Solar Lights | How Much Does a Solar Power for Home System Cost?

How Much Does a Solar Power for Home System Cost?

By: Ramon | Filed Under Technical Solar Info

A complete solar power for home system today, is very likely to be what is called an inter-tied system – a an inter-tied system is a system which links your new solar home set-up in to the electrical grid and feeds any excess energy you generate back in to the grid. This type of system has become increasing popular in recent years, due mainly to the increased government subsidy grants that are becoming more widely available, and also because of ever increasing electricity costs due to the rising costs of fossil fuels.

An inter-tied system is the most popular type of solar solution being fitted today, but it is not the only option:

SolarPanelsInter-tied System – a grid interconnected solar energy system is a set-up that consists of a bank of solar collectors linked to your regular electricity source that is provided by your current utility company. This type of system is very flexible and can effectively reduce your energy bills to zero if you are prepared to spend enough money. This type of solar installation now accounts for over 65% of all solar installations worldwide.

Inter-tied System with Back-up Batteries – Exactly the same as above, but as the name suggests it comes with battery back-up. This is particularly useful if you live in an area that is susceptible to power failures or for businesses where continuous power is essential. The main issue with batteries is the extra space they take up, the extra cost involved installing batteries, and the fact that, by design, they come laden with chemicals.

Off-grid System – This is slightly more expensive to install than the previous two examples, and is popular with self-installers (it’s cheaper though if you fit it yourself). This is a stand alone system that will provide solar power for your home to replace your homes current energy needs. You can have this professionally installed, but to have one of these systems, it is advisable to be fully conversant in how all aspects of the system functions.

How much you need to spend providing solar power for residential homes depends entirely on your current energy needs. Installing solar power is not cheap initially, but over a set period of time you will recoup your money, and from then on in all your electricity will be free of charge. Because the costs of generating solar energy is a fixed price per watt needed, there are ways to reduce your initial outlay. If for example your home uses 4kw’s of electricity, you can calculate what size system you will need and multiply it by the cost per watt (currently around $12 per watt) – if you can reduce your energy needs by say 25% by fitting low energy light bulbs etc., you will reduce your start-up costs by the same amount.

Once you have decided to go ahead with your solar power for the home and laid out the primary installation costs, you will find that solar power is very cheap to generate – the only on-going costs are some small expenses for annual maintenance costs. Another way to reduce start-up costs is to consider installing your own system of even building your own solar panels to reduce costs even further.

Solar power for home systems are becoming increasingly popular all around the world because they provide a free source of electricity and help benefit the environment. I know it will be difficult for some people to contemplate this change, especially those on low incomes, but if it is within your scope, it is a great investment to make and will save you money for many years to come.

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