What is solar electricity?

In the sun, I expose myself a little more to the sun ��. It's not just for tanning that we love the sun! It also helps us warm up, heat our meals and even light our way. And, since the sun is an unlimited resource, we're not harming the planet. 

Would you also like to generate your own solar electricity? First of all, let us explain how we obtain electricity from the sun and its possible uses, both in general and in a home. Don't forget your sunscreen, because you'll be dazzled.

What are the two types of solar electricity? 

Photovoltaics: to convert the sun's rays into direct electric current ;

Solar thermal: to transform radiation into thermal energy.

For your information, there are also other technologies that exploit solar energy :

Thermodynamic solar: same principle as with thermal solar energy, with the intention of heating a heat transfer fluid (which allows the transmission of heat and can therefore be used as solar heating );

Photovoltaic /thermal (PV/T): a hybrid system of solar panels which can produce electricity and heat.

In Australia, photovoltaics are the main energy sources. Solar thermal power plants are relatively rarely used, except in the French overseas departments and territories. Globally, the United States and Spain account for the majority of solar power generation.

How photovoltaics work

Photovoltaics can operate using three main elements:

Photovoltaic cells capture rays

An inverter that converts direct current into alternating current (similar to that found in the electrical grid)

A junction box to distribute electricity to the devices

These cells can take several forms:

Crystalline technologies (most common): use of crystalline silicon, a material found in sand or quartz, which can produce electricity when it comes into contact with the sun's rays. More precisely, silicon is integrated into the surface of photovoltaic solar panels and comes in the form of an atom around which electrons gravitate. These electrons move with the sunlight. To make them circulate and create an electric current, phosphorus, and boron are added to the layers of the solar panel. The monocrystalline solar panel is the most common on the market.

Thin-film technologies : superposition of several layers of semiconductor materials (mainly amorphous silicon ) on a support such as glass, steel or even plastic. The advantage of this solution is economic, because the materials are less expensive than crystalline silicon which is provide by Top Ten Solar Companies in Australia.

How solar thermal works

Solar thermal electricity uses mirrors to capture the sun's rays and concentrate the heat. This heat will be used directly to heat various heating appliances (water heaters, boilers, etc.).

What conditions affect solar electricity production?

Certain elements will affect the level of solar electricity production and the performance of the panels such as the intensity of the sun's rays or the orientation of the solar panel .

Influence of weather on solar energy

Rumor has it that you can't benefit from solar electricity if you live in a relatively cold region (our Norman friends may be wondering this). This is false; it's a misconception! In truth, it's the brightness generated by the sun ( photons as they are called in the jargon) that interests us, not the temperature released.

By the way, to convince you a little more, know that the solar panel does not like high temperatures. During heat waves, we observe significant power losses from the panels and an efficiency reduced to 80%.It is not for nothing that the best time to produce Solar energy in Australia is in winter or spring , when temperatures are cool and the sun is out.

On the other hand, it is true that inclement weather (cloudy days) reduces the efficiency of solar electricity production. It is therefore more a question of sunny days than temperatures that affect the efficiency of the installation.In this state we need to use Best Solar Panel company in Australia.

Orientation and inclination of solar panels

To best capture the sun's rays, it is important that the photovoltaic cells are placed in the right place and in the right direction.

Regarding the orientation, it is best to orient your photovoltaic solar panels towards the south. However, this is not set in stone since all orientations are possible (if the south is not an option) except north, northeast, and northwest!

Why? Because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Yes... and? As you know, the Earth is round (right?!) and slightly tilted relative to the sun, which is at the center of our galaxy.

This means that the sun's rays hit the planet Earth differently depending on whether we are in the northern hemisphere (that's us) or the southern hemisphere. This is why in Australia we orient our panels towards the south, while the inhabitants of South Africa would rather orient them towards the north. QED!

Now let's talk about the tilt of our photovoltaic Solar Panel in Australia (their angle relative to the sun) because this is just as important. Generally, in Australia, we opt for a tilt between 30 and 35°C. In reality, the tilt should be changed every season to ensure it is optimal.

Obviously, if the Solar Panel Sydney are installed on a roof, it's a rather tedious process. That's why we preferred to opt for an average that allows for adaptation to the different seasons of the year. And, that's a good thing, since that's precisely the average slope of a roof in Australia.

And what about the night?

When the sun sets, photovoltaic panels no longer produce electricity, as you've probably guessed. At the same time, the amount produced during the day can be higher than actual needs . This means there's excess energy during the day and no production at night (and also days when activity is less good due to the grayness).

This is where solar electricity storage systems come in. During peak production, the photovoltaic panels will recharge a solar battery which can then be used to power the installation during periods of inactivity.

This type of process allows for solar self-consumption, meaning less dependence on the public grid. It can even be possible to sell the surplus so that it can be injected into the grid and benefit other consumers.To do this we need to use best solar for our home and to serve our country so we need get solar from Solar manufacturer in Australia.

Solar self-consumption is within reach of anyone who wants it (it is even possible to install a solar panel in an apartment ). To do this, you just need to have solar panels on your roof (i.e. a photovoltaic roof ). Besides, if you do not want to embark on such an adventure right now (or if the price of a solar panel is too high), you can "test" self-consumption using a small solar kit. These self-consumption kits are very easy to install (15 minutes flat) and plug into a standard power outlet. This allows you to save energy and therefore money without having to undertake all the steps involved in installing a panel. Solar kits for self-consumption can be installed on the ground or on the roof for the sunlife and there are even solar kits for isolated sites in order to benefit from electricity production even if the connection to the network is not possible (being energy-autonomous, however, remains very complicated). Choosing a solar kit means choosing self-consumption without taking too many risks at first (a good compromise to start with

What are the uses of solar electricity?

Photovoltaic solar electricity can be used to power the electrical grid of a building or residential home . In short, the energy generated can be used to light up, recharge electronic devices or even turn on your television!

Solar thermal electricity allows, for example:

To produce domestic hot water

To supply the heating system (radiators, underfloor heating, etc.)

In Australia, solar electricity accounted for only 2.7% of the energy mix ( electricity production ) in 2021 (source: IEA). The major drawback of this energy is its intermittency (the fact that it is not available all the time) and storing electricity on a large scale would represent a large investment.

However, it remains an ideal solution for individuals and collective housing! Nevertheless, given what we have just said, hoping to obtain a 100% autonomous house is extremely difficult. Self-consumption will nevertheless allow you to optimize your consumption and therefore reduce the final price of your electricity bill.

How to produce solar electricity at home?

To produce your solar energy in Australia , and thus become autonomous (or almost), you just need to install photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of your house. For more occasional needs or if you only want to power a few devices, there is also the solar kit , economical and easy to install (as we saw above).

If your wish is to cover the majority of your electricity consumption, then panels for self-consumption will be necessary. After a study on the feasibility of your project, an installer will come and install the solar panels on the roof and you can begin the process of connecting to the electricity network with Enedis. Yes, any energy production system must be declared and validated by the big boss (some installers and even us, Ekwateur, offer our support services to take care of the administrative procedures for you if you wish).

If you plan to resell part of the electricity produced, you will also need to sign a buy-back contract with EDF OA (Obligation d'Achat). This step is mandatory, you can then choose the energy supplier of your choice to sell your surplus solar electricity (Ekwateur offers this, for example ��).

Whatever happens, the profitability of your project and the installation cost will be estimated at the time of the audit. It's impossible to give you a blind price range, as there are so many factors.

Also, consider looking into financial aid for installing solar panels. There are self-consumption bonuses and economic incentives to encourage individuals to use renewable energy. Also, don't forget to consider the solar panel warranty if you embark on such a project. It's always useful in case of a problem.

For more information, you can contact us directly, we will be happy to explain the steps to follow to get started with photovoltaic self-consumption with Ekwateur and how this can help you save on your energy bills with Best Solar Panel company in Australia