6 Solar Myths: Busted

Victoria just ticked over their 100,000th solar installation utilising the Victorian Solar Homes rebate program – a great number that highlights the growing sentiment towards solar effectiveness!

With a few myths and rumours regarding solar panel effectiveness floating around, we think it’s time to cut through the clutter and help you understand what exactly to expect from your solar system!

#1 The more panels I have, the cheaper my energy bill

ANSWER: Not always…

You don’t need to cover your entire roof with solar if you don’t consume that much energy! Your quote should be based on meeting your own energy consumption.

At the end of the day, solar panels will help save you money when they are meeting the energy demands of your home. Sure, having more panels will help to produce more energy, but if this energy isn’t utilised it will be fed back into the grid at a lower rate than if you were using it.

A good solar installer should analyse your energy bill and roof orientation to confirm just how many panels and what direction to face them in order to maximise self-consumption.

#2 Solar panels don’t work when it’s cloudy

ANSWER: False!

For a solar panel to lose all output ability, it would have to be completely dark outside. Since we can still see when it’s cloudy, solar panels don’t stop working!

‘Normal’ cloudy weather can reduce generation by 40-80% but it also depends on the type of cloud and the time of day. Some houses can also have nearby trees or other objects that may cast shade over your panels…

Don’t worry, this is a common occurrence and a good solar installer can work around it with a good analysis of your roof orientation and use of inverter and optimiser technology.

#3 If I don’t use my solar power during the day, it’s wasted

ANSWER: False!

If you’re not using the energy your solar panels are producing during the day, the excess is fed back into the grid.

The best part is, you get paid for this! As a Victorian, you’re eligible to receive 9.1c/kWh. This compensation means you’re excess energy is not wasted, but it’s not as effective in saving you money as if you were consuming the energy when it’s produced.

As more of us are working from home, we are consuming more energy during the day and thus get more bang for our buck as our solar panels are most effective. If you are mostly home in the afternoons and mornings, a solar installer should recognise this and optimise your system design for this via panel orientation.

Another alternative is to have a battery installed which is used to store excess energy produced.

#4 Adding solar panels to my home will increase its value

ANSWER: True!

Research from RealEstate.com.au found that 85% of Aussies view solar panels as value-adding to a property.

3 out of 4 renters say they would pay more in rent if the property had solar panels!

There is no dollar value that can used universally for the value a solar system will add, but the growing sentiment is that it does add value. With a larger upfront cost than general maintenance costs, new tenants can enjoy the benefits without the set up. Long term, solar panels pay for themselves regardless so it’s a great situation to walk into!

#5 Solar panels use more energy to manufacture than they produce

ANSWER: False!

This myth – if it was ever true – is very outdated and is certainly not the case with advanced in modern technology and solar panel efficiency.

The energy used to extract, refine, transport and manufacture a solar panel is called ‘embodied energy’. A typical solar panel repays that energy within 3-4 years, and will continue reducing that time as solar panel efficiency increases.

#6 Solar panels are expensive

ANSWER: False!

As solar technology advances and becomes more commonplace, its price is dropping too – about 50% less now than in 2012!

In addition, Victoria is the last remaining state offering a generous solar rebate under the Solar Homes program.

As long as you use an Approved Solar Retailer (ASR) and an accredited installer, you may be eligible for up to $1,850 in rebates and an interest-free loan of equivalent amount.

The better news: we are both an ASR and accredited installer at NG Cabling Solutions! That means we handle your installation from end-to-end, you only deal with the A-Grade electricians that will be installing your system.

On top of all of this, most households can still get a federal rebate, which amounts to about $600 per kilowatt of solar installed!

Obtain a free energy report for your home! CLICK HERE

We’ve installed solar systems of all sizes, budgets and locations around Victoria, so why not give us a call to obtain a free energy report for your home?

To request a quote and receive an energy report, take our short quiz to help us get to know your needs and get your journey to a more sustainable, cheaper energy bill underway.

We will apply our solar analysis technology to help design a system that meets your energy demands and budget whilst delivering realistic savings.

As an end-to-end solar service, you will only deal with the A-grade electricians that will design, sell and install your system. Full transparency and no surprises.