Most homeowners in Brisbane are worried about the rising electricity costs and power consumption they face each year. The power of the sun is an abundant renewable energy source and the Australian Government has put initiatives in place to entice Australian home owners to consider solar energy as an alternative power source to the traditional, non-renewable options. The solar rebates and feed-in tariff rates are some benefits homeowners experience when choosing solar. But in 2021, is switching to solar worth it? In this blog, we’ll find out whether it is and talk about why you should consider solar as the source of your energy needs.
Are electricity bills expensive?
The sum of an electricity bill can vary differently from household to household. There are plenty of factors to consider, but the two main ones to focus on are the number of people in the household and how often each person uses electricity.
The average household in Brisbane will fork out anywhere between $140-$150 a month for their electricity bill. If your energy consumption is considerably high and your electricity bill always leaves you gobsmacked, considering a switch to solar energy could be a feasible solution.
Unfortunately, energy prices in Australia are on the rise, so you can expect to see the average electricity bill trend in the same trajectory.
How many Queensland households have solar panels?
Currently, Australia is leading the world in the residential uptake of solar. Data shows that as of the 31st of December 2020 more than 2.68 million rooftop solar power systems have been installed in Australia – meaning one in four homes have installed solar paneling.
Solar power has seemed at home here in Queensland. More than 40% of homeowners have installed solar panels, making this state the highest generator of solar energy in Australia.
Solar power revolutionised the way Queenslanders consume energy. With the recent boom in housing and development, it is hard to see why homeowners won’t continue to latch on to this blossoming relationship.
The climate in Brisbane – does solar make sense?
Does it make sense to install solar in Brisbane? The short answer is an enthusiastic “yes”.
Australia has the highest solar radiation per square meter of space and some of the best solar energy resources in the world and considering that for solar power to work you just need the sun, then it would make a lot of sense to install a solar system for your home.
Looking further into it, Queensland isn’t called the Sunshine State for nothing. Summers in Brisbane can sometimes be as hot as hell and full sun can shine for an average of 12 hours a day. The sun bakes the ground, crisps the grass so it crackles under your foot, and the washing on the line dries in record time. There is no shortage of sun in Brisbane, so solar certainly makes sense.
Savings, costs, and solar panel payback in 2021
Installing solar panels can be an incredible addition to your home and it is the cheapest source of energy for more than a dozen countries. It’s an easy way to offset your energy costs and become more self-sufficient. Excess energy can be directed into the grid for a feed-in tariff, or it can be stored in a rechargeable battery for later use instead.
Rebates and solar incentives vary from state to state, but in Queensland, homeowners and businesses are eligible for the Federal Solar Rebate. Any purchase of solar panels will qualify for the rebate if the modules and inverter receive approval by Clean Energy Council, and a CEC accredited installer performs the installation. The rebate is based on the size of the system. You can find out more information by
contacting Nuway Solar.
The cost of solar panels varies depending on the size of the solar system installed. To know which size you need, you must first find out your current power usage. Based on your usage, an installation expert will suggest the right solar panel size for you.
Generally, 5KW to 6KW solar systems are recommended for most Australian homes. The average cost of a 5KW solar system costs between $4000 and $5000. However, the installation of the solar system as well as how many panels you choose to install however will affect the total cost of the system. With all this in mind, the average total cost of installing a 5KW system can range between $8000 – $10000.
There is also the option of adding a battery to your solar system. Batteries store any excess energy that your system generates that isn’t used during the day, allowing you to tap into it at any time. Installing a battery can significantly increase the total cost of the system and they are only necessary when the household’s energy consumption is considerably high or the household is looking to go off-grid and become completely self-sufficient.
Batteries have come a long way in the last couple of years and though their price is hefty, it is slowly creeping down. If you are thinking of installing a battery later down the track, make sure you install a system that will be able to accommodate a battery in the future.
Will you save money with solar power?
The entry cost of solar panels can be quite an expensive and daunting prospect. With a plethora of options available on the market, it is hard to know which system to go with. Sifting through all this information can be tedious and painful, making you question if it is truly worth investing in solar energy for your household.
There is light at the end of the tunnel if you persist. If you can get through all the necessary steps to getting the right system for you, you will be joining millions of Australians that are seeing the zeroes being shed from their energy bills all thanks to the solar systems that they installed.
That’s one of the beautiful things about a solar energy system, the more solar energy your system generates from the sun, the less amount of electricity you will be using from the grid.
So how does it work? How does installing a solar system shave dollars off your electricity bill and even recoup on your investment?
How much you save on your power bill depends on the amount of energy your solar panels can generate. Any excess power you generate may be sent back to the grid, for which you may be paid a feed-in tariff (credit) by your electricity retailer. Feed-in tariffs differ from state to state and from retailer to retailer. In some states, the government regulates a minimum rate, while in others it is up to you to negotiate a deal with your electricity retailer.
To gain as much credit as possible, run your appliances during the day when your energy generation is at its peak. Any leftover energy will be exported into the main power grid.
Thankfully, the cost of installing solar has drastically reduced since coming onto the market. Depending on the system you installed, the amount of sun your panels receive, how much energy you use, and the quality of your panels will determine how long it will take for you to pay off your solar system and start generating not only energy but positive credits. The average timeframe to pay off your solar system is usually about 3-5 years
So is solar power worth it?
Yes. Installing a solar power system for your home is worth it.
Solar panels help households save on their electricity bills, help appreciate property value, provide a clean energy source, and improve overall financial management for homeowners. Having solar panels can give you the peace of mind you need when you are running the A/C all day long, and not feel that you are destroying the environment by using energy from the grid.
It seems even more logical here in the Sunshine State that solar panels are popping up house by house with the amount of sun that beats down on their roofs. If you can get through the initial pain of the upfront costs associated with panels and the installation, then installing solar panels is an incredibly feasible practice to undertake and will be worth every cent in the long run.
Conclusion
Solar power is certainly still worth the investment in Brisbane. If you still have questions, if you’re looking for more information specific to your needs, or if you are ready to join the millions of Queenslanders that are already reaping the benefits of harvesting the energy from the sun, talk to the experts at NuWay Solar today. We’re here to help you get the most from your solar panel system and put you on the path to a greener, brighter future.
Get in touch with us and start your journey to solar.
