My number one tip – and if you’ve ever spoken to me personally, I have no doubt you’d have heard this from me before – is to follow the age-old phrase, “Make hay while the sun shines.”
While it likely goes without saying what I mean by this, the key with solar is to use as much energy as possible during peak daylight hours when your panels are generating the most electricity.
Solar is not as simple as having it installed, and trusting it’s going to do its thing automatically. It will do its thing – that is, produce power for your home or business – but it’s a team effort, and you need to help it along the way.
Here are a few ways you can get the most out of your solar system:
- Use your appliances during the day.
Shift as much of your energy usage as possible to daylight hours, when your panels are producing power. Running your dishwasher, washing machine, air conditioning, pool pumps, and even charging your electric vehicle during these hours will allow you to use the electricity your system is generating in real-time, reducing your reliance on grid power and increasing your savings.
- Set appliances on timers.
Most modern appliances come with timer settings, so if you’re not generally home during daylight hours, be sure to take advantage of this feature to assist you with the above. In addition to your pool pump, you can schedule your washing machine or dishwasher to run around noon when the sun is at its peak, ensuring you’re maximising the use of solar-generated electricity without even thinking about it.
- Monitor your energy production (and ideally, consumption).
Keep an eye on your system’s performance using monitoring tools, like Solar Analytics, or apps specific to your inverter. In addition to helping you ensure your system is actually working, these will help you to track how much energy your system is producing and when, so you can adjust your energy use to align with peak production times. Better still, with consumption monitoring, you can actually see when it will be a good time to turn heavy-use appliances on or off.
- Keep your panels clean.
Dirty panels can reduce the efficiency of your system, so if your roof is prone to regular visitors of the bird kind, or you’ve noticed it’s a little dirtier than usual, it’s worth getting a professional pop by to give your panels a rinse.
- Ensure regular servicing.
Like your car, maintenance of your system is crucial for ensuring it runs efficiently over time. Scheduling an annual inspection with a business like our own, can identify any issues before they become costly repairs – and help your system not only last longer, but give your home or business maximum savings.
- Consider battery storage.
Adding a battery to your system allows you to store any excess energy you generated during the day. This stored energy can then be used during the evening when your system isn’t producing power, further reducing your reliance on the grid and increasing your savings.
By implementing these strategies, you can maximise the benefits of your solar system and enhance your savings. Remember, solar energy is a partnership between your system and your energy habits. The more proactive you are in using your solar power efficiently, the greater the rewards will be for both your wallet and the environment.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about optimizing your solar experience, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help you make the most of your investment in solar energy!
Jim Hill
Managing Director,
Nepean Solar Solutions
Lots of Hay making at my place. Not making much money anymore when i sell the Hay. I like point #6 & looking forward to the NSW Battery Rebate Scheme coming!
I agree Sean, selling power to the grid is not what is once was. Storing exccess energy and using it at night or even better, selling it on the wholesale market is where you want to be going forward.