Australia is a sunny country. It receives nearly 58 million PJ of solar radiation per year. Almost all parts of Australia enjoy high sunshine hours, and Perth is the sunniest city, with 3200 hours of sunshine annually. Australians use solar energy from the sun to generate electricity. Solar power systems are installed in homes and offices to reduce electricity bills, and installing rooftop solar panels in Australia is an excellent investment. The panels have a lifespan of 20 – 25 years. They generate electricity that meets the energy requirements of a home. Generally, solar panel systems will pay back within six years, and the payback period varies according to the electricity usage habits and the location.
Contents
Types of solar power systems
Grid-tied/On-grid solar power systems
Grid-tied systems are connected to grid electricity. These systems don’t have a battery for storing the power generated and using it later. But, they are the most cost-effective type of solar power system and are less prone to failure.
Grid-tied systems send the surplus power to the grid and receive bill credits in return. Sometimes, homes need more power than what is generated by solar panels. The power needs are met by importing power from the grid.
Grid-tied solar systems need an inverter. The grid-tie inverters allow homes to send excess power to the grid and import power from the grid whenever needed. The system doesn’t include a battery to store solar energy. It is cheaper and easier to install.
The benefits of grid-tied systems are
- It is cost-effective.
- It is easy to install.
- It provides an opportunity to earn by exporting excess power to the grid.
Off-grid solar power systems
Off-grid solar systems are not connected to the power grid. The solar panels generate electricity and store it in a battery. It provides an independent power supply to the home.
The off-grid solar power system should be designed to generate enough electricity to meet the home’s power requirements. It must also have sufficient battery capacity to store the generated power.
Due to the high cost of batteries, off-grid solar power systems are more expensive than on-grid systems. It is usually installed in remote areas far from the power grid. It is safer to have a backup generator to provide power on days when the batteries have a low charge, and the weather remains cloudy.
The benefits of off-grid systems are
- Homes in remote areas become self-reliant.
- There is no power outage due to grid failures.
- It keeps the environment green and clean.
Hybrid solar power system
The hybrid solar power system is connected to the power grid and has a backup battery to store excess power. The most significant advantage of a hybrid system is that homes will have power in any situation.
The excess energy generated by the solar panels is stored in the battery. The battery provides power at night, and when the battery runs low, homes can draw power from the grid. Excess power in the battery after meeting the requirements of a home is sent to the grid.
The hybrid system has a unique hybrid inverter that transmits power to and from the batteries. It has the functionality of grid-tied and off-grid systems.
The benefits of a hybrid system are
- Homes get an uninterruptible power supply.
- The excess energy generated by the system is not wasted.
- It is expandable and compatible with newer technologies.
Finding solar panels in Australia has become quite common. Solar power has become a fast-growing industry in Australia. Nearly 10% of Australia’s electricity is solar power, and the country has emerged as a leader in the rooftop solar market. The sun shines throughout the year in Australia, and rooftop solar panels generate sufficient power to meet the power requirements of a home.
Author Bio:
Alison Lurie is a farmer of words in the field of creativity. She is an experienced independent content writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She is a multi-niche content chef who loves cooking new things.
