Switching from the grid to a residential solar system comes with many benefits. You can save thousands of dollars in utility expenses over the life of the system. As long as you chose a reputable solar installer, you should have no problems with your new on-site sustainable power generator.

You and your installer should have engaged in a discussion about your energy needs before work began. They should have gone over what will happen and how much electricity your new solar system can supply. Now that the work is finished, it’s time for you to inspect the job and make sure everything is as it should be.

Checking Solar Equipment on Walls

Check the equipment installed on walls on your home. You will find wall-mounted isolators outside. These should not have electrical conduit coming in from the top. If they do, it could spell disaster when it rains because water can leak inside.

Cables going into the inverter should be well-secured and organised. You should not be able to pull them, and they should not be able to get caught on anything nearby.

Open conduits should be sealed with a gland and not silicone. The inverter or third-party monitoring system should be setup to alert you in case of a problem. This will allow you to act quickly instead of waiting for your next bill to notice that something is wrong.

Inspect the Solar Panels on the Roof

You should not climb on the roof if you are not experienced with doing so. If you live in a single-storey home, then you should be able to view the work from the ground just by looking up.

Make sure your solar panels are lined up and look level with all excess rail trimmed off. If not, call your installer to come out and correct the issue. Cables should also be neatly arranged through the roof cavity.

Panels should not overhang and should be more than 200 mm from the edge of the roof. A good installer won’t position panels past the edge or too close to it because this creates added stress from the wind.

In some situations, the installer can place the panels closer than 200 mm to the edge, but they should be using the right type and number of racking and fixings.

All solar panel clamps should be placed in clamping zones based on the equipment’s make and model. Most have four clamps on the sides that must be 100 mm to 300 mm apart. If they are too far apart or too close to the corners, they could allow flexing in the wind which can crack silicone cells.

Tilt-racking legs should be positioned at right angles to the panels. Rooftop isolators should be shielded from direct sunlight.

Make Sure You Receive Documentation

Your solar installer should give you the documentation related to your system. This is often overlooked, so make sure you request it if nothing is given.

This will include a list of all equipment, warranty details, owner manual, handbook, certificate for the array frame or racking, performance estimate, shut down and isolation instructions, maintenance requirements, site inspection checklist, connection diagram, declaration of compliance, testing checklist, earth fault alarm instructions, and a certificate of electrical safety.

If you have questions about residential solar installation, let us know. Connect Electric is here to help you get the most out of your renewable energy investment.

We are experiencing unprecedented times by modern standards. Most of us living today have not faced a situation like the one created by the coronavirus. Society changed almost overnight as countries around the world struggle to contain the virus and protect human lives.

While COVID-19 is a bad thing, it has created a unique situation in the energy sector. With many businesses out of commission and people staying home due to social distancing, most areas have seen a decline in energy consumption.

This sounds good from an environmentalist standpoint. Some regions are reporting less pollution as industry grinds to a halt. However, it also paves the way for renewable power to shine.

Less Energy Demand Forces a Price Change

Peak power consumption is down. Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom have reported an average 10% drop in usage.

These shifts also affect fossil fuel-based sources. Coal is usually one of the cheapest options available. It currently stands as the most expensive around the world as cheaper green energies and natural gas prices sink.

“In most economies that have taken strong confinement measures in response to the coronavirus – and for which we have available data – electricity demand has declined by around 15%, largely as a result of factories and businesses halting operations,” Director of the International Energy Agency Dr. Fatih Birol explained in a blog post.

Renewable Energy Takes Over in the U.K.

On Sunday, March 5^th, the U.K. experienced an unusually sunny day. During that day, approximately 40% of the country’s energy was generated using wind farms with a fifth coming from solar power.

It is impressive to consider that during that time renewable energy produced more power to cover the reduced needs of the country. Octopus Energy, a green energy company, even paid some of its customers to use energy during the day. The scheme previously was only available at night during periods of low demand.

Dr. Birol views this change as an opportunity for renewables.

“In this way, the recent drop in electricity demand fast-forwarded some power systems 10 years into the future, suddenly giving them levels of wind and solar power they wouldn’t have had otherwise without another decade of investment in renewables.”

He also predicted that this increase in renewable power could help countries come up with ways to cope with drops in power that happen when the sun sets or when winds weaken.

Connect Electric believes that many of the world’s energy problems can be answered using renewable technology. While the coronavirus pandemic has wrought havoc around the world, there is hope that we can learn a few things during this difficult time.

No one can know exactly how this could change things in the coming years, but there is no denying the attention that’s been put on previously neglected green energy sources. Wind, solar, and hydropower could become more important, allowing us to phase out non-renewable and harmful fossil fuels to pave the way for a greener future.

Most people know that solar energy is beneficial because it doesn’t consume non-renewable resources. That’s a big benefit, but it isn’t the only positive feature solar has to offer. It also helps stop pollution.

The Effects of Pollution on the Environment

Pollution can contaminate soil, air, and water. This has a dire effect on the ecosystem.

Air pollution leaves toxins on plants that are later consumed by wildlife. This can kill off essential populations of animals that are necessary to maintain the food chain. It can also increase the risk of health problems in wildlife due to contamination.

Litter like plastic and metal garbage doesn’t break down easily and can harm living things. In the ocean, discarded refuse is a serious hazard for marine animals. Pollution in the soil can kill plants or contaminate them, making anything that ingests them ill.

The Effects of Pollution on People

Pollution can also have a more personal impact when it comes to our health. Air pollution can cause respiratory illness and aggravated cardiovascular disease. It also places more stress on the heart and lungs, forcing them to work harder to supply oxygen to the body.

Short term exposure may cause discomfort but may not have a lasting effect. However, long-term exposure can cause permanent damage including accelerated aging of the lungs, loss of lung function and capacity, and the development of diseases like emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, and cancer. It can also lead to a shortened lifespan.

Water pollution can be just as dangerous. It allows water-borne diseases to spread like cholera, typhoid, malaria, jaundice, dysentery, and amoebiasis. Nitrates in water can restrict oxygen in the brain, which is especially risky for babies. Petrochemicals increase the risk of cancer, even at a low exposure rate.

Switching to Solar Stops Pollution

Solar energy is one of the most viable clean power sources we have. It can help reduce existing pollution problems and eliminate potential future concerns. How does solar stop pollution?

• No Burning Means No Air Pollution – Fossil fuels like natural gas and coal require combustion and mining. These activities produce greenhouse gas emissions that make their way into the air. The gasses produced include methane and nitrous oxide, which vent into the environment. Solar energy doesn’t burn, so no greenhouse gases are produced.
• Solar Keeps Waterways Clean – Solar doesn’t need water to generate power. That means there’s no need to tap into local waterways to keep your system running. Solar allows us to use electricity while keeping our rivers pristine.
• Less Hazardous Waste Produced – Coal-fired plants also produce millions of tonnes of toxic waste that must go somewhere. This material ends up in landfills and abandoned mines where it is out of the way but is a hazard for the environment around it. Solar doesn’t produce hazardous waste.

Solar makes it possible to go green without giving up the luxuries of modern life. Connect Electric is here to help you learn more about what life is like with renewable energy. Contact us today to find out if a new solar system can meet your needs.

Cost has always been one of the major factors people point to when discussing renewable energy. While the environmental implications are very important, the price also affects how viable a power source is for the larger community.

Independent financial think tank Carbon Tracker recently released a report that found that the cost of renewable energy is lower than the previous cost-effective option, coal.

For years, coal was relied upon as an affordable way to bring power to millions of people. In the United States, nine out of every 10 tonnes of coal mined was consumed to generate electricity. Coal makes up 73% of the resources used to produce electricity across Australia. Natural gas comes in second with a mere 13%.

A total of 78 countries around the globe used coal for energy in 2019. That was up from 66 countries in 2000.

With so many regions reliant on coal, it can be a hard sell to switch to an alternative. However, according to the Carbon Tracker website, “coal developers risk wasting more than $600 billion because it is already cheaper to generate electricity from renewables than from new coal plants in all major markets.”

Out with the Coal and In with the Renewables

Many communities are faced with a decision: continue using coal or invest in renewable technology. Some speculate that it might be cheaper to build new sustainable energy facilities over the next decade rather than continue operating existing coal power stations.

The report also called for policymakers to stop investing in coal and to begin redesigning regulations in the power market. The goal should focus on minimising stranded asset risk but to also accelerate the transition to a lower-carbon economy.

A world map was included that highlights the countries where renewable energy is cheaper to use than coal. The list includes Russia, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, India, South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Despite the signing of the Paris Agreement, coal still features prominently in the energy market. This stems from its availability and low cost. Millions of tonnes sit underground while powerful companies backed by governments try to take advantage of this otherwise unhealthy resource.

The shortcomings of wind and solar also work to coal’s advantage. Wind requires a breeze while solar needs the sun to shine to work. However, improved technology has increased efficiency and minimised the impact of these problems. When coupled with the lower cost, renewables become a strong contender against previous heavyweight coal.

Renewable Energy at Home

You have the option to decide how you want to power your home. Solar systems are more affordable than ever and can be installed on-site so you don’t have to rely on delivery from the grid. 

Connect Electric can help you learn more about why renewable energy is a better alternative to harmful fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and petroleum. Contact us today to discuss your electricity needs and to find out how solar can help you stop relying on coal.