Solar energy – five myths busted

As solar becomes cheaper, with savings of over $1,4001 a year on your energy bill, there’s never been a better time to consider getting it on your roof.

Still having reservations? Here’s some of the top solar myths busted.

Solar myths busted 1. Having solar panels makes electricity cheaper

Solar panels don’t make your electricity rates cheaper, but they allow you to buy less electricity from your retailer, drastically reducing your bills!

To help get the most of your panels, use appliances when your solar is producing electricity. This self-consumed electricity is 2-3 times more valuable to the household rather than only getting paid a credit for excess solar that is exported to the grid.

2. If I don't use my solar power during the day, it's wasted (so why should I get solar?)

Untrue! You will get paid for the electricity that you send to the grid through something called a Feed-in Tariff (FiT). Relying on FiTs, rather than self-consumption, will extend your return on your investment – for an investment that lasts 25-30 years, the lifetime savings can be exceptional.

3. The more panels I have, the bigger the savings

False! The system should be sized according to your usage and will be limited by your available roof space. If you are spending significantly more on a system that is bigger than you require, your payback period will be longer as you will be self-consuming less of the solar you’re producing and exporting more of it.

4. Solar panels don't work on cloudy days

False! You do generate electricity on a cloudy day – visible light still penetrates the clouds and hits your panels - it'll just be less. During these cloudy days, a solar system will still produce around 25%-45% of the energy it would produce under ideal conditions. According to the Bureau of Meterology (BOM 2021), Sydney annually gets on average about 109 clear sunny days and 127 partially cloudy days, so there’s a lot of sunshine available to repay your investment.   

5. A cheaper system will pay for itself faster.

In the solar market, it pays to make sure you are getting a quality system. Some products and installers may seem cheaper but if they are not the right quality it may lead to significantly more costs within the anticipated lifetime of that system. Get at least three quotes and evaluate the offers and the installers on the following criteria:

Are they a CEC-Approved Solar Retailer?Have they been in business for at least 5 years? (Indicating some financial stability)How long is the installer’s installation warranty? (At least 5 years is recommended)Have they provided a professional quote itemising all the components of the system and their associated warrantees?How are the online reviews of the installer?

Get your free phone energy consultation and receive trustworthy, independent advice on solar from our partner organisation Australian Energy Foundation. Call 1300 23 68 55, or jump online to book a consultation at a time that suits you.

Council staff can also provide advice through our ‘Solar Conversations’ service, with bookings available from February.

*Average saving per year for homes on the Northern Beaches (APVI 2021)