For anyone thinking of getting solar panels whether at home or as part of their camping essentials, the cost is perhaps the number one concern. Switching to solar is not just challengingit can leave quite a dent in your wallets as well. After considering if your location is well-suited for solar energy use, it's time to estimate how much you'll be paying depending on the number of panels you need. Luckily, solar panels are known to be cheaper in Australia thanks to the generous government incentives. A 5kWh solar system from a popular brand would have an average of $1,040 and can go as low as $910 depending on your provider.
In terms of watts, solar panels in Australia cost around $1.02 based on an average 5kWh solar system. Of course, the total price would vary depending on the size of your system as well as solar rebates. What about portable camping solar panels such as folding solar panels, solar mats, and flexible solar panels? Most of the time, these usually start at $200 per panel and since you'd mostly need just a couple or below ten of these on outdoor trips, you're bound to save more when it comes to installation costs.
Now, let's see the prices in terms of materials. Solar panels can either be composed of monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or thin-film. Monocrystalline is the most energy-efficient out of the three and is priced at around $1 to $1.50 per watt. This means that a 6kW solar panel setup costs between $6,000 to $9,000. Polycrystalline is less efficient but more affordable at $0.90 to $1 per watt or $5,400 and $6,000 for a 6kWh solar system. Lastly, thin-film solar panels are priced the same as monocrystalline solar panels, but they tend to require a lot of space and are thus used mostly in industrial applications.
Overall, solar panels can cost you $3500 to $35,000 depending on how big of a system you need. It's a little overwhelming, but definitely worth it in the long run, provided that you have considered your location's weather conditions and peak sun hours before installation.
How Much Do You Need For Solar Panel Installation?
Speaking of installation, it can cost you between $15,000 to $25,000 to have solar panels installed in your home, including the solar panel accessories you might need. Planning to set it up on your RV? Total prices would fall from $9,500 to $10,500 if you go for a large system where you can run absolutely every appliance from it. If you're planning to run just a few electronic equipment, then a 400W or 350W solar panel system at around $3,500 to $4,500, including installation fees, should be enough for you.
How Long Will You Get a Return From Solar Panels?
Given all the costs you will have to shoulder from solar panel purchase down to installation, of course, you'd want to know when you'll get all of these fees back. On average, it will take about four years for your system to generate enough value in electricity production to cover its initial costs. This period can be extended for small units and for households that consume less electricity, though. Your location's climate matters a lot as well since it determines how much sun exposure you get every day for your solar panels to work at maximum efficiency.
What about savings? Don't worry, you'll certainly save money in the long term with solar panels. There are a lot of factors that determine how much you'll be able to set aside such as roof angle, solar system size, hours of direct sunlight, and the most important one: electricity consumption rates. If you want an annual estimate of how much you can save with your solar panels, calculate how much you spend on electricity in a year and determine your current utility rate. After this, you can use an online calculator to get your yearly savings by supplying information such as energy usage, price of solar panel installation, and location.
