Solar Power Information - Alford, SA, 5555
If you're considering installing solar panels for your Alford home (and/or a battery), this page offers useful related information and interesting statistics for Alford and the 5555 postcode area in South Australia.
If Alford isn't your location, you can search for installation information relevant to your town or suburb here:
Postcode 5555 Solar Power Statistics
In Alford's postcode area (5555), more than 190 small-scale systems have been installed with a collective capacity of 831 kW as at September 30, 2024.
Given a population of 464, this works out to 1,790 watts per person in the area, compared to a 1,032 watts Australian average. There are approximately 285 dwellings in the 5555 area, so that calculates out at 67 solar panel systems per 100 dwellings - the Australian average is 38.
Based on a conservative average of 3,537 kWh of energy production a day (enough to power the equivalent of 221 homes) and retail electricity costs of 42c per kilowatt-hour; Alford and 5555 postcode area residents are collectively generating $542,284 of energy at retail prices a year!
Alford solar power system owners are also contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction, with the systems in 5555 region avoiding 658 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Installing Solar Panels In Alford?
The SolarQuotes free quoting service has been used by 10 households in Alford and 31 households across the 5555 postcode area in South Australia.
You can join them! To get started, simply click the button below and we'll match you to up to 3 pre-vetted SA accredited installers we trust who service the Alford and 5555 area. Or continue reading for more useful information.
Solar Energy Resources In Alford
Alford experiences solar irradiation levels reaching approximately 5.08 kilowatt-hours per square metre per day on average over a year. The following graph shows solar irradiation/output levels per kilowatt of installed solar panels in the 5555 area per month.
Daily/Monthly System Energy Output Estimates
Here's what you can expect to generate with various sized solar power systems in the Alford area, assuming good quality components, a suitable rooftop and professional, accredited solar installation.
Annual Electricity Output Estimates
Based on the above, the following is what you should be able to expect from a solar panel installation in Alford in terms of annual solar energy output for the location, on average:
- 5kW system - 7,773 kWh (equivalent to ~133% of annual electricity consumption)
- 6kW system - 9,328 kWh (~160%)
- 10kW system - 15,546 kWh (~266%)
- 13kW system - 20,210 kWh (~346%)
Optimal Panel Angle And Orientation
Rooftop solar panels installed in Alford, South Australia should generally face North for the best results. For a good panel angle, the general rule of thumb is it should be around the same as latitude. In Alford's case, that is 33 degrees - but usually whatever your rooftop angle is will be fine (unless it's under 10 degrees - then tilt frames may be needed).
Feed In Tariffs In South Australia
As well as providing your home with electricity, Alford solar system installation owners can be paid for surplus energy generated. In SA, feed-in tariffs generally currently range from 5c to 10c per kilowatt-hour exported - so, it's important to compare energy retailers for the best electricity plan in the 5555 area.
Alford Solar Energy Savings
Based on a 6.6kW system installation, a self-consumption rate of 40% and the low end of the feed in tariff range rate of 5c, Alford solar power system owners can expect to save $2,032 per year.
Barunga West Council Requirements.
At the time of publishing, there are special requirements involved with installing solar panels in the Barunga West Council area. Circumstances where approval is required include State Heritage listed properties and in the case of Local Heritage listing, if the system can be seen from ground level in a public street. Approval will also be needed where a system will be over 100kg (panels and mounting) and the weight load has not been distributed so it does not exceed 100 kg at any one point of attachment to the roof, the installation overhangs any part of the roof, the panels aren\'t fitted parallel to the roof with the underside surface of the panels being more than 100 mm above the surface of the roof
It's important to check with Barunga West Council regarding any potential changes before proceeding with installation. For further information, prospective solar owners in Alford should visit this page.
Network Grid Connection Requirements In South Australia
A series of steps must be completed in South Australia involving you, your network distributor and your installer - but your installer will do most of the administrative heavy lifting. Learn more about the grid connection process in South Australia.
Solar Panel Installers In Alford
In our network we have quality, thoroughly pre-vetted solar power system installers servicing Alford. If you're ready to get quotes from installation professionals we know and trust:
Installing A Solar Battery In Alford
Households across Australia are increasingly thinking of installing a home battery; either as an addition/upgrade to an existing PV system, or installed concurrently with solar panels. Whether batteries will make sense for your Alford home will depend on various factors.
We have solar battery installers within our network providing services to Alford who can advise you on home energy storage as a retrofit upgrade or part of a full solar + battery system installation - and provide a quote.
If you have any questions regarding choosing, buying and installing solar panels in Alford (or a home battery), feel free to contact us.
Alford Data Sources And Notes
Data sources used above for solar power information in Alford SA 5555 include:
- Census 2021 - Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)
- Clean Energy Regulator data for postcode 5555 current as at September 30, 2024.
- Barunga West Council - South Australia
Some additional notes:
- Household electricity consumption in Alford is based on the Australian average of 16kWh a day.
- Carbon intensity based on the South Australia average of 0.51kg per kilowatt-hour.
Bureau of Meteorology details are based on your nearest weather station, which is Alford No: 2 , coordinates 33°51'35" S 137°45'59" E, around 7.1 km from the centre of Alford.