Imagine being responsible for your own energy generation, not having to rely on unscrupulous power companies to give you electricity when you need it the most.
Well with modern technology, living off the grid no longer means having to go off and live on a ranch in Montana. A simple setup in your suburban home can give you the freedom to be your own boss when it comes to your energy consumption.
To become energy self-sufficient, you need three basic components; Solar panels, a solar inverter, and a solar battery.
This trifecta of modern science is now affordable for most people, allowing thousands to enjoy a life free from dependence on others for their electricity.
Why become energy self-sufficient
There are two main reasons why it’s a good idea to become energy self-sufficient.
The first is the most obvious one – money.
Generating your own electricity will drastically reduce your energy bills. Depending on your energy usage, you could save thousands of dollars even within the first year! And even if you’re only saving a few hundred, those bucks add up over time.
Secondly, if you are in charge of your own energy generation, then you don’t need to rely on the national grid for your power.
With the cost of electricity going up year after year, not to mention the ever-increasing blackouts and power cuts, being energy self-reliant takes a lot of the stress out of keeping the lights on and the water hot.
Solar panels
The first part of the puzzle is capturing the energy from the sun, and this is where solar panels come in.
We’ve explained before how solar panels work (almost like magic), but to summarise, they use the energy from the sun to excite electrons, making them move around. This movement of electrons is also called electricity.
We get more than enough sun here in Australia to power our home, but we also have a tough, dry climate, so panels need to be sturdy but still efficient.
Finding the right solar panels for your home is a difficult balancing act, one which any good installer will be happy to help with.
So solar panels generate electricity using the sun, but it’s raw, unusable electricity, and that’s where an inverter comes in.
Solar inverters
Solar inverters transform the raw electricity created by the solar panels into useable AC current, allowing us to power our washing machines and TVs.
Solar inverters play a crucial role in how the overall PV system behaves, optimising the amount of power coming out of the panels, and more importantly, the quality and safety of the electricity that goes into your home.
Usually, about ten solar panels will need one inverter, but recently the industry leaders, Enphase, have developed micro-inverters, which monitor and optimise each panel independently, generating the maximum power possible.
And because they are not linked together, if one fails, then the others can carry on, unlike traditional single inverter technology.
Solar Battery
The final piece of the energy self-reliance puzzle is a battery.
It’s fine generating your own electricity when the sun is shining, but what happens when it’s dark?
A solar battery allows you to store the energy you’ve created, keeping it safe and secure in your home until you need it the most.
A battery backup can reduce your demand on the grid by an astonishing 75%, so power cuts, overcast days, winter… it doesn’t matter if you’ve got your electricity stored up, ready to use.
We can help you become energy self-sufficient
We’re living in very strange and difficult times.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made a lot of people consider just how prepared they are in an emergency, and many are realising that things could be better.
With the climate changing, getting hotter and hotter each year, we’re seeing record temperatures here in Australia. These heatwaves are getting more frequent, stronger, and lasting longer.
The strain it puts on the national grid with the AC turned up to 11 is already breaking the system, but you know who’s not affected by these power cuts?
People who are energy self-sufficient.
With our abundance of sunlight and the falling cost of solar technology, there’s no excuse for people not to consider installing a solar system in their homes.
If you would like to know more about how we can help, what the right system for your circumstances is, and how much it would cost, contact us today.
Our team of highly-experienced engineers will be happy to chat and answer any questions you may have.
Bright Earth Solar offers a range of exceptional solar products, helping you save money while doing your bit to save the planet. We keep you up to date with new technology, innovation and trends in renewable energy.