Solar panels offer more than just lowering your electricity bills and a greener future. In instances of power outages and emergencies, your solar panels provide a safety net and accessibility to a backup power source. Understanding how your solar system supports you in unexpected situations and the key procedures for emergency solar management is important to prepare your home.
The Benefits of Solar for Your Perth Home
There are many benefits to installing a solar system for your Perth home, including:
Saving Energy Costs
With the increasing electricity costs in WA, solar panels provide an effective solution for electricity savings. By installing a solar system in your home, you can generate your own electricity that offsets your usage and leads to less spending. Especially in WA, where sunlight is present for longer hours, solar systems can provide substantial savings for households.
Energy Independence
Energy independence is an important consideration for all homeowners. Having a solar system installed protects you from potential power outages and the need to rely on external energy supplies. This not only saves you from fluctuating grid prices but is also an essential step in preparing your home for emergencies.
Government Rebates
There are many government rebates when it comes to installing residential solar panels. On a federal level, the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) offers incentives for installing PV systems. For WA property owners, the Residential Battery Scheme offers solar rebates and no-interest loans for batteries, as well as the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) that provides buyback rates for electricity exported to the grid.
How Your Solar System Works During a Power Outage
A common misconception is that all solar systems are able to provide backup power in instances of power outages. However, only solar systems equipped with a battery and an automatic transfer switch will enable your panels to utilise the stored energy to power your home when the grid is down.
Solar-only systems shut down as an “anti-islanding” protection feature that prevents your panels from sending electricity back to the grid. This ultimately protects utility workers who may be trying to restore power.
During a power outage, your battery plays the most important role. When the grid is down, your battery’s inverter detects the failure, disconnects your home from the main grid, and starts powering your home with the energy stored within the battery. This is known as “islanded mode” and signifies that your home is now running independently. As long as there is sufficient sunlight, your solar panels will continue to power your home and recharge the battery, providing support for an extended period of time.
What to do in a Power Outage
Knowing what to do in a power outage is key to ensuring you make the most out of your system and your home is kept running until power is restored.
- Setting up your system: Ensure your battery system has blackout protection and is set up to automatically switch to islanded mode.
- Prioritising power: Being conscious of your power usage is critical to ensuring your power lasts for a longer period of time. Prioritise your power on essentials such as essential lighting, refrigeration, medical equipment, and communication technology.
- Conserving energy: Avoid using appliances that require high-power usage, such as ovens and dryers. Minimise opening fridges and freezers to maintain their temperature.
- Monitor usage: Monitoring your battery’s power and overall power consumption can help you make informed decisions about how to use your power to ensure it lasts for the expected outage times.
Choosing Clean NRG for Your Solar Needs
Clean NRG is the trusted professional for all your Solar needs in WA. Alongside a wide range of Solar brands to choose from, we also offer Solar Battery Storage solutions, including Tesla Powerwalls and Sigenergy brands, so households can maximise financial savings and energy independence. Whether you’re beginning your solar journey or looking to upgrade your current Solar PV system, Clean NRG can offer solutions that are tailored to your household’s needs. Contact our friendly team today or Get A Quote to find out more about what we offer.
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