What solar system size and design is correct for my home?
Synopsis
Solar and battery storage systems are not one-size-fits-all solutions. The energy consumption patterns of households vary, with some using more power during the day and others relying heavily on electricity in the evenings. Sizing a solar system and battery storage system requires a tailored approach based on individual needs. While a 5-kilowatt system is a good starting point for a $500 quarterly electricity bill, it's crucial to analyze power consumption throughout the day to determine the optimal system configuration.
Understanding when and how energy is consumed is essential. For instance, if most of the power is consumed in the evening, it becomes necessary to combine solar power with battery storage to capture excess energy generated during the day and use it at night, reducing reliance on grid electricity. Trusting a reliable provider who comprehends your unique needs is crucial for designing a customized solution that maximizes energy efficiency and cost savings.
Video Transcript
\- The thing is with solar and battery storage systems now is that every situation for every client is different. Some people use more energy than others, some people use more of their power during the day, and some use a heavy amount of electricity in the evenings. The difference between people that use power during the day and in the evening, it could mean that battery storage makes sense for some and doesn't make sense for others. And the thing about sizing a solar system, and particularly a battery storage system, is that everyone has different needs depending on their situation.
So there's some general rules of thumb that if my electricity bill is $500 a quarter, then a 5 kilowatt system is around about the right size. So that's a really good starting point as a reference. But from there, we need to understand not just how much energy you use during the day but what time of day that power is being consumed. So we can put monitoring in and actually assess your power consumption in 15-minute increments and say, "Okay, well, you do use a lot of electricity, but most of that's in the evening." So if you are going to put a solar power system in, you really need to also put in battery storage because your solar consumption is going to be low. You'll actually be feeding quite a lot to the grid during the day, we need to put a battery in to capture that energy and release it at night and stopping you from buying electricity from the grid. So it's really important that whoever you trust to invest in with this solution, they understand your needs. They design a solution that's tailored for your home.
Every time that we look at someone's usage profile across the day, they're always different. There's so many different variables of people's homes. Some people use more power in summer and then they go away in winter. We have stay-at-home moms, home businesses, dual income, no kids. It's interesting to see a usage profile across 24 hours and understand that every situation's different. So you can't have a one solution to fit every situation.
