In an article for the Australian Financial Review, Executive Director of Per Capita David Hetheringon writes that rooftop solar technology allows retirees and others to protect themselves against escalating electricity costs into the future.

Mr Hetherington argues that if a power bill is $1000 a year and is paid for with post-tax earnings from BHP dividends today, $47,000 of BHP shares would be needed to pay the power bill.

He suggests taking some of that $47,000 and investing it in rooftop solar panels. A 2kW solar power system with a storage battery, he argues, would make around $1000 worth of energy a year, and protect against inflation of power prices.

Given that there are little or no ongoing costs associated with solar panels, the return on investment is considerable, particularly when government incentives – such as the solar credits scheme and solar feed-in tariffs – are taken into account.

Further, Mr Hetherington points out that because the dollar benefits are in savings they do not incur tax, unlike other forms of investments like shares or rental property.

In addition to future-proofing against rising energy costs, Mr Hetherington also highlights the other benefits of installing rooftop solar panels, such as reducing a household’s greenhouse gas emissions and taking some pressure of Australia’s groaning electricity grid.

Modern Solar are Australia’s solar power experts, with more than 30 years in the home improvement business and well over 300,000 happy customers. Invest in your future and the future of Australia by installing a home solar power system today.

Source: Hetherington, David.  “Solar yield beats BHP any time”. The Australian Financial Review, 16 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.

Solar panel installation is booming all over the world as consumers hunt for ways to keep their bills down and reduce their carbon footprint. In Australia – where the sun-drenched climate is ideal for generation of solar energy – a “solar revolution” is well on its way.

It is generally accepted that solar energy is the greenest, cleanest, most viable source of energy available for powering a home. Solar power is renewable – a natural energy source that is self-replenishing and, thus, essentially inexhaustible. Further, solar energy does not contribute to global warming and produces no waste and no pollution.

And these days – thanks to government incentives and emerging technologies – making the switch to solar has become a real option for Australian households.

The advantages of installing solar panels in the home are numerous and wide-reaching. The environmental benefits are clear; in addition to reducing the household’s reliance on fossil fuels as an energy source, grid-connect solar panel systems – used in developed areas with access to the main power network – also feed surplus renewable energy back into the main electricity grid.

This is good news for the family budget. Not only can a grid-connect solar panel system save approximately 2,000 kWh each year, significantly reducing power expenses, but households may also be eligible to collect premium prices for generating excess power. These prices – known as “feed-in tariffs” – are paid by utility suppliers for energy fed back into the main grid, and vary according to the supplier and the state.

For those who live in remote areas with no access to the mains power grid, off-grid solar systems are available. Off-grid systems supply solar electricity through an inverter, at the same time storing energy in a battery for use at night or in bad weather. If storage levels are low, a generator can be used for power and to recharge the battery.

Grid-connect solar panel systems convert sunlight into electricity without making a sound and last for decades with virtually no maintenance required.