Australia is a country with huge solar energy potential, and the same is tapped efficiently for the last few years. One out of five Australian homes have solar panels, and more are embracing solar power at an incredible rate. The trend is inspiring as the world is struggling to meet the energy requirements, and relying on natural resources for energy generation puts a valuable contribution to saving the environment.
Before discussing choosing off the grid or mains power, let us talk in brief about both of them. Off the grid system means non-reliance on the grid to meet your energy needs and becoming self-sufficient to cater to the energy requirements of your home. The mains power system is the conventional way to meet the electricity demands of your home where electricity is supplied by the grid, and you totally rely on that supply.
As the recent trend seen in Australia is switching to an Off-grid system. Let us talk about the factors which are steering the above-mentioned scenario.
The prices of solar batteries are declining, with more competitors entering the market. Apart from this, different types of solar batteries are available in the market, and technology is improving every day. Lithium-ion batteries are considered superior to conventional lead-acid batteries, but new players in the market are Flow batteries and Sodium Nickel Chloride batteries. The choice and feasible price coupled with thrust on clean energy is attracting more and more people towards the off-grid solar system.
Job demands are changing over the globe, work from home jobs are preferred, and as a result, people love to live away from noisy cities. Off the grid, the solar power system gives the liberty to choose a remote location without worrying about the power supply from the grid. Moreover, the Federal government is offering many incentives such as solar credits and RECs for the uptake of off grid solar power.
It is a good way to save money in the long-run as only capital costs are involved. You do not have to worry about paying electricity bills. Additionally, it is a great way of sustainable living and put your contribution to saving the environment.
There are many economic and environmental benefits of installing an off-grid solar system, but it is not always easy to install, operate, and maintain it. The most challenging part is the initial set up and capital cost involved along with careful planning, designing, and installation. You are required to be smart ad well-informed before choosing batteries, wiring system, and the number of solar panels, but you can always take the help of experts.
The next crucial part is maintenance you need to have a clever choice of appliances when the whole house is solar-powered. Repair and replacement of off-grid components should be monitored periodically. Do not forget to have an energy back-up like a generator. The fact is that you are totally responsible to meet your energy needs, so consistent care and caution are expected.
You do not have to worry about anything when you are getting electricity from the grid your only responsibility is to pay electricity bills. Taking about the installation cost, it is decreasing gradually, so it would not be much expensive to install off the grid system as compared to before.
But the most suitable reason to choose an off-grid solar system would be its eco-friendly nature. Currently, environmental conservation is the biggest concern all over the globe. If there is an opportunity that every individual can put his/her contribution towards this cause, then taking a little bit of responsibility is welcome. As switching to an off-grid system is in itself a responsibility, people who can comfortably or even if needs to come out of their comfort zone should take it as it is about saving our mother nature.