Gary is saving $1,600 a year with his Nectr system
Thanks to their excellent value-for-money, 5kW solar systems have become one of the most popular sizes in Australia. They feature high energy outputs that yield decent returns. Gary from Brisbane is one of the many beneficiaries of 5kW solar systems saving up to $1,600 per year.
Gary knew nothing about solar until he came across experts from Nectr. After hearing the recommendations, he settled for a 5kW system that allows him to get credit back.
Monitoring his system’s performance is also easy due to Solar Analytics. The platform allows him to track his energy production, usage, and how much he exports back to the grid. That’s why he knows that his system is giving him the targeted returns.
If you’d like to know more about Gary’s solar choice and how you can cut down your utility bills, keep reading.
In this article, we’ll look at:
- The 5kW system and how much it can help you save
- How to monitor your solar production and consumption
Let’s dive in!
How much can you save with a 5kW solar system?
The 5kW solar system rapidly gaining popularity is the ideal system of choice for medium to big households. The solar system suits an electricity budget of $350 or more per bill cycle. The actual savings are likely to range between $180 – $300.
How much does a 5kW solar power system cost?
A good quality 5kW solar system costs anything from $3,990 to $8,000. Although less expensive systems are available, you always get what you pay for. By staying within this pricing range, you may be sure of getting a high-quality solar PV system.
After price, you should consider warranty protection. Things go wrong, so be sure a comprehensive warranty covers your solar system. Every 5kW solar system from Nectr has a warranty to ensure you get the most out of your money.
How many solar panels do you need?
A 5kW solar system could have 15 – 20 solar PV panels based on standard 250W – 300W panels. Each panel is roughly 1.6m by 1m in size, so you’ll need at least 30m2 of roof space.
How much electricity does a 5kW solar system produce?
Depending on your location and other factors, a 5kW solar system will generate roughly 20kWh per day.
Note that installing a 5kW solar power system does not guarantee you will have no electricity bills. You will save less if you consume most of your electricity at night when the sun isn’t shining.
Let’s look at some of the factors that affect how much a 5kW system produces.
Location
The ideal locations for solar are those receiving a lot of sunlight with little cloud cover. You can still benefit even if you live in a less sunny area. The trick is to buy a high-quality system and invest in technology like power optimisers.
Condition of solar panel surface
The photoelectric power conversion is directly related to the cleanliness of the solar panel surface. Rainfall, snow, dust, and sandstorms are just a few things that reduce the effectiveness of solar panels.
In most regions, pollution levels are higher in the winter; thus, spring is the optimum time to clean your house.
Solar panels cleaned twice a year produce 5.1% more electricity than those not.
How much can you save with a 5kW solar system?
A 5kW solar system can save you up to $350 per electricity bill cycle. Your actual savings are more likely to range between $180 and $300 per cycle. This amount is more than enough to cover the total energy usage of most households.
The amount you receive is dependent on how much electricity you use and when you use it. You’ll save the most money if you use most (or all) of your solar power throughout the day.
The amount you get from your feed-in tariff is a fraction of what you’d spend to get electricity from the grid.
How long before a 5kW solar system pays for itself?
If you aren’t exporting energy, you should see a payback in less than five years – which is rather short. It will also depend on whether you paid a fair price for the installation of the system.
However, if you secure low-cost solar financing, you can start making money right away. It is reasonably simple to finance the purchase so that the monthly energy savings exceed the cost of repaying the loan.
Solar calculators make it very evident whether an investment is increasing or reducing your cash flow.
What kind of household does a 5kW solar system suit best?
Solar systems with a capacity of 5kW are ideal for medium to big households that consume a lot of electricity. It is the system for you if you have adolescent children, a pool, and reverse cycle air conditioning. It is appropriate for a single bill cycle with an electrical budget of $350 or higher.
How to monitor your solar production and consumption?
Today, there are two effective ways to monitor your solar system including:
- Using the standard production monitoring feature embedded in the inverter device
- Using additional software or apps that provide more detailed live data
Solar monitoring devices provide a real-time snapshot of your home solar system’s solar energy output statistics.
A good monitoring system can alert you when one or more panels (also known as “modules”) fail to produce as much energy as the others.
It also notifies you if there’s an electrical failure causing you to lose valuable kWh.
Solar monitoring may help you:
- Track your system’s performance over time
- Troubleshoot various issues
- Track the financial performance of your solar investment
Production monitoring
All Nectr inverters now come with production monitoring as a standard feature. You can use it provided you have a WiFi network connection or at least two-three bars of signal at the site of your installed inverter.
This type of production monitoring provides the most basic data on your system’s energy-generating statistics, grid export, and any trouble signals. On the external inverter screen, you can view and scroll through various data categories.
Some inverter manufacturers also offer a mobile app that is more user-friendly. The software presents information in an easy-to-understand style and frequently alerts you if your system isn’t working correctly.
Consumption monitoring
Other solar consumption tracking tools include the data indicated by the inverter but with more depth.
You can access complete information on what power you have:
- Utilised
- Produced
- Exported back
- Stored in your battery
Consumption monitoring systems also include software that you may access via a desktop or mobile application.
Although this is not a standard solar monitoring product, we strongly advise you to have it in your solar system.
You can integrate Solar Analytics into any solar system despite the brand.
Solar Analytics
Solar Analytics uses a 4G network to send updated data in 15-minute intervals constantly. It allows you to see what your system produces and how much energy you’re using in real-time.
An app is available to examine the solar analytics monitoring system.
Each customer gets their own login information, which allows them to see extensive information about the following aspects of their solar system.
- Energy usage
- The efficiency of your solar energy system
- The net electricity you buy and sell
- How much power your system should be producing vs. how much energy it produces on any given day
- Defects diagnostics
Conclusion
Gary is a medium-sized homeowner whose choice to go solar is inspiring. With 24 solar panels, he saves approximately $400 per bill cycle totalling $1,600 annually.
You can also hit, come close or exceed those numbers with a 5kW system. Your savings may differ due to factors like location and current power consumption.
Reach out to Nectr through email, chat, or call 1300 133 556 for solar installation services. You can also book a home or site visit where we recommend the best solar system based on your facts and data.
Next Steps…
Interested in solar? By clicking below you can use our smart solar calculator to find out just how much you could save with solar, what rebate you are eligible for, and the impact you will have on the environment.
Don’t wait until next quarter’s bloated bill, and get started today!
Click here to calculate your solar savings!
Join over 20,000 homeowners who have made the switch with Nectr, or the 1000+ positive reviewers who have been more than happy with their solar install.
Otherwise, you can always contact us on 1300 133 556, or email if you prefer at sales@instylesolar.com.au.
