For years, the conversation around household energy in the UK has largely been dominated by a single query: how much will the next electricity bill cost?
Today, however, that discussion is beginning to change. More homeowners are moving beyond mere price comparison between energy suppliers or different tariffs; they’re looking at how they can generate, store and manage more of their own electricity at home.
Solar panels and battery storage are increasingly the focal point in that dialogue, and with good reason – they offer households an unparalleled opportunity to become far more engaged in not just how much electricity they use, but from where it will come.
Solar is more than just panels on a roof; a well-designed system takes into account system design, batteries, quality of installation, warranties, future use of electricity, and what happens in the long run after installation; that all contributes to a household’s return. The shift from consuming energy to managing it It is very easy to view the traditional domestic energy system in its simplest light. The moment you need electricity, you buy it in from the grid, and pay the going rate at that moment in time. Solar changes that entirely.
Through a well-designed solar PV system, a property can make electricity from sunlight during the day and purchase considerably less from the grid.
Excess electricity can also (under relevant circumstances) be fed back into the grid, and stored in an electrical storage battery for use at a later point. That puts households in charge as it means they can be far more active partners in their home energy system. This is not all about escaping the grid entirely, necessarily, but it is about utilising the electricity produced at home far better and reducing dependency on externally produced power.
Why storage batteries are starting to become central to the debate
One of the issues with solar energy production is that the solar system generates at specific times of day, whereas high-energy use traditionally occurs in the evening. Without battery storage, there would likely be excess solar power being exported by day that you want to use in the evening, but if this excess cannot be stored the connection has to be lost. In the right circumstance, storing any excess power produced by solar in the right type of storage battery can enable its use whenever that specific part of your house needs it.
Depending on the installed system and your price plan, it can also enable intelligent energy management of your household’s use of electricity.
According to Solar Prime Energy, this equates to seeing the whole home energy system not just as a single solar installation, but as a complete home energy strategy. So when designing your home’s solar PV system they begin by analysing the property, taking into account your home energy needs and future predictions, considering every factor together rather than simply seeing solar and batteries as two entirely separate components, or ‘optional extras’ when putting solar on the roof. Not every home needs the same solar system Many homeowners make the enormous error of thinking that a solar installation is like purchasing a pair of shoes – whatever the system size it will fit your feet. Your circumstances will vary, of course; size of roof, orientation relative to sun, shading from other objects, and ultimately the amount of energy you use throughout the day are all likely to play a large part in what the most suited electrical solar storage system will be and will ultimately impact upon the energy system’s returns and efficiency.
Batteries will vary too, meaning one system may suit you brilliantly but could be overkill or undersized for your neighbouring property; it’s very important therefore for a professional to survey your property and usage needs rather than just size solar systems based upon the size of the room on top!
Solar Prime Energy claims its solar PV systems are designed starting with the property itself, and from this it works forwards and designs and installs systems to your exact requirements; its installation partners have all received accreditation from certified installation bodies and the company also advertises the benefits of working with MCS-certified installation partners.
It is important not to look just at price
When considering prices for a solar installation a homeowner should be considering all of the component parts of the quote – and most critically, the quality of these. If a solar quote seems too low, then it’s probably justifiably so, and while of course Solar Prime Energy want customers to achieve the greatest possible return, they advise that homeowners think beyond the “lowest price” myth and examine specifications of the panels being installed, inverter capacity, whether batteries are also being fitted, and what their warranties will be – along with other crucial details such as expected system efficiency.
You also should consider installation, and how safe it will be; Solar Prime Energy says its installation processes are designed with accuracy, a quality end product, and safety of its customers at heart, and all projects are assessed carefully before final customer handover. Solar energy is now a long-term buy consideration Traditionally, it has seemed too simplistic and uneconomical to take part in generating your own electricity as an investment; now however, the modern solar panel system will run effectively for two decades or longer. Coupled with future-proof battery and inverter technologies, the solar system is now seen very much as a long-term home energy plan for a whole variety of possible future uses that the household will have, including possible home electric charging points, perhaps heat pumps or extending house space using its increased electrical output.
Therefore every potential Solar Prime Energy installation begins at a base assessment of the property’s total current energy requirements, plus potential increases that may occur.
The impact of technology in the modern home is increasing considerably, changing how houses consume energy.
Why wouldn’t we generate, store and use it more?
Solar energy provides households with an ever-increasing capacity to understand exactly where their power consumption is coming from and what a typical home system actually produces each day and in specific periods via smart metering through a monitoring application or system. People begin by making alterations based upon viewing this and in future years make changes or even significant enhancements to utilize such systems in conjunction with changing house usage patterns – it truly makes the property an active and energetic participant rather than a passive user of what the grid offers; as its capabilities increase so will the desire among consumers to benefit from such benefits, both monetary and environmental.
Homeowners question: Should I get solar panels?
How am I going to future-proof my home for 20 years of energy self-generation? Such considerations, while they may seem complicated initially, are the important issues we need to ask ourselves. We are going to look past their lowest quoted price to work out where their strengths lie in a solar PV context and this should be thought about too.
Solar is no longer just a case of bolting equipment onto the roof; it now reflects a more involved relationship between a homeowner and their household electricity system and demands that such a view be sustained for every installation. Solar Prime Energy is therefore trying to lead UK homeowners through this paradigm with its comprehensive domestic electrical power storage and generation strategy.
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