In terms of backup power generation, you might be torn between a solar system and a standby generator, wondering which option might be best.
a Generator has a low initial cost, relatively high running and maintenance cost versus a solar system with a high initial cost and low running and maintenance cost. a Solar system also has the added benefit of lowering your utility bill.
| INITIAL COST | RUNNING AND MAINTENANCE COST | RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE | ADDED BENEFIT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GENERATOR | Low | High | No | None |
| SOLAR SYSTEM | High | Low | Yes | Lowers utility bill |
Advantages of solar panels with battery backup
Renewable power source which uses sunlight
One of the biggest advantages of a solar system is that it is a truly renewable power source. You are using the energy from the sun to produce electricity, and you do not have to purchase or store a fuel source for energy production. The result is no ongoing running cost.
No counterparty risk
Another advantage of a solar system is there is no counterparty risk because the solar panels and the batteries are owned by you and installed on your property. In the time of a blackout, you will not have to go out and buy fuel and potentially store large amounts of fuel.
You also do not have the risk of potentially not finding fuel and, as a result, not being able to produce electricity.
Minimal maintenance is required
a Solar system also has no moving parts that can cause wear and tear, and the result is minimal maintenance over its lifespan. There is no quarterly or annual maintenance that has to be planned and paid for, unlike a generator.
DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR PANELS WITH BATTERY BACKUP
High initial installation cost
The cost of a full solar installation, which will include solar panels, inverter, batteries, and the installation cost, is certainly much higher than that of a generator.
This high cost can be offset by the solar system, which will lower or eliminate your electricity bill over its lifespan. If the solar system’s lifespan is 15 years and it saves you $200 per month on your electricity bill, that saving is $36 000.
Finite energy source
a Solar system is also a finite energy source in that it will only produce a certain amount of power during the day which is usually measured in kilowatt hours.This power will be stored in the batteries.
If, for instance, your solar system produces 10-kilowatt hours per day, then you will have only 10-kilowatt hours of energy to “spend” per day, and you will have to plan accordingly.
You will have to prioritize which appliances you want to use and add their power consumption together to stay within the figure you have available.
Likewise, your batteries will have a certain storage capacity. During nighttime or a grid down situation, when power is used from the battery bank, you should plan which appliances to use not to deplete your storage capacity too soon.
You can reduce the total energy consumption of your home by switching to energy-efficient lighting and appliances wherever possible. Another big factor that can reduce this number is to switch to alternative fuel sources like gas for heating and cooling.
Heating and cooling are some of the biggest consumers of power in your home, and by switching to an alternate fuel source, you can drastically lower your power consumption.
Periods without sun
Another possible disadvantage of a solar system is that you will have meager output from your solar panels during periods where it is little or no sunshine. Your batteries may be drained after a couple of days, depending on the storage capacity of the batteries.
Who is a solar system for?
- If you are looking for a renewable energy source that includes a battery backup for power outages.
- If you want to reduce your ongoing utility bill and peak electricity charging.
- If you want to go completely off-grid and not be dependant on the power grid at all.
- If you want to increase the value of your home.
Standby Generator
| ADVANTAGES OF A GENERATOR AS POWER BACKUP |
|---|
| LOW INITIAL COST COMPARED TO SOLAR WITH BATTERIES |
| VARIOUS POWER OUTPUTS FOR SMALL TO BIG HOUSES |
| CAN PROVIDE POWER 24/7 WITH CONSTANT FUEL SUPPLY |
Most homeowners are already familiar with backup generators, and a 6kw to 12kw unit, which will be sufficient for most homes, will range from $2000 – $3000.
This is certainly much lower than a full solar installation, where a 10kw system will cost on average about $20 000.
Generators are available in various power outputs from small and portable to large. A 6kw unit will be sufficient to power most essential appliances like lights, TVs, fridges in a small home.
If you want to power all the appliances in your home, you will have to look at a 10kw to 12 kW unit.
If you have an existing natural gas line, You can connect the standby generator to it, and it will have a 24/7 fuel supply when needed.
| DISADVANTAGES OF A STANDBY GENERATOR |
|---|
| NOISY OPERATION |
| FUEL COST |
| MAINTENANCE COST |
| POSSIBLE REPAIR COST |
Technology has made newer generators much quieter than previously, but they still are fairly noisy. Outside installation and sound deadening can also eliminate as much noise as possible from the generator.
Running a generator can be fairly expensive – a 6kw natural gas generator will use approximately $60 worth of gas in 24 hours. You can also run generators on petrol, diesel, and propane gas.
Generators will also have to be serviced at least once per year, with the cost of service being on average $600 for a 6 kW to 10 kW generator.
Another risk of a generator is the risk of mechanical breakdown, and then there will be additional repair costs which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Who is a standby generator for?
- If you are only looking for emergency power during blackouts, and the blackouts are not very high frequency and long.
- If your home has an existing natural gas line.
- If you are not planning to add solar to your home in the future excluding the option of starting with a small system and expanding the system’s capacity later.
