of their solar panels based on the amount of energy they produce. You may also be able to benefit from feed-in tariffs, where you can return excess energy to the grid in exchange for a payment.
Queensland is an excellent place to invest in solar panel systems since they receive many hours of regular sunlight every year. This means you can rely on your solar panels to produce consistent power to keep your home running, unlike in other parts of the world that experience lengthy cloudy spells.
At SnapSolar, we help homes and businesses in Queensland install solar panels and start reaping the many rewards of this type of power. We’ll guide you through every step of the process — from choosing the right panels to how to maintain them for maximum efficiency and longevity — and help you access all the benefits.
Contact us to learn more.
If, like many people in Australia, you’re considering installing solar panels in your home, you’re probably wondering how long they will last.
It’s a fair question. If you’re paying for solar panels, installation, and maintenance, you’ll want to know if they’ll provide energy for long enough to justify the cost and effort. Nobody wants to go through this process only to have their panels stop working after a year or two.
The good news is that solar panels last much longer than that, and there are many things you can do to extend their life and maximise their performance over time. Let’s learn more.
From the moment you install solar panels, they begin to age, and this process of degradation continues gradually until the point your solar panels are no longer useful for generating energy.
That might sound a little bleak, but the good news is this process happens very slowly and takes many years. Research has shown that, on average, solar panel output decreases by 0.8% every year.
This means that even after 25 years or so, your panels will still likely be functioning at around 80% of their original output. At this point, it’s common to replace panels with new and more efficient ones, but you could still generate electricity with the old ones.
There’s more good news, too. Solar panels are improving every year, and their lifespan can vary a lot based on the quality of your panels and where you live. So the 0.8% figure above is just a guideline — your panels could degrade much more slowly than that.
Your solar panels will last much longer if you take care of them correctly. To understand how best to do this, we need to look at the factors that cause solar panels to wear down and degrade over time.
The main reason solar panels degrade is simple: exposure to the elements. Having anything on the roof of your house for many years is bound to result in some kind of wear and tear. Solar panels are no exception — being exposed to the heat, cold, and wind causes damage over time. Here are some examples:
Although damage is ultimately unavoidable, there is still a lot you can do to maximise the lifespan of your solar panels and prevent a lot of damage.
You can prolong the life of your solar panels effectively by following the right steps, but you can’t avoid the inevitable. One day your solar panels will no longer be effective, and it’s time to replace them. When this time comes, it’s important to work with a professional who knows what they’re doing, as this task can be dangerous otherwise.
At Snap Solar, we help you install your own solar energy system and give you all the guidance you need to keep your panels in optimal condition for as long as possible. Contact us to find out more and get started.
There are many ways to bring light, heat, and electricity into our homes. Today, more and more people are leaning towards renewable energy sources, not just because they’re better for the environment but also because they can be much more cost-effective and sustainable if used correctly.
Solar is one of those energy sources, and in the year 2020, 9% of Australia’s energy generation came from solar. But what exactly is solar energy? Why should anyone care? And how can you start using solar to power your own home? Let’s find out.
Simply put, solar energy is energy derived from sunlight. An unbelievably massive ball of burning gas, the sun is the largest body in our solar system and produces enormous energy.
When we harness the power of the sun using tools like solar panels, we can convert that power into thermal or electrical energy which can be used to power our homes and cities.
One of the main benefits of solar is that it’s incredibly widely available, especially in countries like Australia where sunny days are common. Solar is also highly sustainable and is much better for the planet than fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.
Every second, the sun produces enough energy to provide the earth with 500,000 years worth of power. If we can effectively harness this resource, we can easily provide homes, cities, and entire countries with huge amounts of clean, renewable energy.
Australia — a country with a vast landmass and lots of sunlight — receives about 58 million PJ of solar radiation per year. That’s 10,000 times more energy than Australia consumes in the same time frame. Think about that: Australia only needs to harness 0.01% of its solar energy to power the entire country.
Here are some of the main benefits of using solar to power your home:
We’re making good progress — today, there are at least 92.7 billion solar panels in use throughout the world, and those panels are becoming more efficient. Solar panel efficiency has increased from just 6% in 1954 to more than 40% on the highest-efficiency panels today.
So how can you tap into the huge amounts of solar energy beating down on your home and start getting the benefits?
The answer is solar panels. You’ve almost certainly seen solar panels before — they’re usually arranged on the roofs of buildings where they get most uninterrupted exposure to the sun.
Solar panels work by capturing available sunlight and converting it to DC power, which is then further converted to AC power (by means of a device called an inverter) so it can be used in the electrical grid to power our homes.
You can store solar power, too, in batteries. This is a great option if you receive more solar energy than you need during sunny seasons, and your needs exceed your supply at different times of the year.
At Snap Solar, we can help you set up your own solar panel system designed to tap into the impressive solar resources of North Queensland. We’ll talk you through the best approach for your home and area and teach you the basics of maintaining and managing your equipment. Contact us to find out more and get started.
In the world of renewable energy, solar power stands out as a beacon of clean and sustainable electricity generation. The heart of a solar power system lies in its solar panels, which convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
However, to make this energy usable for our homes and industries, we need to convert it into alternating current (AC) electricity through a critical component known as a solar inverter. While solar inverters play a vital role in our transition to a greener future, they often raise the question: Why do solar inverters get hot? This article explores the factors contributing to the heat generated by solar inverters.
A solar inverter is a sophisticated electronic device responsible for converting the DC electricity generated by solar panels into AC electricity suitable for consumption or distribution on the grid. It serves as a bridge between the photovoltaic system and our appliances, ensuring efficient and reliable energy delivery. However, this conversion process isn’t without its challenges, one of which is the heat generated during operation.
While a certain level of heat generation is normal for solar inverters, excessive heat can lead to several issues:
Manufacturers are continuously working to improve inverter designs and cooling systems to mitigate heat-related issues. This includes optimising the arrangement of electronic components, enhancing heat dissipation mechanisms, and implementing smart control systems that adjust inverter operation based on temperature and load conditions.
Solar inverters play a pivotal role in converting solar energy into usable electricity, enabling the widespread adoption of solar power systems. While heat generation is an inherent aspect of their operation, it’s crucial to manage and mitigate this heat to ensure optimal efficiency, longevity, and safety. As solar technology advances, inverter designs will continue to evolve, resulting in more efficient, reliable, and cooler-running solar power systems that contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
Contact our solar specialist today to learn more about how solar energy can power your future while keeping things cool and efficient.