Solar Power

[Phil Spencer]

Does any one have any knowledge or experience with Solar Panels, I am thinking of a 2.2Kw or 3Kw to off set my energy bills.

[beer is good]

Hi Phil,
In a couple of weeks we will be having a 3kw system installed for $7700. Our power bill in Perth is $1400 per year for 6000 kw, and the panels will provide about 6300kw in a year.
I worked out that spending $7700 for free electricity works out at about a 20% return on investment, and it's tax free!

True Value Solar are doing a lot of advertising at the moment. If you deal with them read the contract very carefully.

[chrisb691]

Hi Phil,

I've just signed up for a 2.2 kwh system from Solargain. I can't go larger as I don't have the available roof area. This system wont come close to suppying what we use, but our aim is to mitigate future power cost increases.

I have been reading up on this for several months, and believe that by properly managing our usage during the daylight hours, that the 2,2 kwh sytem will be able to produce grid feedin. In other words, if I minimise my usage during these hours that the solar can produce more than I use.

Since the feedin tariff (in vic) is $0.68 versus my cost of $0.175, every kwh that I can feedin to the grid is worth 3.88 kwh of purchased power. So in peak periods of sunshine, the system may actually give me a net cost approaching zero. Of course in winter, the system doesn't produce as much.

Overall, and averaged across the year, I think the system will have a sgnificant effect on my power bills.

[Phil Spencer]

Thanks guys, it will be either a 3Kw or 2.2Kw unit depends on final costs, I use about 18Kwhrs per day and I have been told that a 3Kw unit should cover that with some spare and I will be able to use the credits to off set my gas bill, the 2.2Kw unit I reckon I will just about break even. What I have to consider is there is an approximate difference of $2500 to $3000 between 3Kw and 2.5Kw have to wait until all the quotes come in and the cost benefit has been done.

[Wongo]

I've signed up for a 2.2kw system with InspireSolar for $6,000. It should generate enough of electricity for my family of 4. :2tsup:

[BEKKY]

Hi all.
I'm having a 3 kw system installed on wednesday. The cost to me in NSW is $11000.00 fully installed, that's after the government subsidies are deducted.
The feed in tarrif is $0.20 per kw unit.
It was $0.68 but the broke NSW govt. dropped it several months ago. :C:C
According to the December bill I am paying $0.22.122 per unit & my use is 16.35
units per day.
According to the installer it should cover the cost of all my power. :U
From the information I have i will be able to connect the inverter to my computer and monitor it's performance from the office.
Keith.

[Phil Spencer]

Hi Phil,

I've just signed up for a 2.2 kwh system from Solargain. I can't go larger as I don't have the available roof area. This system wont come close to suppying what we use, but our aim is to mitigate future power cost increases.

I have been reading up on this for several months, and believe that by properly managing our usage during the daylight hours, that the 2,2 kwh sytem will be able to produce grid feedin. In other words, if I minimise my usage during these hours that the solar can produce more than I use.

Since the feedin tariff (in vic) is $0.68 versus my cost of $0.175, every kwh that I can feedin to the grid is worth 3.88 kwh of purchased power. So in peak periods of sunshine, the system may actually give me a net cost approaching zero. Of course in winter, the system doesn't produce as much.

Overall, and averaged across the year, I think the system will have a sgnificant effect on my power bills.

Chris if your system does not supply all your needs what do you pay per KwHr over what you generate?

[chrisb691]

Chris if your system does not supply all your needs what do you pay per KwHr over what you generate?

it's about 17.5 cents per kwh (17.38 I think), plus the annual service charge.

[Phil Spencer]

it's about 17.5 cents per kwh (17.38 I think), plus the annual service charge.
Thanks Chris :)

[flat_tyre]

I am in Melbourne and have had a 2.16 kw system since May last year. My quarterly bills were around $350 ish, Winter,Summer slightly different.

Over Summer I will be ahead last bill, was $45 in credit, about to get a new one, will probably be the same or better I would imagine. During Winter I think it will cost money but will be a bit offset from Summer..

Hope this helps a little...

[chrisb691]

Thanks FT,

It's a bit of a relief to find out that my figuring could be about right. :2tsup:

Time will tell, but I'm feeling a lot better now.

[Phil Spencer]

I am in Melbourne and have had a 2.16 kw system since May last year. My quarterly bills were around $350 ish, Winter,Summer slightly different.

Over Summer I will be ahead last bill, was $45 in credit, about to get a new one, will probably be the same or better I would imagine. During Winter I think it will cost money but will be a bit offset from Summer..

Hope this helps a little...


How does your tariff work?

[chrisb691]

Just a thought Phil,

It's getting to the point, that if you are serious about solar you are going to have to move fairly quickly. Your system has to be fully installed, and all paperwork in, before 30th of June otherwise you will not get the rebate. I am guesing that lead times will start to stretch, as people try to get in before the end of rebates.

[flat_tyre]

How does your tariff work?

As soon as I changed to Solar tariffs changed to Peak and Off Peak, prices change as well, about 13c for off peak and 29c for peak...

So it does change the way you do things, washing on weekends etc... to make the most of things...

[Phil Spencer]

Just a thought Phil,

It's getting to the point, that if you are serious about solar you are going to have to move fairly quickly. Your system has to be fully installed, and all paperwork in, before 30th of June otherwise you will not get the rebate. I am guesing that lead times will start to stretch, as people try to get in before the end of rebates.
Quotes should all be in by tomorrow, they twll me that they will be able to have it up and running before the cut-off date :2tsup:

[Phil Spencer]

As soon as I changed to Solar tariffs changed to Peak and Off Peak, prices change as well, about 13c for off peak and 29c for peak...

So it does change the way you do things, washing on weekends etc... to make the most of things...
That is about what I thought but I could not find the figures any where they all talk about the feed in tariff thanks :)

[Christopha]

Just had a friend here, he has been on the phone on and off all day in conference as his firm is a supplier of solar systems and the earthquake and tsunami has stopped all equipment from Japan and he says that they will be months behind in filling and fitting orders.

[Wongo]

Mine will be installed this Friday. :2tsup:

[chrisb691]

As soon as I changed to Solar tariffs changed to Peak and Off Peak, prices change as well, about 13c for off peak and 29c for peak...

So it does change the way you do things, washing on weekends etc... to make the most of things...

do you have a smart meter?

[flat_tyre]

I had a Smart meter but apparently, at the time it was not smart enough !!. It was replaced with another digital 2 way meter.

[chrisb691]

I had a Smart meter but apparently, at the time it was not smart enough !!. It was replaced with another digital 2 way meter.
Then your distributor must be guessing your peak/off-peak conponents, as they can't be measuring it. Might be worthwhile asking them how they are doing it.

[flat_tyre]

It is the correct meter for Solar, in\out, peak\off peak.. At the time they could not measure power fed back into the grid with the Smart meters they were fitting, so it was replaced..

[ian]

Quotes should all be in by tomorrow, they twll me that they will be able to have it up and running before the cut-off date :2tsup:Phil
If you're in NSW you might want to check this information NSW Solar Bonus Scheme - Applications and connections | Industry & Investment NSW (http://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/energy/sustainable/renewable/solar/solar-scheme/applications)
the NSW scheme has a cap of 300MW, so far applications total 329MW with 210MW connected.

[crowie]

G'Day Phil,
Just on board with the thread.
I had "Ausie Solar" from lawson on the Blue Mountains install a 3.3Kw system on my second storey roof back in Oct/Nov 2010.
From December to now I've generated about 1100Kwh for which I will receive $0.60 per Kwh.
The electricity bill is due so am looking forward to seeing our cost comparasion.
Cheers, Crowie

[BEKKY]

Hi again,
As mentioned in an earlier reply my system was to be fitted Wednesday.
It happened this morning only took 4 hours to do the job with 16 panels.
Have'nt had the subtract meter fitted yet.
The standard meter is happily running backwards.
It's a sunny day at the moment with scattered cloud and the inverter is reading
around 2kw. :U:)
Keith

[crowie]

Hi again,
As mentioned in an earlier reply my system was to be fitted Wednesday.
It happened this morning only took 4 hours to do the job with 16 panels.
Have'nt had the subtract meter fitted yet.
The standard meter is happily running backwards.
It's a sunny day at the moment with scattered cloud and the inverter is reading
around 2kw. :U:)
Keith
Got to be happy with that Keith.
My 18 panel system produced 1085 Kwh over the past 92 days [till 11/03/11], only half the days have been good to product a full 20+Kwh due to cloud & or rain.
The electricity bill was for 101 days.
Nett to be paid $145 in a household of 4 adults.
Very Happy.
Cheers, Crowie

[hughie]

One thing I noticed is that if the house is largely empty ie all at work,then you will definitely have as much rebate as your system can generate.

On the other hand if the house is fully occupied all day the benefit may not be so great. But as an offset for future power increases its better than nothing.

[Wongo]

Sorry sir, I didn't get your point.

The system generates the same amount of electricity wheather the house is empty or not.

[RETIRED]

True, but when you are home you are using it so the rebate declines. That is what Hughie was on about.

[Wongo]

Ok

[Phil Spencer]

The PV's were turned on today, generated 2.5KW in five hours with rain and heavy cloud cover. I am supprised the monitor is showing it is generating 40W in the dark, I have a street light out the front that throws light back onto the roof, I wonder if that is causing the PV's to generate.

[chrisb691]

What size system did you end up getting Phil?

[Phil Spencer]

What size system did you end up getting Phil?
Hi Chris
I installed a 3.04 Kw system using Conergy panels and a Sunny Boy inverter, the power Tracker showas I generated .5 KwHrs over night from light given off by the street light out the front, has any one else had this happen?

I have done some maths and worked out that the street light will give ma about a week's worth of power every year, over the estimated life of the system I will get about 30 weeks worth of power from the light, will some beuracrat want to charge me for this?