You ask the questions and the experts from ADEX GREENERGY provide the answers…
How does a solar power system work?
A solar power system consists of panels with densely packed silicon cells, each with a layer that conducts positive and negative charges and which absorb the light from the sun. The stronger and more sustained the light source, the more electricity is produced. These cells are sensitive enough to generate electricity even on overcast days when the sunlight is not at its full potential.
What is a Grid Connected Home Solar System?
Electrical energy produced by a solar energy system is connected to a grid that feeds the electricity generated through a converter that allows for the use of the power for commercial or private use. The power company allows us to connect home solar systems through a meter to the national grid before we use the power generated for our own use. The amount of electricity produced is sold to the power company at a very attractive price and the amount earned is deducted from your monthly power bill. If you produce more than you use, you pay the difference. If, on the other hand, you use less than you produce, the power company sends you a check for the difference. You can’t lose; it’s a win/win situation.
What is a Commercial Grid Connected System? The only real difference between a commercial or private system is the size. Commercial systems range in size from 15Kw to 50Kw as opposed to home systems that usually produce in the region of up to 5Kw.
How exactly are accounts settled with the power company?
It’s very simple. Every kilowatt of electricity your solar system produces and feeds into the national grid is purchased, automatically, by the power company for 1.98 NIS. You continue to use electricity just as normal and pay the power company 0.45 NIS for every kilowatt of electricity you consume. In other words, the power company buys power from you at four times the price you pay for the electricity you use. You see the savings when the power company automatically credits you with the difference between home consumption and electricity produced by your solar system. In months when electricity production is greater than consumption, you receive a check from the power company for the difference.
How much does it cost?
The price of a solar system depends to a large extent on its size. A home solar system starts at around 70,000 NIS. The investment may seem large but remember that it begins to return your investment from the moment you start generating your own electricity because your monthly return from the power company, either in the form of a check or savings in electricity bills, usually covers most of the repayments for your loan. Your monthly costs increases marginally and within 8-10 years, you will have paid back your entire loan. It is worthwhile noting that the larger the solar system, the more electricity is generated and you, a private power supplier, can begin to earn extra income right from the start. After finishing the loan repayments, you will have another 10 years of clear profits that can be hundreds of NIS each month.
Why is it worthwhile? Apart from the advantage of producing clean energy and of being part of the environmental revolution, you also see the advantage and the profits with your first power bill. Imagine receiving 1.98 NIS for each Kilowatt of power you produce from your solar system for the next 20 years. Even more attractive is the fact that this price is linked to the cost of living and the foreign currency index and revised once a year. Solar energy is an innovative solution that provides you with an additional income and a saving of electricity costs for the next 20 years at the cost of a onetime investment and minimal maintenance. Can you really afford not to?
How do I maintain my solar system?
A commercial or private solar power system needs almost no maintenance other than cleaning the solar panels every few months with the aid of a simple garden hose so that the sun’s rays are easily collectable by the solar panels.
Do I need a special license to install a solar system?
To install a solar power system you need a Form 4 and a building permit. Having said that, most local authorities encourage the move to solar energy and present no obstacles when you apply for a permit.
Is the system guaranteed?
The manufactures warranty is usually 20 years for the solar panels (manufacturers conditions may apply) and 5 years guarantee for the converter. However, market survey results show that the products used by ADEX GREENERGY have a much longer life span specified in the manufacturers guarantee.
What happens at night or in cloudy weather? The solar system generates electricity which is then sold directly to the power company and not necessarily used by the homes occupants. Any reduction or cessation in electrical production by the system will be reflected in the payment or credit given by the power company to the system owner. Your home’s power supply will in no way be affected!
Back to top