Solar energy has immense potential. The sun is going to be around for the next few billion years, give or take a few million. That’s plenty of time for mankind’s energy requirements for the next couple of centuries and beyond to be taken care of. However, the success rate of implementing solar energy is very low. But now, thanks to a few tax breaks and incentives form state and federal government increasing numbers of consumers are now taking up the baton.
Incentives for Business users and domestic users
The government offers tax and solar energy rebates to commercial and domestic users of solar panels and solar power generation. Companies such as solar power Melbourne firm ‘The Quote Company’ offers energy users a platform to compare and price panels, installation costs, grants and of course ‘feed in tariffs’.
Feed in tariffs are what the electricity supply companies pay per kilowatt of electricity which is generated from solar panels and fed back into the grid. This is typically surplus power to what the home or commercial premises uses, the surplus being fed into the grid to relive the pressure on power generation plants.
This excess energy can be sold by connecting the solar power system to the local grids as has been mentioned. If you play your cards right and ‘play the system’ you can make immense savings on energy costs and of course those hideous bills which drop through the letter box.
Low Maintenance
First of all, solar power cells are low maintenance and require little overhead per year. A rooftop installation is typical and once fitted and ‘powered up’ so to speak, all you do is let the sun do the rest. Now comes the best part; if you play your cards right you can reduce your electricity bills to almost zero. Indeed, if your circumstances fall right you can actually have a negative power usage from the utility.
How does this work?
First, if you and the family are out all day switch off everything which isn’t needed. DO NOT use any heavy equipment such as dryers, washing machines, ovens, air conditioning, swimming pool pumps or anything which ‘eats’ electricity.
Second, leave as much as possible to late at night when grid supplied power is much cheaper per unit. Only use the aforementioned equipment late at night if possible, and keep the use of everything to a minimum. Oh yes, and switch off as many lights and other electrical equipment when it isn’t in use or needed.
Third, take a look at your lifestyle and see what savings can be made which continue long in to the future. That is a real cost saving move and one which increasing numbers of consumers are taking seriously.
By adopting the aforementioned you can take advantage of feeding in to the grid maximum surplus power from your solar panel installation, when the price the utilities pay is at its highest. By using equipment at night when imported power costs are low you get the best of both worlds. Depending on your usage and lifestyle, and the number of panels collecting energy from the sun you could have a zero or even better electricity bill every time it drops through the letter box.
Now, isn’t that worth thinking about, and maybe better doing something about it.
Graham green is a freelance writer and blogger. His interest in solar power requires research and facts. One company he has reviewed and researched is solar power Melbourne firm The Quote Company.
