Installing solar panels

 Are you thinking of installing solar panels on your home? Here are the ways it can benefit you, and what you need to consider first.

What is a solar panel?

A solar electricity panel (sometimes referred to as photovoltaics) capture the suns energy and transform it into energy that you can use within your home. Ultimately, by installing solar panels your home can generate its own renewable electricity.

Solar panels are composed of many individual cells. The cells are primarily made from silicon, environmentalists can rest easy knowing that this is a highly abundant material, so the earth is not being depleted of this important element.

The silicon is processed and used to create a photosensitive panel that can convert sunlight into usable electricity. The making of solar panels is so complex if every detail of making a solar panel was listed, we could be here all day!

How do solar panels work?

A solar panel consists for 4 main steps to convert solar energy to electricity.

Things to consider

There are many things to consider with the installation of solar panels.

1. Is my home a good fit for solar panels?

When weighing a homes solar viability think of your roof structure, the orientation and if your roof is shaded. North facing roofs see significantly less sunlight compared to south facing roofs. You should also consider the amount of shade near your roof. Factors like trees, neighbouring houses and tall objects such as lamposts can impact the amount of sun that is exposed to your solar panels.

2. What types of solar panels are available?

There are several types of solar panels that are available to homeowners. The most commonly installed solar panels are 'mounted solar panels', which can vary in price and efficiency, typically made of silicon. Monocrystalline panels come with a bigger price tag but are much more efficient.

Polycrystalline silicon panels are more affordable, making them more popular among homeowners. Thin film solar cells have a portable nature and lost cost. However, they have a shorter life span.

Solar shingles offer a more concealed option for the homeowner. They cost more and produce less energy, but are a good option for the person that isn't ready to commit to full solar panels.

Finally, tracking mounts for your solar panels are an option to consider. They are more expensive than the typical solar panel, but offer a better conversion due to their ability to follow the suns direct path.

3. Is a new roof needed?

You will need to gain an inspection on your roof to ensure that it can withstand the extra weight of solar panels. This is even more important if you are due a new roof within five years of installation of the solar panels. Another thing to consider is if the installation would affect the current guarantee attached to your roof.

4. Will my home still be connected to the energy grid?

Some homeowners choose to live off of 'the grid' with battery storage and generators, however this will require an experienced solar panel installer who knows how to do this, it could also incur and extra cost for batteries and generators.

You can also choose an 'on grid' system where your home will still be connected to the grid in the event that a source of power is needed, which is helpful if you have a north facing house, or experience shadowing from neighours, trees or lamposts.

5. Will excess energy go to waste?

The great thing with being connected to a grid is that any excess energy you generate will be fed to your cities power grid and in return you can receive a credit on your utility bill.

Homeowners that choose to live off of 'the grid' can store their extra energy in battery storage when they are running low on solar power.

Summarising, installing solar panels is an exciting option, the benefits are enough to persuade any homeowner into doing some research.

Easy installation, lower utility bills and less environmental impact are some outcomes you can expect, as always, we recommend you doing some in-depth research into what would work best for you and your home and always researching different installers.