Residential solar systems can save you money and are good for the environment, but how do they work?

More and more Queenslanders use solar energy by installing solar energy systems in their homes.

Queensland's 2020 Household Energy Survey found that 37% of respondents have solar systems, up from 33% in the previous year.

This annual survey for Ergon Energy Network, Energex and Powerlink Queensland also found that 22% of respondents intend to purchase new solar systems within the next three years.

The main reasons for purchasing a solar system are to reduce energy costs (60%), concerns about future electricity price increases (40%), good investment (35%) and environmental protection (31%).

Jack Hooper, CEO of GEM Energy in Brisbane, said that solar systems "use the power of nature to reduce energy bills and protect our environment."

"In the past few years, more and more families have realized that investing in solar energy for their homes is a good way to save money in the long run," said Mr. Hooper.

"A high-quality solar system (excluding batteries) that meets your needs can pay for itself in three to four years, and ultimately save you $50,000 over the life of the system."

Mr. Hooper said that the increased affordability of solar power has made it more attractive to homeowners.

"The solar system is definitely worth it because the price of solar panels is more affordable than ever, but it is important to conduct research rather than compromise on quality," said Mr. Hooper.

"This technology has matured and has reached a point where the price is as reasonable as ever."

Reaping the benefits of a solar system starts with the roof panel, which is the most obvious element of the system that all Queenslanders are familiar with.

Almost every street in the state will have a house with solar panels on the roof to provide solar energy for the electrical appliances in the home.

The working principle of solar panels is to generate DC (direct current) electricity, because sunlight or solar radiation stimulates electrons to pass through the solar cells on the solar panels.

It is sunlight, not heat, that generates electricity.

Home appliances require alternating current (alternating current) power to operate, so solar panels send their direct current to the inverter, and the inverter converts it to alternating current.

Your inverter sends AC solar energy to your main switchboard, and then the main switchboard sends it to the appliances in your home to provide you with free electricity.

Any excess electricity generated during the day will be fed back into the main grid. The state plan means that your electricity retailer will usually pay you feed-in tariffs for any excess electricity generated by your system.

You can also store any excess power generated by the system in a household battery for future use, such as at night or during power outages.

Smart meters installed as part of the system will record and track all energy flows. It will automatically feed excess solar energy into the grid.

Smart meters also allow your home to automatically obtain electricity from the grid when needed, such as at night.

Almost every roof in Australia is suitable for installing solar panels.

Most residential roofs in Australia are made of metal or ceramic tiles.

Metal roofs are the cheapest roof to install solar systems, and tiled roofs usually incur additional installation costs.

Different roof slopes or angles will affect the performance of solar panels.

The best way to maximize the efficiency of solar panels is to tilt about 10 degrees above the horizontal to prevent rainwater and other dirt from accumulating.

If your roof is flat or very steep, your solar system may need to tilt the frame (and additional cost) to get the best sunlight exposure.

Solar panels are relatively light, but as the average system size increases to at least 6kW, 20 or more panels may have a significant weight factor, so it is important for solar technicians to evaluate your roof before installation.

Some roofs may not be strong enough to install solar panels. In this case, additional frame structure may be required before installation.

Ideally, your roof allows panels to face north, west, or east. As south-facing panels receive less sunlight in Australia, they are generally not recommended.

If you live in an area in Queensland that may be affected by a hurricane, you need to have a hurricane-certified solar installation system.

Source: Australian Energy Foundation, GEM Energy.

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