Why would you feed your solar energy back to the grid for the energy retailers to sell when you can store it on site for later use?
Why would you feed your solar energy back to the grid for the energy retailers to sell when you can store it on site for later use?
Any excess power which your solar panels generate can be sold to your energy retailer. Before you purchase your solar panels, be sure to speak with your energy retailer or your local solar installer to find out what options are available to you as well as what the buy back rates are. Just to give you an idea, have a look at the solar feed in tariff in your state. For places like Queensland, where you can be paid up to 44c per kW for excess power, it makes more sense to sell it back considering you that only pay a rate of 21c a kW for usage.
Will your solar panels provide energy for your home during blackout?
Unfortunately guys, the answer is “No”
This is because your grid connect solar inverter is built with a automatic cut off sensor designed to protect the electricians working on the issue causing the blackout.
So in the unlikely event of a black out, you won’t be making money from your excess power and you wont be able to run your household appliances. You can however rest assured that your solar panels will not be feeding high voltage power back to the spot that the poor electrician is trying to fix.
Now battery bank solar panel systems or stand alone solar panel systems also have their own set of advantages. If you are in areas where grid connect power is not available, or you get copious amounts of blackouts and a back up generator isn’t an option, then a battery bank will solve your problems. For the majority of Australian households though, grid connect is available and more economical.
Stand alone solar systems can have a few more disadvantages than grid connect solar panels
- The batteries need to be maintained more regularly
- The batteries need to be replaced every three years or so
- You need to have a shed or spare room to store all of the batteries
- There are a few more electrical components required which you don’t need with a grid connect system
- And you need to hunt down a experienced stand-alone solar expert to design your system so that you have enough power to get you through the worst conditions
So hopefully now you can see the advantages of a grid connect solar system compared to a stand alone system. Keep in mind though, some areas of Australia don’t leave you with an option.
HOW MANY SOLAR PANELSHow many solar panels should you get for your home. Keep reading to find what’s right for you.