Generate Your Own Electricity at Home

A properly planned solar panels installation allows your household to produce electricity during daylight hours and use it to power everyday appliances. The more solar electricity you consume directly, the less electricity you may need to purchase from your retailer.

The amount you save depends on your system size, sunlight exposure, household energy consumption and electricity tariff.

Reduce Your Dependence on Grid Electricity

Homes without solar panels generally purchase all their electricity from the grid. With solar panels, part of that electricity can be generated on your roof, helping reduce the amount you buy from your retailer.

Use Solar Energy During the Day

Solar panels generate electricity when sunlight reaches their surface. Running suitable appliances during these periods can help households make better use of the energy they produce.

For example, you could run your washing machine, dishwasher or pool pump during the day rather than in the evening, provided it suits your household routine.

Match System Size to Your Energy Needs

The size of your solar system should reflect your electricity consumption and available roof space. A system that is too small may not generate enough electricity to meet your needs, while a system that is too large may cost more than necessary.

Reviewing your electricity bills from the previous 12 months can help an installer recommend a suitable system.

Make Better Use of Your Solar Electricity

Generating solar electricity is only part of the process. How much of that electricity you use at home can significantly influence your savings.

Shift Appliance Use to Daylight Hours

Households can often increase solar self consumption by adjusting when certain appliances operate. Where practical, consider running energy intensive appliances during periods of strong solar generation.

Heating water during the day, using programmable appliances and operating pool equipment when solar output is high can help reduce grid electricity purchases.

Monitor Your Energy Consumption

Many solar systems include monitoring tools that show how much electricity the panels generate. Some systems can also display household consumption and electricity exports.

Monitoring this information helps you understand when your system produces the most energy and identify opportunities to use more of it directly.

Lower Electricity Costs Over Time

Although installing solar requires an initial investment, the reduction in electricity purchases can provide ongoing financial benefits.

The overall value depends on installation costs, system performance, electricity prices and the amount of solar energy your household uses.

Understand Your Potential Savings

When evaluating solar panels installation, consider both the upfront cost and the estimated annual electricity savings. Ask your installer to explain the assumptions behind their calculations, including expected solar generation and the proportion of electricity likely to be consumed at home.

A payback estimate can help you understand how long it may take for the savings to recover the initial investment. Actual results may differ as electricity prices, household usage and system performance change.

Consider Feed In Tariffs

If your solar panels generate more electricity than your household needs, surplus energy may be exported to the grid. Your electricity retailer may provide a feed in credit for this exported power.

Feed in rates vary between retailers and electricity plans. Export credits are often lower than the price paid to purchase electricity, so using more solar energy at home can be more financially beneficial than exporting it.

Consider Adding Battery Storage

Solar batteries store surplus electricity generated during the day for use later, including during the evening. This can help households use more of their own solar energy when the panels are no longer producing enough electricity.

However, batteries increase the total system cost and may not provide the same financial benefit for every household.

Decide Whether a Battery Is Worthwhile

A battery may suit households with high evening electricity consumption or tariffs that make stored solar energy particularly valuable. Before investing, compare battery costs, usable capacity, efficiency, warranty coverage and expected savings.

Some households may achieve better value initially by installing solar panels and adjusting their electricity usage before considering a battery.

Improve Energy Efficiency Alongside Solar

Solar panels can help reduce grid electricity purchases, but improving household energy efficiency can further lower bills.

Choose Energy Efficient Appliances

Replacing older appliances with energy efficient alternatives can reduce electricity consumption. LED lighting, efficient refrigerators and appropriately sized heating and cooling systems can all contribute to lower energy use.

Manage Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling can account for a substantial portion of household electricity consumption. Using suitable temperature settings, maintaining filters and improving insulation can reduce unnecessary demand.

Combining these measures with solar panels installation helps households address both electricity generation and consumption.

Choose a Reliable Solar Installer

The performance of your solar system depends partly on its design, equipment and installation quality. A professional assessment should consider roof orientation, shading, household electricity usage and any electrical upgrades required.

Compare quotations carefully and check panel specifications, inverter quality, warranties, installation details and after installation support.

A system designed around your household's actual needs is more likely to deliver useful savings than one selected purely on its advertised price.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can solar panels eliminate electricity bills?

Not always. Solar panels can significantly reduce electricity costs, but households may still pay daily supply charges and purchase grid electricity when solar generation is insufficient.

2. When should I use electricity to maximise solar savings?

Where practical, run suitable appliances during daylight hours when your panels are generating electricity. This can increase solar self consumption and reduce grid purchases.

3. Do solar panels still generate electricity on cloudy days?

Yes. Panels can generate electricity in cloudy conditions, although output is generally lower than in strong sunlight.

4. How can I calculate my potential solar savings?

Review your electricity bills, estimate your household's daytime consumption and compare system quotations. Consider expected solar generation, feed in rates, electricity tariffs and installation costs to estimate the potential savings and payback period.