What is Solar Monitoring and What Are Its Benefits?

Simply put, solar monitoring is the process of tracking the energy generation and overall health of your home solar system. But a robust system goes beyond just basic production numbers. It provides a comprehensive view, bringing together data on your solar panel output, battery storage (if applicable), and even your electricity usage – all in one convenient place.

Imagine being able to glance at your phone or computer and instantly see:

• Is your home currently powered by the clean energy from your solar panels?
• Are you drawing power from the grid, or are you sending excess energy back to the utility for potential credits?
• If you have battery storage, what’s the current charge level? How is your stored energy being used?

This unified view empowers you to make informed decisions. Want to maximize your savings? You can adjust your energy usage habits based on real-time production. Preparing for a potential power outage? You can strategically manage your battery charge. With holistic monitoring, you’re in control.

What Can You Learn From Solar Monitoring?

Beyond the real-time snapshot, enhanced solar monitoring unlocks a wealth of historical data and reveals the fascinating interplay of factors influencing your energy.

You can delve into trends, observing how your solar, grid, and storage usage fluctuates by the day, month, year, and even across the entire lifespan of your system.

For systems equipped with optimizers or microinverters, the level of detail becomes even more granular. You can actually monitor the performance of each individual solar panel in your array. This accessible panel-level data provides a clear understanding of how factors like weather, shading, or panel angle are impacting your system’s output. Time-lapsed playback can even visually demonstrate which panels are performing optimally and which might be affected by obstructions like leaves or shadows.

Why is Solar Monitoring So Important?

Solar monitoring offers more than just interesting data – it provides invaluable peace of mind. Knowing that you can keep a close eye on your entire home energy system, from your solar storage down to each individual panel, ensures everything is functioning as it should.

If you ever suspect an issue, the transparency of the monitoring system allows you to investigate further, right down to the individual panel level. Status indicators for each panel can quickly highlight potential problems, such as a panel not communicating correctly. This level of detail makes it significantly easier to pinpoint the source of an issue and work towards a swift resolution, ultimately reducing potential maintenance costs.

Think of proactive solar monitoring as an early warning system. By identifying potential issues before they significantly impact your energy bill, you can address them promptly and ensure your New Dawn Energy Solutions system continues to deliver optimal performance and savings for years to come.

When homeowners think about installing a new solar power system, they often focus solely on the solar panels themselves. But there’s more to a successful solar installation than just the panels. Did you know there are additional product enhancements that can boost your investment even further? These upgrades can add significant value — or, in some cases, just cost. Let’s explore three of the most popular enhancements and see how they can help you maximize the full potential of your home solar system.

1. Critter Guards: Protect Your System

Solar panels are typically mounted on your roof, creating a small gap underneath each panel that allows debris, such as rain and snow, to slide off. However, this space can also attract unwanted guests, like rodents or birds, looking for shelter.

Critter guards are a simple yet effective solution. These metal mesh strips are installed around the edges of your solar panels to create a barrier, preventing rodents like squirrels or rats from chewing on wires or nesting under your panels. They can also keep birds from building nests in hard-to-reach areas.

In some areas, animal-related disruptions might not be a concern right away, but they can occur over time. That’s why at New Dawn Energy Solutions, we include critter guards with all of our sloped roof solar PV systems to ensure long-term protection.

 

2. EV Chargers: Charge Up with Solar Power

If you own an electric vehicle (EV), having a home EV charger is a game-changer. Not only does it eliminate the need to search for public charging stations, but it also allows you to charge your car conveniently at home, often overnight, when energy demands are lower.

What’s more, pairing your solar power system with an EV charger is a sustainable and cost-effective way to power your car. Since EVs require a substantial amount of energy to charge, solar energy can help reduce your utility bills by supplying clean, renewable power right to your vehicle.

Since 2020, New Dawn Energy Solutions has been offering EV chargers alongside solar power installations, making it easier than ever for homeowners to access eco-friendly energy and enjoy a seamless installation process.

3. Solar Batteries: Backup Power When You Need It Most

In today’s world, power outages are an unfortunate reality. That’s where solar batteries come in — providing homeowners with backup power during blackouts. At New Dawn Energy Solutions, our backup systems are designed to power essential appliances, such as refrigerators, lights, computers, heating systems and even the whole home, keeping your home comfortable and functional even during unexpected outages.

But solar batteries do more than just provide peace of mind. They can also help you save on your utility bills. Depending on your system design, your backup battery can be used during peak demand times, when utility rates are higher, reducing your overall electricity costs.

With our intelligent solar power storage systems, New Dawn Energy Solutions offers homeowners a smart and efficient way to manage energy consumption while protecting against power interruptions.

Why These Enhancements Matter

Adding enhancements like critter guards, EV chargers, and solar batteries can significantly increase the value and efficiency of your solar power system. Not only do they protect your investment, but they can also help you save money and reduce reliance on the grid. The best part? Many of these options are affordable and easy to integrate into your existing setup.

Interested in learning more? Reach out to a New Dawn Energy Solutions today to explore these upgrades and find the perfect solution for your home.