Photovoltaic self-consumption. How to choose which self-consumption kit to buy?

Currently, many more households choose to switch to solar self-consumption. It is a practical and economic long-term solution for self-sufficiency of electricity. In this article we will talk about everything you need to know about photovoltaic self-consumption. What is it?, its main uses and we will learn to calculate the daily energy that your home spends to choose the appropriate self-consumption kit.

What is photovoltaic self-consumption?

Photovoltaic self-consumption consists of the production of your own electrical energy for personal consumption in the home through solar panels. Taking advantage of solar energy today is almost essential, especially considering that in our country we have approximately 300 days of sunshine out of 365, which means almost uninterrupted energy production throughout the year. It is a green energy with which we replace the need to exploit non-renewable natural resources such as coal or oil.

The uses of Photovoltaic self-consumtion

Everyone knows that the main use is to cover the electrical consumption of the home, within which we can find, for example:

Air-conditioning

On many occasions we avoid putting it on because of its high consumption. With the use of solar energy, it is now possible to maintain an ideal temperature in our home throughout the year without surprises at the end of the month.

the electric car

Thanks to an installation of solar panels you can recharge it from your home. No surcharges on the electricity bill.

Pool water purification

You can also turn your pool into a stand-alone facility. With the help of a self-consumption kit you can run the treatment plant and keep it always clean.

We must not forget many other more common uses such as cooking, heating water, lighting a home, watching TV, charging mobile phones and electrically powering any other appliance that we can think of.

How do I choose the right self-consumption kit ?

The main element when choosing a solar self-consumption kit are photovoltaic panels or solar panels.

To know what type of panels are more suitable for self-consumption, the following aspects must be taken into account:

– The size of the panel and the available space : They can be Monocrystalline (their performance is slightly higher so the size of the panel is smaller or they will generate a little more power for the same surface) or Polycrystalline.

– The maximum electrical power needed

– In addition, it is essential to know the daily consumption , that is, the amount of energy that your home consumes at the end of the day, and at what time of the year it will use more or less electricity.

– The geographical location in which we are located : Depending on the location, the number of panels necessary to cover the energy needs that will form the photovoltaic self-consumption kit will also vary. Since there are notable differences in solar radiation between some areas of the country and others.

– The orientation of the solar panels can also have a big impact on the amount of power each panel can generate. The orientation in case of sloping roofs, will be given by the orientation of the roof itself.

If we want to install a self-consumption kit in a house where we already live, to know how much your daily consumption is, you just have to look at your electricity bill for the kWh consumed last year by month and thus you will be able to know the average daily kWh per months you need to generate if you want to cover all your consumption. If it is a new home where you do not know what you are going to consume, then you have to do a little calculation and multiply the power of each appliance that you are going to use by the daily time of use that you foresee.

We are going to put an example:

I have a 50W LED lamp installed in my dining room and I have it on for 6 hours every day. My lighting consumption at that point will be 300 Wh per day. I also have a desktop computer whose power is 350w and which I use for 3 hours a day. So the daily consumption will be 1050Wh (350W x 3 hours). And finally, a LED television that consumes 150w and remains on for 4 hours a day, a total of 600Wh. So in total adding all the daily consumption will be 1950Wh per day (1.95kWh/day).

What are the basic components of a self-consumption solar kit?

The elements that make up a self-consumption kit in most cases are pre-designed depending on the type of use for which they are intended. Likewise, they can also be customized according to the needs and budgets of each consumer. The basic elements that compose it are:

photovoltaic solar panels

Solar modules generate electrical energy thanks to the photovoltaic effect. It is the most important element of self-consumption facilities.

solar inverter

The photovoltaic inverter is responsible for transforming energy in the form of direct current into alternating current, in order to enable its use. This component is essential in all installations.

solar batteries

Despite not being necessary, they are recommended to increase the self-consumption rate. since solar batteries store photovoltaic energy to use it at times when it is not possible to produce it or when consumption exceeds solar production. As for example during the night hours or on very cloudy days where the production drops substantially.

Bidirectional Meter or Counter

The self-consumption meter allows us to have information on the energy that we consume from the electrical network and the energy that we inject into it at all times. Using this information, the inverter can be programmed so that it has not discharged to the grid (zero injection).

Cabling

There is wiring to transport the electrical energy generated by the panels to the inverter and also between the inverter and the grid connection. It is essential in any installation.

support structures

The support structures for the solar panels allow the panels to be anchored to the surface where they are installed and give them the proper orientation to maximize their production.

After installing a self-consumption solar kit, the savings obtained will depend on two important factors: The installed photovoltaic generation power and our consumption habits.

But in indicative terms, single-family homes that opt ​​for solar solutions can save up to 60% on their electricity bill or even more if storage batteries are included.