What can you look out for when deciding to own a PV solar system?
With soaring electricity prices, climate change and green environment initiatives, many people are looking at owning a PV solar system for the long haul.
Here are 5 considerations that will make it easier for you to decide.
Consider #1: Current Living Conditions
- Is there sufficient space that is exposed to sunlight for a good part of the day?
- Roof-tops are space saving to your property but may be harder to maintain for cleaning or service repair.
- Your property should have a tenure of at least 25 years to maximize the returns from anticipated 25 yrs of solar operation.
- All systems can be right-sized with the use of LED light, smart switches and energy-efficient appliances.
Consider #2: Off-grid or Grid-tied
- If the off-grid is the only choice, then battery use is a must to power electrical devices at night or during non-sunny weather.
- Grid-tied offers more options to connect to a battery as a hybrid PV solar system or no battery with grid as power backup.
- Batteries typically need replacements 1-2 times during a 25-year period.
- Grid-tied system has an added advantage. Excess energy generated that can be sold or used to offset grid usage.
Consider #3: Energy Generation
- Do use the highest cumulative power for the PV modules for a given area. e.g. twenty smaller sized 200W modules generate more energy (4kW) than fifteen 250W (3.75kW) ones.
- Optimizers and micro-inverters are trendy gadgets attached to each PV modules with the latter having a means of electricity conversion to AC at the module level, instead of via an inverter.
- They can monitor the energy generated of each modules in kWh over time. For continued long term operation, it is advisable to have some spare optimizers or micro-inverters at hand.
Consider #4: Budget
- A conventional PV solar system, comprising of an inverter to strings of modules, is priced competitively. It is easy to install, operate and maintain.
- A PV solar system with optimizers or micro-inverters is costlier but offers the convenience of module level monitoring. Its proprietary construct locks in the user for spares and operation.
- Generally, certain brands deserve slight premium in cost for better reliability and excellent support.
- Other important considerations include payback period from initial investment, future availability and compatibility of spares and support.
Consider #5: Monitoring
- Monitoring and maintenance are essential in to making your PV solar system run efficiently and continuously.
- Currently, users check on battery voltage, monthy utility or energy report to monitor the solar energy generated from all modules connected.
- Almost all monitoring solutions today display the energy output of PV solar system using a backward looking parameter as kilowatt-hour or kWh; modules are tested under Standard Test Conditions (STC) with parameters such as voltage, current and power as shown in the label behind each module.
- This creates a monitoring disconnect to determine how well your PV system is running.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you can easily tell if each string attached to the PV module is working according to the manufacturer's specifications?
Coming your way soon is a newly-invented device that will test your strings and modules periodically at your on own initiation. This device is affordable and provides you with on-the-spot result to each string and ultimately provide insight to the health of your PV solar system. It allows you to detect any issues early to keep your PV solar system running optimally.
Learn more of this novel device that empowers each PV solar system owner with a safe and easy means to self-test each string and module. Be the first to know by subscribing with your email here.