Solar Energy: Overview
How much energy can you save?
To answer this question there are some variables to consider. Here are the main ones:-
- The number of people living in your home
- Your specific energy usage
- Where in Australia you live – Your State and the level of direct daily sunlight to hit your PV panels
- The angle/pitch of your roof
Current estimates are that investing in Solar Energy can save up to 80% of your traditional annual energy costs.
What’s the payback period?
There are usually two aspects to this question:
1. How long does it take to recover the investment you’ll make in your PLANET POWER Solar energy system?
At PLANET POWER we work to a pay-back period in pure financial terms of between 5 – 8 years.
Your decision to invest in Solar energy is a long term investment. You also need to have in mind the potential for escalating energy costs, which would mean your system was proving its worth (and paying you back sooner).
Remember that PLANET POWER PV panels carry a comprehensive 25 year guarantee. Think about how much you’ll be paying for power in the next five, ten or even fifteen years – while your panels are still covered by their 25 year warranty.
There are of course a number of immediate paybacks:
- Pride and satisfaction knowing that you’re doing something so worthwhile and so vital to help reduce the harm mankind does to the earth’s environment – every hour of every day
- Being seen by your family, neighbours and friends as being environmentally responsible
- An immediate reduction in your domestic energy costs
- The enhanced re-sale value of your property
2. How long does it take before the energy used to manufacture the solar panels and system is “repaid”?
The term “Embodied Energy” captures this idea. PV systems typically pay back the production energy within one to three years, depending on cell type and location.
For an investment of 1 to 3 years worth of energy output, rooftop PV systems can provide 30 years or more of clean energy.
Support structures for ground-mounted systems, which might be more advantageous for utility generation, would add about another year to the payback period.
The fact is: Photovoltaic (PV) systems, like every other product, do need energy for manufacturing but with energy paybacks of 1 to 3 years and assumed life expectancies of 30 years, 87% to 97% of the energy that PV systems generate won’t be plagued by pollution, greenhouse gases, and depletion of resources.
There seems to be a lot of components required to make the whole system work. I’m confused!
At first glance we agree that it can be a bit daunting. That’s where the knowledge, skill and enthusiasm of your PLANET POWER representative will be of REAL value to you.
It will only take one visit to your home to carry out a survey and then provide you with a detailed understanding of everything you need to plug into PLANET POWER and start using “free” energy. There are of course a number of DIY systems being touted on the internet and in local newspapers etc. Our advice is quite simply, “don’t be taken in”. A properly specified solar energy or solar water heating system will be a valuable addition to your home and make a dramatic difference to your energy costs and CO2 emissions. If you’re serious about achieving both of those things it will pay you to talk to the experts.
The experts at PLANET POWER will be happy to explain every question you have about Solar and other renewable energy resources. We know from past experience that once you’ve spent some time having the world of Solar explained, you’ll soon be looking forward to having those smart solar panels installed on your roof!
Ask PLANET POWER to carry out an obligation free home survey to start saving money and help save the planet.
Please contact us to find out more
