Solar power has continued to grow in its share of total new energy being built globally, with both residential and commercial solar projects growing rapidly. With renewable energy accounting for over 60% of all new power being added into the grid, solar has been the largest contributor. Increasing innovation with this technology along and reliability of the energy type are some of the reasons which make solar an obvious choice for Australians looking at energy alternatives. This article will outline some of the reasons why different types of Australians choose solar.
Why are households going solar?
Electricity costs in Australia continue to rise well above wages in Australia, meaning households are feeling the pressure. Solar provides the only viable options for households to limit this continually growing expense. Whilst subsidies for solar panels have been declining year on year, technological improvements, increased competition and lower production costs have helped increase the size of units available to consumers at affordable prices.
With reliability of power becoming of increasing importance, off-grid or battery assisted setups are now also gaining popularity. Systems which can be used to store excess power are being installed to provide reliability due periods where blackouts or intermittent outages. Whilst battery technology is still early in its development and production phase, there are an increasing number of reputable brands now entering this space and providing competition to what will increasingly become a cost effective alternative. Long term as battery prices become more cost competitive, industry experts believe that we will see a large number of houses effectively becoming fully off-grid, negating any need to feed into the electrical grid.
Why are businesses going solar?
In many businesses, electricity costs make up a significant and ongoing cost which is going up well above the rate of other costs. Because of this many businesses are seeing how they can invest in containing or completely removing this cost through commercial solar setups. Commercial solar setups can be from smaller office setups to offset their electricity costs, through to larger setups across industrial sites which can provide significant roof space for solar arrays. As always, businesses need to weigh up the cost/benefit and overall return on investment in solar against other opportunities – but with more and more Australian businesses taking up solar it gives a strong indication in the viability.
Outside of financial benefits of solar, many businesses are now also considering their environmental footprint and how they can better manage their carbon footprint. From looking at the NABERS rating of buildings they use, suppliers they work with and the energy they consume, solar is providing businesses with a cost effective means of managing a considerable part of their overall footprint.
Government, Councils and Community Organisations
With environmentally conscious policies feeding through all levels of government, solar is being used as a vital component in managing government’s carbon footprint. Libraries, council chambers and administrative buildings are now becoming common sources for solar arrays to be built. Recent examples of this include the Adelaide Hills Council, which after voting affirmatively to note a Climate Emergency, are now planning for substantial development of solar and energy efficiency measures on council assets.
Do you want to know what solar options best suit your needs? Contact GreenBuild SA today for a discussion on how you can make use of the current solar products available.