The installation of solar panels or solar energy makes us take advantage of even the smallest energy from the sun to convert it into electricity and thus achieve self-consumption that has little impact on the environment. Although, it also allows us to save in the short and long term by reducing what we pay on the electricity bill.
Most of the companies in charge of the installation of solar panels have information or a previous study in which we will receive advice, analysis or advice on what is best for us according to the consumption we make or the type of house or dwelling we have, related to the number of plates and system that we must install. Although, this is also convenient so that you can get a prior idea about how much it will cost or what we will have to do.
What to keep in mind
We cannot install solar panels when we decide to, without more. At least in Spain. It is not enough to buy them and place them on the roof whenever we want to start benefiting from their advantages, mainly saving on the electricity bill, but we have to have a series of permits and authorizations so that we can confirm that we can install the plates. The permits are divided into two parts: those that we must have before the installation and the procedures that we must do after it. Therefore, we will explain in detail what this type of permit consists of.
Regulations and permits
There are a number of permissions that are essential. First of all, we need a design of the installation system: an authorized installer must carry out the design of the installation that you are going to have and must carry out a technical report that takes into account current regulations. Once you have the system design, you need to request access and connection permits from the distribution company. And the third of the “big” steps is to have a building license that arose from the size of the installation and it will not always be necessary but it will be necessary to make a communication.
Other permits are:
- Environmental or public utility authorization.
It is not generally necessary for installations of less than 100 kWp (peak kilowatts) although you should consult it depending on the Autonomous Community in which you live or the place where you are going to install the solar panels in case it is a protected territory, for example. It would also be necessary in the case of collective self-consumption or HV connection.
What happens in the case of having to apply for the public utility authorization? Among the possible situations related to this point, this is the most common. According to the Procedural Manual for the Authorization of Projects published by the Government, a series of documents that demonstrate the basis of the request must be attached. For example, the justification report of the whole project, the plans to the scale requested by the community and a detail of everything related to the installation of the solar panels.
- Administrative and construction authorization
It is only required for large installations. Those smaller than 100 kWp do not need to have administrative authorization, although it is advisable to consult it. When this procedure has to be carried out, it must be done through a ministerial channel. It is a process that usually takes time, so it is recommended to do it calmly.
- Certificate of completion
As its name indicates, it certifies that the work has been carried out correctly. It will depend on the size of the installation that an electrician or a technician of superior degree does it. It will depend on whether it is more than 10 kWp or less.
Once you have the document, you will have to proceed to its presentation in the Autonomous Community where you are and, in addition, taking into account the city council that corresponds to the place where the installation of the solar panels is going to be carried out.
- Initial inspection and periodic inspections
It will not be necessary for installations of less than 10 kWp or, at least, not mandatory. Therefore, an initial and periodic inspection by an authorized body must be carried out in the case of public places or damp locations where the installation is to be carried out.
- Other processes and authorizations
- Registration of the self-consumption installation if it is an industrial installation: from installations of more than 10 kW.
- Access contract for the self-consumption installation: if an access contract has been previously obtained for the supply of energy to consumers, it will not be necessary to apply for it.
- Energy supply contract for auxiliary services: there is no need for photovoltaic self-consumption producers to apply for the supply contract.
- Representation contract.
- Surplus compensation contract: when consumers within the solar panels installation are within the model without surplus, they will have the possibility to adopt this compensation system by means of a contract.
Please note that for the legalization of the photovoltaic installation we need an authorized installer. You cannot just install it. That is why it is advisable to get information from the company from which you are going to buy the panels or from an expert or installer who will tell you step by step what to do or what the process is. Some companies offer technical advice and an installer informs us about everything.
Modalities of self-consumption
We must also take into account the current regulations on the installation of solar panels when the user performs a self-consumption. In this case, a distinction is made between self-consumption without surplus or self-consumption with surplus. According to the Royal Decree approved in April 2019, there are two types of self-consumption. Self-consumption with surplus under compensation is not limited to supplying electricity for self-consumption, but also discharges the surplus into the distribution and transmission grids.
And without surplus, as its name suggests, it is an equipment or installation that does not discharge energy to the grid and prevents the surplus from being transferred to the distribution grid. That is to say, you do not receive economic compensation, but the owner is the only responsible for both the “advantages” and possible disadvantages. The great benefit of self-consumption without surpluses is that the procedure is much simpler than in the previous case and some of the requirements of the previous section are not necessary, such as access and connection permits, for example. In general, this case is the most recommendable, since it speeds up all the administrative procedures to be able to carry out the installation.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any type of energy system, this one has its pros and cons. For this reason, we are going to see what will give us this type of energy system, in addition to the disadvantages that can provide us the fact of wanting to install a solar panel in the house, a local or a ship. Therefore, if you want to make use of it, you will have to take into account what are its strengths and weaknesses, so here are the most important.
Advantages
To begin with, a lower environmental impact thanks to the fact that solar energy, and all renewable energies in general, are not harmful to the environment. Unlike traditional energy sources such as oil, coal, or natural gas, which cause the greenhouse effect and other waste that pollute our air, water and land. Solar panels provide you with a system that is renewable and abundant. The earth receives 120,000 terawatts of solar radiation, 20,000 times the energy needed by the entire world. It is also environmentally friendly, since the sun’s energy does not cause pollution.
Needless to say that the fossil fuels previously mentioned are becoming increasingly scarce, which is one more reason for us to make the leap once and for all to solar energy now that the popularity of photovoltaic installations for self-consumption has increased, which we can already see managed in many communities of owners, and in companies with efficiency certificates.
On the other hand, it reduces electricity costs. Perhaps this is the advantage that most attracts your attention, since solar energy by means of solar panels means substantial savings in the electricity bill, whether the installed system totally or partially supplements the supply from the electricity grid. In addition, the initial investment is recouped in only a 4 to 6 year payback period.
With the new bi-directional meters it is possible that if a household produces more energy than it consumes, this can be returned to the CFE electrical grid, thus giving the user credit. They are also configured as shared systems. Not all houses or buildings have space to place dozens or hundreds of solar panels, which is why community solar gardens are being created, so that people can subscribe to these parks and save electricity.
It is important to note that in the case of Spain, if you remain connected to the conventional grid, the savings are applied directly to consumption, reaching up to a 70% reduction. On the other hand, in passive mode, the contracted power, access tariff, tolls, etc. will be included.
Finally, the installation of solar panels is silent. When you do it, you will not have any associated noise afterwards. And, in addition, it is a low-maintenance task. You hardly need to clean the panels, which have up to 20 years of warranty or more. Everything will depend on the company from which we are going to buy the solar panels and, of course, the installation of the energy system.
Inconveniences
As you have already seen, using solar energy has many positive things, but as in all cases it also has its negative side. On the one hand, you know that it requires a high initial investment, which usually discourages many households that have fewer economic resources. However, in many cases we will be able to pay on a monthly basis. Although, it is clear that the price will also be high or will be much longer in time.
On the other hand, a solar panel really has a limited power. For that reason, in many occasions, this type of energy is not enough to satisfy all the needs that a house requires. To give you an example, a small house in a temperate zone does not usually spend less than 7 Kw per day and a standard panel generates 250 Kw.
Finally, if you want to get some solar panels for your use, you should keep in mind that these are very dependent on the weather. Undoubtedly, it is something to relativize because you can make an average annual or daily hours of sunshine. However, if the weather in your area tends to change a lot and you do not have much capacity to store energy, this may not be the best option for you. And of course, if you don’t have a lot of sun in your area either, it won’t be the best option either. Anyway, it all depends on each specific case and the general circumstances you have.
How they work
In this regard, and beyond everything we can have with these solar panels that are already seen by a good number of places, homes and establishments, it is worth mentioning its operation . Because, despite how simple it may seem at first, it also has its intricacies, like everything else.
As such, we will say that a solar panel generates electricity as long as the particles of sunlight, or photons, hit the electrons to release them from the atoms and set them in motion. This flow of electrons is electricity and solar panels are designed to capture this flow, converting it into a usable electric current.
It should also be noted that these cells, which are usually made of crystalline silicon or gallium arsenide, are mixed with other components such as phosphorus or boron that modify the conductive properties. This creates two parts: one negatively charged and the other positively charged.
This is when, when exposed to the sun, direct current (DC) energy is generated and converted into alternating current (AC) by means of an inverter. This gives as the end the one we all know and that gives rise to the result: that the alternating current energy then flows through the electrical panel of the house and ends up being distributed.
Something important to keep in mind, too, is that the amount of electricity we have in the cell will depend on the size of the cell. Thus, the smaller the cell, the less electricity, and the larger the cell, the more electricity.
Types of solar panels
Regardless of the type that you install, you must take into account that there are a series of permits that must be taken into account before the installation, but also a series of procedures that must be carried out after the installation. There are many types of solar panels on the market and the first thing to consider is which ones you want to install. They are not all the same, although their purpose is. It is for this reason that it is necessary to know well the different plates that you can find. But, in general, we usually differentiate between photovoltaic, thermal and hybrid.
Photovoltaic solar panels use solar energy to convert it into electricity. For its part, the thermal solar panel converts the energy from the sun into thermal energy or heat such as air conditioning or hot water. Finally, the hybrids allow us to use the two previous technologies in the same panels and allow us to produce electricity and heat with the same installation.
In general, you will be interested in hybrid solar panels, since they solve all the energy problems that a house usually has. If you do not opt for hybrid panels, you will have to opt for photovoltaic panels and then use that energy to heat water. That is to say, it is to give more turns to achieve the same thing.
The well-known Tesla also has a system that does not include an installation of solar panels as such, but replaces your roof to “produce clean energy”. Tesla boasts “uncompromisingly elegant solar power” with a sleek design and a solar power system that is fully integrated with the home. In addition, they promise that the shingles last three times longer than traditional shingles and withstand any weather in addition to linking to the Powerwall that stores surplus for when you need it and allows us full control from the Tesla app.
Costs, savings and amortization
After knowing this series of advantages and disadvantages that can give us the use of this type of energy storage systems, another of the most important points will be the initial investment that we will have to carry out. That is to say, how much it will cost us. And not only this, but we will also be interested in knowing how long it will take to recover the money we have invested in this installation of solar panels or how much we will be able to save in the coming decades if we decide to opt for self-consumption.
Price of the installation
How much does it cost to install solar panels? It depends. It is not like buying a fan, it will depend on many factors. The three most important are: the size of the installation or peak power, the quality of the photovoltaic components or the difficulty of making the installation. It will depend on the size that will cost us more but also that we get a greater return by saving month by month over the next few years. It will depend on the energy you need that you choose to put more or less plates, the consumption you do. It will not be the same to live alone as to be a family with six people who make frequent use of appliances or air conditioning, for example.
In general, for a family with a normal consumption of electricity, the price of the panels will be about 8000 euros. To this must be added the cost of installation, so the final price can rise to about 12,000 euros. In general, it can be assumed that the amortization of the solar panels is carried out in about seven years on average. In other words, you will have recouped your investment in 10 years.
The large furniture company Ikea has its own solar energy system, for example. What Ikea offers us are two systems, SOLSTRALE or its more efficient PLUS version, in different sizes depending on your home or consumption. The most affordable option is four 340W or 390W photovoltaic panels “for home or small house with limited consumption during the day” for about 4,100 euros including VAT in its normal version or about 5,000 euros including VAT in its PLUS version. In the case of the 12 panels offered in its most complete option for “house or larger house, well equipped or with significant consumption during the day” includes twelve panels of 340W or 390W for 6,633 euros or the Plus version for about 7,800 euros including VAT.
We made a brief test where it will tell us which panels are the most suitable according to your roof, whether or not there is shade or other factors such as how much electricity you pay monthly. On this website, you can also make a comparison between different brands according to criteria such as quality-price, reliability, efficiency…
Savings and amortization
How long it will take to amortize the solar panels will depend on many factors. As it is logical, it will depend on the time and conditions of the place where you live. It will not be similar to live in northern areas with rainy weather than in Mediterranean areas where the sun shines almost every day of the year. It is one of the factors that we must take into account to take advantage of the installation. We must also take into account the orientation… It makes no sense to install solar panels with an orientation where the sun never shines, for example.
To understand the amortization we must take into account the IRR or Internal Rate of Return. There are two fundamental factors that help us to calculate the profitability: the price of the installation and the annual energy savings. Calculating the price of the installation is very simple but the difficulty comes with the calculation of the estimated annual savings. It will depend on each house, each routine, each place.
Therefore, to get a calculation of the estimated annual savings we must take into account the price of electricity and the evolution of that price, the consumption made by each user or each house and the production capacity of the solar panels that we have installed.
According to the specialized company SotySolar, the return or amortization is between five and ten years, but it depends on the size of the installation and the payment method. In addition, this company (and many others) offer the possibility of making a study according to your specific situation or according to the installation you want to put as amortizing the installation of solar panels is something very specific. In Sotysolar also indicate that “the most common is to save between 50% and 60% of the electricity bill with self-consumption solutions of photovoltaic panels and recover the investment in less than seven years“. In most cases.
It is a considerable expense at first, but, once the installation is done, it is normal to recover the investment in less than 10 years. And if you take good care of your solar panels, they can last more than 15 years. In addition, we are seeing how every day the electricity bill rises more and more, and it is something that is likely to be maintained over time (we will have to see what changes since Spain and Portugal were classified as energy islands by the European Union).
Therefore, every day that passes it is more worth installing hybrid solar panels in your home, both for hot water and heating as well as for electricity. For this reason, it is important to take into account a series of tips to improve profitability:
- Choose good and high quality materials.
- Calculate and study the hours of light.
- Study and calculate the price of energy.
- To know the consumptions of the users.
- To study and to know the hourly habits.
- Try to make an estimate or predict how it will be in the future.
Beyond energy savings
The savings in the electricity bill are produced in most cases so, making some calculations and analysis of the situation, you may have realized that it pays off economically and you will recover your investment in a few years, which means that the following years you will do nothing but save. But this is not the only benefit you will perceive, since you are contributing to the environment.
One of the main benefits of solar panels is environmental, something that not only benefits you but also the rest of the people. You are taking advantage of renewable energy, which is solar energy. This is free, unlimited and clean. You will avoid using other energy sources that run out and have a cost. In addition, you will help to avoid and reduce CO2 emissions and other substances present in the atmosphere.
The sun is an energy source that can be harnessed much more than it is, and this is your chance. Photovoltaic installations are a sustainable and clean way of obtaining energy, and it is an investment that is more than compensated. In addition, if you do not have money to make this investment, some energy, financial and other companies give you facilities so that you do not make this full economic outlay at the time.
