What Are The Benefits Of Solar Energy?

Solar energy has emerged as a popular and sustainable source of energy over the past few decades. It’s obvious why this is the case, especially here in Australia; solar energy is an unlimited source of energy that harnesses the power of the sun to generate electricity. The benefits of solar energy are numerous, ranging from environmental and financial advantages to increased independence and reliability and future sustainability for our beautiful country.

In this article, we will delve into the many benefits of solar energy and why it’s an ideal solution for powering our future; as individuals and in general.

A solar system significantly reduces power bills

Solar energy offers significant financial advantages. Perhaps the biggest is the impact on your ongoing electricity bills.

By installing solar panels and an inverter, you can enjoy significant financial benefits through solar energy. Generating your own power from the sun can drastically reduce your reliance on the grid, ultimately leading to a reduction in your energy bills.

This is particularly true in Australia, where the strong and powerful rays of the sun can generate electricity at a much lower cost than traditional electricity sources. 

Right now, in Australia, we’re seeing power bill increases across Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria that are between 20 and 33 per cent. It’s causing bill shock all around the country.

Solar panels generate electricity when the sun is shining, enabling you to power your home with renewable energy during daylight hours.

If you live in an area with high electricity rates, the financial savings from generating your own power can be even greater.

A home battery system will maximise these savings

Installing a home battery system will allow you to save even more. Using a solar battery allows you to store the excess energy that you don’t use during the day.

This means that even when the sun goes down, you can use your solar-generated electricity, and, if enough energy is stored up, you could even avoid paying for electricity altogether.

Even if you do need to pay for your power usage from the electricity grid at times, using the power stored in your solar battery during peak hours (when electricity grid rates are highest), can help you reduce your energy bills even further, as you’ll be using less of the high-rate electricity, and therefore won’t have to pay as much for it.

As well as this, there are options to sell your excess electricity back to the grid, and to possibly receive a feed-in tariff — where you receive either a credit on your power bill or a payment for this electricity.

In some scenarios, you may get more of a financial benefit from storing your power and using it during those peak hours, rather than selling the power back during a low feed-in tariff period. 

But both these options — selling or storing your excess power — are great.

You may be able to take up an incentive to install a solar system

The Australian government provides various incentives and rebates for homeowners who install solar panels. We always recommend looking at the fine print on these to ensure they’re best suited and applicable to you and your home.

These incentives include the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) for rooftop panels, the Home Battery Scheme, and other state government rebates and initiatives.

Government schemes and incentives like these can often provide even more affordability and financial advantages to installing a solar power system. It’s a great idea to learn more about the various incentives on offer for switching to solar electricity, and which you may be eligible for, as they can really maximise the return on the investment of a solar energy system.

You may be able to sell power back to the grid

In addition to lowering your electricity bills, you may also be able to earn money by selling excess solar energy back to the grid, through a feed-in tariff. This means that you can make money while also saving.

How does it work? When your solar system generates more electricity than your home needs, the excess energy is exported back to the grid, and you can earn credits that can be used to offset the cost of your electricity bill.

Solar panels add value to your home when their quality is maintained

One of the benefits of installing solar panels, a solar inverter and a solar battery, is that they tend to retain the value they add to your home over time. Unlike other home improvements that may decrease in value over time, solar panel systems typically maintain, and even increase in value.

This is because solar panels and inverters are a long-term investment that can provide energy savings for decades. As energy costs continue to rise, the value of solar panels increases as well.

Just how much can you save on solar energy?

The amount of money you can save on your power bill with solar energy depends on several factors, including the size of your solar energy system, the amount of sunlight your panels receive, and the cost of electricity in your area.

According to Forbes Australia, generally, homeowners in Australia can expect to save between $600 to $1,000 per year on their power bills by installing a solar system.

This amount can be even higher for homes with larger solar systems or for homeowners who use more electricity during daylight hours.

Installing a solar-powered home battery adds even more to these savings on your electricity bill, as you can store energy for use at times that would otherwise require you to use power from the electricity grid.

Protect yourself from rising energy costs

Installing solar power and allowing the sun’s rays to produce energy for you is a great way to protect yourself against rising electricity costs.

Electricity prices in Australia have been increasing steadily over the past few years, and this trend is expected to continue. In fact, in the last 12 months, some states have experienced increases of up 33 per cent. By generating your own electricity with solar panels and an inverter, you can reduce your reliance on the grid and avoid paying high electricity rates.

With energy prices expected to increase in the near future (as soon as June 2023) generating your own power through solar panels is a smart investment that can save you money in the long term.

With a solar battery, you can protect yourself even more from rising costs, as you can produce electricity during the hours the sun is the strongest, and store that electricity in the battery to use in the evenings. In this way, you can meet your household’s energy demand while still avoiding paying a high electricity bill, even if the cost of energy rises.

More predictability in the cost of living

Installing solar in your home has an upfront cost that you are able to anticipate, while giving more predictability to the cost of living ongoing. Over time, the initial costs in having your solar inverter, panels, and battery installed will pay for itself, and you’ll also be awarded with more predictability moving forward.

A solar energy system adds to your property value

Installing solar panels on your home can not only help you save money on your electricity bills but can also increase the overall value of your property; making the upfront cost well worth it.

Solar panels, solar inverters and solar batteries are all increasingly viewed as desirable features by potential homebuyers, making it possible to make back the initial cost of your solar panel investment when you sell your home.

Solar energy systems are seen as an attractive and environmentally-friendly feature by buyers.

Some studies even suggest that homes with solar panel systems and batteries may sell faster and at a higher price than homes without them.

Solar power is a reliable source of energy

One of the primary advantages of solar power is that it is a renewable and sustainable source of energy, as it relies on the sun’s rays to generate electricity. The sun provides a virtually endless supply of energy, and solar panels can capture this energy and convert it into electricity. Unlike other energy sources, solar power is not likely to be affected by changes in global trade and resources.

You’ll be less affected by power outages

Solar energy is much more reliable than traditional energy sources, as it is not subject to power outages caused by natural disasters or other factors. When paired with a solar power battery, you will be set up to have power even when the grid is, well, off-grid.

Retain greater independence

Solar energy offers a degree of independence and self-sufficiency that is not available with traditional energy sources. Being less dependent on the grid is one of the top solar energy pros. As you rely on power plants and power from the grid less, you have more flexibility and independence.

Adding a solar power battery to your home allows you even greater energy independence. By storing excess energy produced by your solar panels during the day, you can ensure that you have your own power to use at night, too.

Relatively easy to install and maintain

Solar energy is much easier to install and maintain than you may think. All you need to do when installing solar is to enlist the help of professional solar installers. From there, they can take care of everything to get your solar panels, solar inverter, and solar battery system set up and ready to go. We always recommend ensuring your provider is accredited with the Clean Energy Council.

As for ongoing maintenance, solar energy is a reliable and hassle-free source of energy that requires minimal maintenance. Since solar power systems have a long lifespan, you won’t have to replace them frequently, saving you even more money in the long run.

A clean, renewable source of energy

One of the most significant benefits of solar energy is that it is a clean and renewable source of energy. Unlike traditional fossil fuels, solar energy is a renewable energy source that does not emit harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. This means that it does not contribute to air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions, which are major contributors to climate change.

Reducing your carbon footprint

By installing solar panels, you can significantly reduce your carbon emissions and carbon footprint and help combat climate change. Additionally, solar energy requires very little water for its operation, making it an ideal solution for drought-prone areas.

Adding a solar power battery to your home allows you to store excess solar energy that would otherwise be sent back to the grid. This means that you’re reducing your carbon footprint even further, as you’re using more of the clean, renewable energy generated by your solar panels. Solar energy production is an ethical way to produce energy while allowing you to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Overall, there are many solar energy pros that make the initial investment absolutely worth it.

A solar system can significantly reduce power bills in Australia by providing a reliable source of clean energy that is not subject to the same price fluctuations as traditional energy sources. By taking advantage of the abundant sunlight in Australia, homeowners can save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and enjoy the many benefits of solar energy.

Solar energy is a smart choice for anyone looking for a reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective source of energy. With its many benefits, including environmental and financial advantages, solar energy is an ideal solution for powering our future.

So, if you’re looking for a way to reduce your energy bills, protect yourself from potential power outages, and help combat climate change, solar energy is the answer. By installing solar panels and a solar inverter, you can take advantage of these solar benefits and enjoy a sustainable and cost-effective source of energy for years to come. By installing a home solar powered battery, these benefits increase even more, across the board.

Redback Technologies are leading manufacturers of solar hardware. We manufacture solar inverters, which solar panels require to feed into, to turn the energy generated into usable electricity. We are also a leading manufacturer of  solar powered home batteries. You can learn more about our award-winning solar products and the ways they’re designed for Australian homes specifically, right here on our website.