Now that it’s October and the weather is well and truly warming up, many of us will stop to think: “I should really use that sun for solar power.” But more often than not, solar energy customers choose to put off their system installation until summertime because they figure that longer, hotter days will equate to more solar power and a more immediate return on investment.
This logic seems sound enough – that is, until you factor in science, logistics, and the Government’s solar rebate. Read on to learn more about why spring is the best time of year to invest in solar panels in Australia.
Solar energy comes from light, not heat
You might think that summer is the best season for solar energy because it is the hottest time of year, but that is not necessarily true. Solar energy comes from light, not heat; it is produced when sunlight hits solar panels and is converted to electricity.
So while the highest production of solar power does happen during the summer, the second-highest occurs in spring, because higher light levels in September to November are excellent for solar power generation. Remember, there is a reason why Daylight Savings happens during spring and not summer – spring is the beginning of the brightest time of year.
Installation takes time
If you want to make the most out of the summer sun, it’s important to begin your solar energy installation process in spring because it is not instantaneous.
Unfortunately, creating a solar energy and inverter system for your home is not as simple as attaching a couple of panels to your roof and calling it a day. There is a lot of paperwork that happens in the background, such as sourcing products, confirming rebates, connecting you to your retailer, and waiting for responses from utility companies.
For all of these reasons, it’s not unusual for a period of one to two months to go by from the very first to very last stages of solar panel installation. If you really want to make the most of the summer and harness all of its potential solar energy, then your solar system should be set up before summer, not during it.
Cash in on the Government’s solar rebate
The Australian Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) is designed to provide a financial incentive for individuals and small businesses to invest in renewable energy systems such as solar power. It is based on a Solar Credits system which you can think of as a discount voucher for solar installation, but the discounted percentage is designed to decrease every year up until 2030, when the SRES it will be completely phased out.
If you wait until after December 31 to install your solar energy system, you will receive a lower discount than the one offered in 2019. There is therefore a strong financial advantage to invest in solar power this spring while the SRES solar rebate is the strongest and highest that it will ever be.
Image source: Nova969.com.au