Rooftop Solar Reduces Summer Electricity Costs

Residential solar panel systems can reduce electricity demand during the peak of summer by more than 50 per cent, a new study reveals. The Pecan Street Research Institute said that its study monitored 50 single-family homes in Texas with west and south-facing panels during the summer season last year. In the study, it was found that rooftop solar systems which were facing west were able to cut demand for electricity during peak hours by 65 per cent, while those facing south reduced demand by 54 per cent.

Summer months are notorious for increased energy demand, with electricity providers complaining about the high costs of producing electricity and low profits. Solar panel systems not only cut down summer peak demand by more than half but also offer reduced costs to both the electricity providers and consumers.

The study also sends a clear message that residential and business solar systems can play an important role in checking the increasing costs of electricity in Australia. Energy infrastructure changes in Australia have gotten as much as $11 billion in investments resulting to increased electricity bills. As Pecan Street chief executive officer Brewster McCracken said in a press release, the study’s findings suggest that rooftop solar systems can cut down summer electricity demand benefiting businesses and consumers alike without sacrificing comfort.

According to the Centre of Policy Development (CPD), rooftop solar installations can save consumers up to $670 million a year with the reduced overall wholesale electricity costs. This is apart from the lower summer peak electricity demand that translates to more productive utilisation of poles and wires. Likewise, solar systems insure Australians against energy spikes brought about by the volatility of gas prices and drought due to climate change.

Rooftop solar installations are also contributing to the declining electricity demand in the country all year round, and not just during the summer months. The Australian Energy Market Operator downgraded its 2013-14 demand forecast in the first quarter of the year, saying that it projects a 3.5 per cent decrease of its initial forecast made in June 2013. The AEMO said that aside from rooftop systems, the lower demand for electricity was brought about by the warmer temperatures that led to lower demand for heating systems.

The AEMO said that it predicts an annual consumption of 2,444GWh, lower by 1.3 per cent than its June 2013 forecast. The organisation had earlier cited that solar and energy efficiency regulations covering buildings and residences were the main reasons why it was lowering its forecast demand for 2014.

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