Taken from Hola.com
With electricity prices rising daily, you're probably considering switching to solar energy, which can provide substantial savings on your bills. Furthermore, it's a renewable energy source that contributes to a healthier environment.
However, it's common to have questions or make mistakes when installing photovoltaic panels at home, resulting in an inefficient system. It's equally common for people not to apply for renewable energy subsidies, which are very beneficial. To clear up any doubts you may have about all aspects of solar energy, Hola.com consulted two experts: Enrique del Valle, president of the Industry Committee of FENIE (National Federation of Installation Companies of Spain; fenie.es), and Albert López Corbella (albertlopez.info), a journalist specializing in renewable energy.
1. Oversizing
Enrique explains that “when you install more panels than you need, apart from having made a larger investment than necessary, you'll have excess energy. And when you have excess energy in a self-consumption system, you don't recover your investment, and furthermore, the surplus energy produced beyond your needs isn't compensated on your electricity bill.”.
In conclusion: the sizing of a solar power plant must be appropriate.
2. Not conducting a prior study of consumption
FENIE states: “If you don't know your energy consumption, you can't size your photovoltaic system. While there are pre-established standards for different areas, a single-family home with a pool that uses surplus water for domestic hot water is not the same as a typical house. Consumption habits and the use of certain heating and cooling systems or pools, both indoors and outdoors, significantly influence energy consumption.”.
3. Disconnect 100% from the main network
Believing that with a photovoltaic installation you will stop consuming energy from the traditional grid is another mistake because if you don't have batteries you probably won't have energy on cloudy, rainy days or, obviously , at night .
Albert explains that “with a photovoltaic installation you will consume energy from the conventional grid, to a greater or lesser extent. Even if you have an energy storage battery, I would recommend not disconnecting 100% from the grid, since at certain times throughout the year you will need a certain external energy supply.”.
4. Do not equip yourself with batteries
Together with Albert, we worked with figures that clarify the issue: “A house without a photovoltaic installation or energy storage generates 100% of its energy costs. In contrast, photovoltaic energy reduces them by 20-25%. But, if we add energy storage with lithium solar batteries, they decrease even further, to approximately 80%.”.
There is no doubt, then, that a battery gives you enormous energy independence, "there are even cases in Spain where it allows you to generate 90-95% of your energy consumption. It's the concept of self-sufficiency," the expert continues.
5. Not considering reducing the contracted power on the general network
The journalist specializing in renewable energy believes that being unaware of the advantages of energy storage batteries is a huge mistake: “If we are in a position to make a financial investment (the price of photovoltaic panels has decreased by around 80% in recent years) in our homes to be more sustainable (by consuming energy from non-polluting sources), we should know what an energy storage battery could offer us. One important advantage is, for example, that you consume locally sourced energy, but I would also highlight that if you install a photovoltaic battery, you will very likely be able to reduce your contracted power.”.
In addition, you can install more than one battery at home that stores solar energy.
6. Failure to conduct a prior study of the structure of the dwelling
If it's not a newly built house, but an existing one, the characteristics of the property must be taken into account. According to the president of the FENIE Industry Commission, “a tiled roof is not the same as a flat terrace, a facade, or a pergola when it comes to installing photovoltaic panels. Each will receive a different wind load, and this can be a determining factor in the structural calculations of a solar power plant. It's important to remember that comfort is crucial in a home, and inclined panels can produce noise and, over time, cause cracks in the tiles, leading to leaks and other problems if the structure isn't properly attached to the roof structure.”.
It is also vital that the design and distribution of the panels are not deficient, for example, if they are located in an area of partial shade.
7. Failures in the compensation of surpluses
Enrique advises negotiating the compensation for surplus energy carefully, “since it's currently highly variable. Before signing the surplus energy contract, they should send us the compensation offer, and if we don't agree, we can let them know before signing. It's also important to emphasize that we aren't slaves to the energy suppliers and that we can always choose the most advantageous option that doesn't overcharge.”.
8. Thinking that the investment is not worthwhile if electricity consumption is mainly at night
At this point we return to energy storage batteries, which ensure the availability of renewable energy 24 hours a day, regardless of whether we need it most in the evening.
Albert also points out that “the economic investment in a photovoltaic installation should be considered as what it is, an investment and not an expense, because it provides a series of benefits. The advantages for the environment and in reducing the electricity bill are immediate.”.
9. Not taking advantage of financial aid and tax breaks
Enrique points out that “financial aid represents an average of 30% of the investment, depending on the autonomous community, and may be higher in some. Tax breaks or reductions for investing in renewable energy should also be considered, as these also change the energy rating of the home.”.
