How often do you get something for nothing in this world? Exactly.
The prospect of free electricity is just one of the reasons, if you haven’t already done so, to embrace clean, renewable solar energy.
Alongside all the good stuff such as lowering carbon emissions, protecting the planet, and ensuring greater security of energy supply, it will also save you money. Talk about daylight saving.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels convert daylight into electricity that you can use in your home. If you do not use all you produce, you can sell it back to the national grid, lowering your energy bills even further.
Solar arrays, as a full set of panels is called, can be fixed on to your garage or in your garden, but most people install them on their roof. So checking to see if your roof is suitable is a good place to start.
For optimum performance a south facing orientation is best, as it will get the best light. It’s an even better option if you work from home, or if there are people at home during the day, because then the electricity generated will most likely get used.
Using up your solar powered energy in the home is the most cost-effective option, because if you sell it back to the grid, the credit you receive for selling it back to the grid is less than the price you’d pay for energy from the grid.
Maximising benefits
If your roof faces east or west, that’s okay too. It just means you’ll get your peak performance in the mornings and evenings which, in many households, is the busiest time.
To maximise the benefits, adjust your energy usage as much as possible to suit the system, such as by doing high-energy-use activities – such as washing clothes or cooking – while the sun is shining.
All systems are at their most efficient from May to September, when three-quarters of all solar energy is generated.
Direct sunlight produces the most electricity but simple daylight will do. Just be careful about putting panels in shady spots, such as where the shadow of a neighbouring building or tree will impede performance.
Once you’ve installed your system, which includes not just the rooftop array but the electrical equipment to convert and connect it to your fuse box, it’s pretty low maintenance to keep.
The panels themselves are self-cleaning although it is recommended you give them a once-over every five years or so (most installers say they will last at least 20 years). If you live close to a busy road or by the sea, where the air is salty, once every three years is best.
Prices for solar panels have fallen significantly in recent years but it’s still a sizeable chunk of change at around €7,000 to €10,000 for a 4.4 kilowatt peak (kWp) 10-panel array. That’s net of the SEAI’s maximum grant which, since January of this year, fell from €2,100 to €1,800.
Providers such as Electric Ireland suggest that by installing solar PV panels you could save up to 60 per cent on your home’s electricity.
While estimates as to the savings you will make vary from provider to provider, as does the length of the payback time, typically advertised as six to nine years, once you’ve paid off the cost of installation, your solar-powered energy is essentially free.
Selling back to the grid
What’s more, thanks to the Government’s 2022 introduction of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), you also have the option of selling any excess back to the grid.
Under the CEG each energy supplier sets its own export tariff. If you’re likely to have an excess, it’s worth shopping around to see which is offering the best tariff. It’s a competitive market, with prices currently ranging from around 15 to 25 cents per kilowatt hour.
This comes back to you in the form of a credit towards your bill so it’s also worth looking at how frequently this is done. Some providers will credit you monthly while for others it’s twice a year.
There are tax breaks too. Until the end of 2025, if you sell electricity back to the national grid, you qualify for a tax exemption of €400 per year on the income you generate from your excess electricity, double what it was just two years ago and another nice carrot.
Just be careful who you choose to install your system. The best route is to go via a registered SEAI supplier, who can look after your grant application for you.
Any activity on a roof must be carefully considered and it is important the solar array has no negative impact on its structural integrity. It should never involve drilling directly into roof tiles, for example. After all, there’s no point making solar gains only to have rain drip freely into your home.
