Preparing for the Hurricane Season With Solar Energy

Preparing for the Hurricane

Season

with SOLAR ENERGY

By: Jason Robinson

As we approach yet another hurricane season, homeowners should start thinking about backup power in the likely event of a loss of power for a prolonged period owing to a powerful storm. Remembering powerful hurricanes such as Dorian which devastated the Bahamas and left homes without electricity for months, only reinforces the need for backup power. With Jamaica located in the Atlantic hurricane belt, it’s only a matter of time before a powerful storm hits us and leaves the island without power for weeks or possibly months. Loss of power for any extended period would greatly impact our economy. The need for resilient backup power for homes, the medical sector, the financial sector, and airports, should be a national priority.

As a homeowner, you need to protect your family and assets in the likely event of devastation from adverse weather conditions. The reality of climate change and living in a hurricane zone only means a higher frequency of storms and stronger hurricane systems. Homeowners must therefore consider backup power and the type of backup power that can work for their home.

Do you have a backup power system in place?

Backup Power: Generator or Solar System?

Generators are usually the first choice when considering backup power because they have been on the market the longest and are an affordable option when compared to Lithium battery based solar systems. However, in terms of returns on investment, a Lithium battery storage solar system makes more sense for homeowners than a generator. The solar system supplements the expansive energy coming from the electric company, thereby paying back for itself from the day it’s turned on. A generator, on the

With increases in electricity costs in recent times, and the burden of such costs on families, homeowners are now opting to install solar systems with lithium battery storage as a two-step solution to reduce their electricity bills and provide backup power.

other hand, will just sit idly, only operating if a power outage occurs. Additionally, generators require regular maintenance which can be costly while solar lithium batteries are maintenance free and pay back for themselves in five to six years. With increases in electricity costs in recent times, and the burden of such costs on families, homeowners are now opting to install solar systems with lithium battery storage as a two-step solution to reduce their electricity bills and provide backup power. The benefit of a solar system with lithium battery storage allows homeowners the option to reduce their electricity usage up to 100% while having backup power in the event of any outages. Good quality lithium batteries, installed by a reputable company, will have a lifespan of 15 years.

Backing up your backup power

Another option that homeowners should consider when seeking solar energy financing for their home, is to include a generator in their profile as well. Having a generator as backup to your solar system is ideal for the energy redundancy it provides to a home which will be useful on days of extended cloud cover or rains, as is customary with adverse weather systems. If, for any reason, the batteries run out of power, the generator would be configured to automatically start, thereby keeping your home powered. This choice gives ultimate peace of mind but can be costly to maintain.

Once a generator is integrated into your solar battery system, there is the option to set up a microgrid.

What’s a solar microgrid?

A solar microgrid means that your home is primarily connected to your solar lithium battery system. However, should the batteries run out of charge, the generator will switch on to charge the batteries while simultaneously powering your home. The added incentive is that the generator will automatically turn

off once the batteries are charged, thereby having your home back to being powered by your lithium battery solar system.

Solar Buzz has installed residential microgrids especially in cases where the roof was not sufficient to install a solar panel array large enough to meet the client's energy needs. In such cases, the battery charging is supplemented by the generator, more so at night, when the batteries are more likely to run out of power. Solar microgrids are ideal as they complete total energy independence from the grid with resilient backup power.

Are there solar system financing options available?

With the increasing demand for solar energy, homeowners can look forward to more solar financing options through the NHT and local financial institutions. Solar Buzz advises homeowners to always do a cost analysis of their monthly energy bills and the proposed loan repayment when deciding on the best financing option for their solar system. The loan payment needs to be the same or less than what you’re paying monthly on your current electricity bills for the loan to make sense.

Also, over time, your loan will become more cash flow positive (monthly loan payment is less than current energy bill) as energy costs and other factors continue to rise. The NHT provides the best chance for achieving an initial cash flow positive loan on a solar lithium battery system. This is because the NHT can provide the longest terms and the lowest interest rates when financing a solar system. Solar Buzz has experienced this firsthand, as in 2021 we

closed the highest number of NHT solar loans in our company’s history. Don’t just hire any solar system “specialist” to install your system

The important thing to keep in mind when buying a solar lithium battery system is hiring a reputable company with a proven track record. Solar Buzz encourages homeowners to do their research and get familiar with how solar works so they ask the right questions that allow for true energy freedom with resilient backup power. Banks and financial institutions like the NHT, are becoming stricter on the requirements of installers since the solar system is often used as collateral for the loan. It’s therefore pertinent that solar system equipment and installation methods are of high quality and equal standards. Solar Buzz encourages homeowners to shop for a solar lithium battery system that secures a return on your investment.

The only way a homeowner can secure a return on their investment is to install a solar lithium battery system that can be added to their property insurance, meets the Jamaica Electrical Code, can be passed by the Government Electrical Regulator (GER), and adheres to the hurricane wind loading requirements. These requirements are essential to ensure solar lithium battery systems last their full manufacturer warranties and, particularly, the life of the solar loan as granted by NHT, the banks, or other financial institutions.

Energy freedom is at your fingertips, and Solar Buzz and the NHT are committed to helping you reach it. Call us today.

Jason Robinson is the Vice President of the Jamaica Renewable Energy Association and CEO of Solar Buzz Jamaica. Visit their website at www.solarbuzzjamaica. com or email info@solarbuzzjamaica.com.