When installing a solar power system, it’s generally a good idea to oversize the system a little bit to account for losses of productivity as well as change in your energy usage habits. In some cases, however, your energy habits change enough that the system still doesn’t meet your needs. Whether your household has grown, you’ve added an EV charger to your garage, or you’re just using more energy than you used to, there are options for upgrading the system to better suit your needs. Keep reading to learn what they are.

Assess Your Current System’s Performance

First and foremost, you should assess your system’s efficiency and energy production. Check that your panels are clean, free of any obstructions, have no signs of damage, and aren’t being shaded excessively. Double check all of your wiring and connections for any issues. Occasionally, you may find that a little maintenance on your system can improve its performance enough that it meets your needs again.

Upgrade Your Solar Panels

If your solar panels have aged or are just underperforming in general, upgrading to newer, more efficient panels can be a good option. Modern solar panels have higher efficiency ratings and can generate more electricity with the same amount of rooftop space when compared to older models.

Add More Solar Panels

If your panels aren’t that old and you have the space available for more panels, adding a few of them to your rooftop can increase your energy production so that it better matches your home’s energy consumption. This is particularly useful if your overall system was designed for lower consumption rates, but you’ve expanded your home or added power-hungry appliances to it.

Optimize Your Energy Usage

Don’t want to upgrade your system? If you’re just barely exceeding what it can produce for you, then it might be a good idea to take a careful look at your home’s energy usage. Look for places that you can cut back and save on energy. Consider energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, and smart energy management tools to minimize unnecessary electricity use. Change a few habits, like setting your thermostat 2 degrees higher in summer and 2 degrees lower in winter. Oftentimes, little changes like these can make enough of a difference that you’ll find you’re relying on solar power again, and using the grid a lot less.

If you do need to upgrade your system so that it’s producing more power, make sure that you’re upgrading your inverter as well as your panels. When panels are producing more energy, you need to buy Solis inverter that is capable of handling the increased load. If you don’t, you’ll find that the inverter bottlenecks the available energy for your home, so that the upgrade to your panels doesn’t make much of a difference.