What size solar system should you buy?
There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to solar systems. In fact, every household is unique in the way it uses energy, how it can accommodate solar power, and how much it is willing to budget for a new solar panel system.
When you first start investigating various systems, you’ll immediately notice that solar systems have different performance outputs. Look for the PV level, or how much power you can expect your system to produce in ideal conditions on any one day. A 5kW system, for example, will produce 5kW (that’s 5000W) of power in ideal conditions.

The 100% offset model
One way of determining how big your system should be is to determine exactly how much energy you currently use, and then find a system that matches that. You won’t have wasted any money on a bigger system that produces more than you need, and you’ll never be left high and dry. It’s a simple method and a good place to start.

The formula:
By looking at your latest bill, you’ll be able to find the total kWh used in the past year. Divide this by 365 to get your daily usage. Here in Adelaide, we can expect to get 4.2kWh per installed kW os solar panels. Divide your daily usage by 4.2, and this is the size of solar system that will perfectly offset your usage.

Key considerations
Anticipating future usage
This should be considered the bare minimum, if your goal is to offset your usage entirely. In many cases, upgrading to a larger system can be a financially sound move, as it can cost a little more for much more potential gain. As solar continues to rise in popularity, and is adopted on a larger scale, more and more people are opting to ‘future-proof’ their system, going for bigger and better because they know that it won’t be long before they can use it for any number of other things.

Changing weather conditions
One year’s usage is not necessarily the most reliable indicator of future usage. It may be that you had a particularly sunny year, or that you’d just pruned the tree that normally blocks some of the sun from hitting your roof. Remember that the kWh size of the system only indicates how much energy it will produce in ideal conditions.

The best way to give yourself the peace of mind that you’re selecting the right size and output system for your home and family is to discuss your needs with a trained technician.

Only This week it was announced that Australia’s LARGEST ever investment into solar for shopping centres will be coming to Adelaide.

$28 Million dollars will be invested by ASX-Listed company, Vicinity Centres. The lucky centres include
Elizabeth City Centre,
Castle Plaza
Kurralta Park.

With Elizabeth getting a huge 5.8MW input & Castle Plaza having the largest battery installation on a shopping centre in Adelaide.

These sites will have panels on rooftops & solar carparks.

“The energy generated by the solar and battery systems will be used on-site, reducing reliance on the grid and helping give our retailers and our business a buffer from a volatile energy market,” said its chief executive Grant Kelley.

Works will begin next month and will lead to at least 110 skilled jobs across the shopping centres during the construction period, with a further jobs 40 in WA.

Mr Kelley expects the staged rollout of solar installations to create a more “climate resilient portfolio” through the ability of SA to take advantage of solar, thereby helping progress towards a low-carbon future.

“The environmental benefits of the installations are equivalent to removing more than 9500 cars from our roads and will create enough power to supply more than 3000 average homes for a year,” he said.

“We know we have an important role to play in shaping better communities and creating more connected and sustainable destinations. This project will create shared value for our customers, retailers and investors, as well as the communities where we live and operate.”

The staged rollout would include more solar panels across Vicinity’s national retail portfolio, with the next phase expected to be completed by 2020.