Since the weather is finally starting to look good in November (it’s taken Perth long enough this year!) we thought that this month’s articles could bring some fresh air to all things outdoors-y in the energy world.
As the sun begins to spend more time with us, we become more energy hungry so that we stay cool. Solar is practically the perfect energy solution for us in WA and Australia generally. The times that we need (and want) to be cool are highly correlated with when the sun shines.
This seems to be well understood, as 20% of homes in WA now have solar. In aggregate this is the biggest generator in the state. The penny is also beginning to drop in the commercial and industrial segment of the market.
So now that we have, indeed, spent good money on becoming a prosumer (producer and consumer of electricity), how do we best maintain this expensive asset? Importantly, how do we ensure it keeps generating value for us? This month, Sheena explores this vital aspect of solar PV asset management and maintenance.
While summer is full of fun and good times, it can make common chores like shopping simply awful. Blistering heat on acres of unshaded car parks and hopping into roasting hot cars after visiting shopping centres, or other businesses, is not nice. But again, solar PV is the perfect solution. Paul Malcolm’s article this month focuses on solar car ports – it’s an aha moment for every property person I talk to – for its improved amenity that generates income, savings and production of environmentally responsible clean energy… Bring it on!
Finally, with all this solar heat and sunshine going to our heads, Paul Brockbank looks at how realistic it is to go off-grid with solar PV. Obviously, you need to store that solar electricity being generated for use at night. After all, the heat does stick around after the sun goes down. We reckon you’ll want both the battery and the grid.
Enjoy the warmth at long last!
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