Grid connect Solar system

[Gunner Donating Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gunner]

With the latest Federal Budget increasing the subsidy for domestic Solar systems to $8000, I thought it at least prudent to look into the issues of installing a system.

Can anyone provide a link to an Australian forum dealing with Solar Electrical systems? Does anyone have any experience or recommendations with a particular system, brand or company?

The $8000 rebate sounds impressive. Approximately how much would a grid connect system (ie house not totally solar, but solar to supplement grid supply, possibly to generate excess supply to feed back into grid) cost in total?

[Tony From West Oz Vice Chairperson of WARFA Find all posts View Profile Close Tony From West Oz]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

Gunner,
I had a 1500Wp grid connect solar system installed in June/July, 2000. For 6 years it provided approx 30% of our electrical power (and due to Time of Use metering) this represented 50% of out power costs. That system cost $20 000, to which a $8250 rebate was applied, with a net cost of 11 750 paid by me.

The examples used on the AGO website are for a 1KWp system, which would provide a proportionately lower % of household power costs.

You will achieve excellent results by performing an energy audit and turning off items which are not in use at the time -all of our items having clocks were turned off - except the VCR which SWMBO needed to record the soapies. -all phone chargers unplugged, etc) -clothes drier in winter no, use a line in the garage.
Switch to Time of Use power, for "off-peak" electric hot water and other heating needs. Use time clocks to have pool pumps and reticulation operate "off-peak"
Replace incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps.

I sold that house and took my sustem with me. I have decided to operate "stand alone" using the soalr panels to charge batteries and an inverter to supply power to our home.

[Soapbox=ON] I have a wind generator to install as soon as the local government Town Planner realises that his insistence that I plant tall trees around the wind gen is just $h!t. I do hope that he can understand that the point of installing a wind gen is to generate power and to do that requires that wind can blow across it. This is all in a Rural Living zoning. Even erecting a windmill for water pumping requires planning approval!!!

[soapbox=OFF]

[W123 x 2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close W123 x 2]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

Hi Gunner,

I was in the process of getting a system installed before the budget announcement. The increase in rebate is a bonus. A friend who is an accredited installer uses BP Solar panels, so I am locked in to that. This week we do our electrical energy audit on the farm and I'll post all figures and costings hear if that helps?

We are aiming to make the system supply our average usage. This means we should have a $0 power bill. If the state govt's introduce a feed in tariff, we will be in front. Vic and SA plan to do this in the near future. Also power costs are predicted to rise in my area by 14% this year due to the drought and decrease in hydro.

Initial indications are that my system will cost approx. $16,000 after rebate. My power bill is approx. $2,800 a year total for farm and home. The environmental benefits are a bonus (but the real reason we were doing it in the first place).

Cheers, Michael

[Suzy Member Find all posts View Profile Close Suzy]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

We (being my group at work) had Solar Online Australia put an off-grid system in a trailer for us, that's been running in the WA desert collecting RFI data for the last couple of years without a hitch.

It comprised ten 123W Sharp panels, an inverter/charger, and a bank of lead acid cells. The panels were mounted to a neat foldable frame. We were quite impressed with the quality of engineering.

A photo of it is at Solar Online Australia - Solar Trailers - Transportable Solar Power Systems

[pangit Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close pangit]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

While I think it is a great announcement, what about solar hot water? My impression is that it can be much more cost effective (and has a quicker ROI) and should be done first, before installing solar power. After all, what's the point in converting solar to electricity and then to heat, when you can do it directly?

Is there any mention of this in the budget? AFAIK the only rebates you can get for solar hot water currently are RECs, and one or two states that have small additional rebates.

[W123 x 2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close W123 x 2]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

It's a weak excuse Pangit, but the Govt's logic goes like this; due to solar hot waters efficiencies there is already a built in financial incentive to use it, so why should we subsidize it?

Solar hot water without subsides has a 5 to 7 year payback period, after that your hot water is free. Grid connect electrickery without subsidies has approx. three to four times the payback period. Given that the average Australian house changes hands every 7 years, you would have to be like Tony and take your system with you. Most peoples versions of long term planning extends to their next annual holiday, so 20 year planning just doesn't figure.

Such is life,
Michael

[pangit Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close pangit]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

That's really my point Michael. Currently only a tiny fraction of houses in Australia have solar hot water installed. Therefore the average person clearly doesn't even think a 5-7 year payback period is enough of an incentive. So if you made it close to or cheaper than electric hot water (with subsidies) then everyone would do it.

To me it would make more sense to do this first until a large proportion of houses have solar hot water, before subsidising solar power.

Mind you, when you look at the figures it's still only a token gesture anyway. $150 million over five years to give people up to $8,000 subsidy. i.e around 20,000 households. It's a start, but it certainly isn't going to save the planet.

I would go for it myself, but only after I've done solar hot water.

[Cameron Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Cameron]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

I am planning to get solar power installed in my new place too - once I have moved in!

As far as hot water goes the house has electric hot water currently and so in the first instance I will be looking to install a solar boosting system for what I have and then look at changing over a little further down the track - once the pain of the initial house purchase has passed!

Cheers,
Cameron

[RASTEVE Donating Member Find all posts View Profile Close RASTEVE]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

A photo of it is at Solar Online Australia - Solar Trailers - Transportable Solar Power Systems

The woman in the first photograph is what really does it for me. I'd take her home to show mum.

[Geoffwin Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Geoffwin]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

I looked at doing my place, quotes were in the $20K

To get any rebate required "licensed" and "accredited" installers of the system and there weren't many choices about the setups _ I had access to a different type of panel but this was not an option I could take.

Local power company was asked about buying back any excess, I thought this is pretty straightforward, meter would run backwards. No a new and additional super duper meter was needed. Initially the power would be bought back at 8c, I was paying between 13 and 15c. After a few weeks the rule changed and I would be paid what I was being charged (but no commitment)

From what I could see on prices, if there was more flexibility on approval and material use the price would drop by about 30%

It appears to me that there is a premium built into the programme which defeats the purpose that equates to the rebate amount.

I should be able to buy panels as I see fit, an inverter as I see fit and get an electrician to approve and install the system. This would drive prices down a bit and demand up.

The sooner electricity generation by alternative methods is mandated buy back the better. I understand that Germany has such a programme and if they can do it no reason we can't.

Off the box now.

I did not get the system.

[zigparacingtadpole Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zigparacingtadpole]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

Welcome to dealing with a feral industry. The problems associated with it are so many and varied that I would both bore you and inflict the wrath for getting off topic. Something to keep in mind is that the installers you will meet are usually good guys who at least on some small level have the same environmental concerns as the customer they are working for and most will try and source the best deals around to win your business in what is a very cut throat industry. Having said that, get more than one quote, get five if necessary. The prices and specs will vary hugely. As a rough guide you can expect to pay between $18K and $30K (before the rebate)for a 1.5kW system installed ready to go.
The best piece of advice I can you is do your research, get the quotes, ask questions, lots of them, search the net to find out what equipment they are trying to sell you and that it will perform in the manner you expect. If you get stuck, PM me, I can probably help decipher things.

As for selling of the excess you generate, shop around, it is possible to sell your excess to the grid for the same as what you pay for it. Although you may need to change suppliers to do so.

Just to get a little off topic for a sec, along the same lines of Tony's wind Gen. I applied to put a big rainwater tank into my back yard. Council says no. Why? Because it puts too much of my backyard 'under roof' and the runoff (from having so much of my yard 'under roof') will create drainage problems in the street!

[Andrew Biofuels Forum Newbie Find all posts View Profile Close Andrew]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

Hi

Did some research into installing Solar systems. You can get a list of acceredited installers from the business council for sustainable energy. It is quite a lengthy process to become & remain accredited so I'm guessing it is something they really want to put their heart into (like those who would like to buy the system).

bcse.org.au - Australian Business Council of Sustainable Energy

I have a house on the north coast of NSW in a strata title complex. Last year I put in a request to the strata manager to install both a Solar electric & a solar hot water system. (Thought I'd start with the simple strata part & tackle any council requirements afterwards). They knocked the proposal back on a vote of all owners. (How narrow minded are they). Have done a bit more research now & will sell it a bit harder at the next AGM.

This house is holiday rented with a total annual electricity requirement of ~3000kWh. A 1575kW system from Eco South (System Prices) will cost under $14K after rebate & provide up to 2600kWh per year. With a solar hot water system this will go close to satisfying my requirements fully. If I achieve a surplus with a bigger system I will be providing much needed green power to the grid. It will also pay for itself in just over 10 years.

It's not a matter of IF it's a matter of when & how!

[W123 x 2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close W123 x 2]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

Just a quick update. I believe the ACT govt is about to announce a 4 to 1 feed in tariff for solar grid connect systems. So if you live in the ACT, get in quick as the demand for solar grid connect systems will go ballistic.
How long before the other states get their acts together??
Michael

[Matt Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Matt]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

Andrew, that is one expensive 1.5KW system, go see Rainbow Power Company. they are in that part of the world, Nimbin and are a lot cheaper.

I hope the Qld mob do 4 for 1, I will get my system up to 1800W then and love it

Matt

[zigparacingtadpole Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zigparacingtadpole]

Re: Grid connect Solar system

that is one expensive 1.5KW system

Depends on how the 1.5kW is derived. If its 1.5 peak solar collection then yep its a bit pricey. If its 1.5 continuous delivery from the inverter, then its actually quite cheap. Marketing of systems is starting to become a real issue in this industry for exactly this reason. There is a huge difference between peak solar collection and inverter delivery capacity (and a lot of dissappointed customers too). In this instance 1.5kW inverter delivery is going to need a lot more solar to supply it, hence cost goes up relative to the requirement for solar panels.
The quality of the inverter also has a lot to do with cost, there are "inverters" and there are inverters, although in this instance they must all meet a minimum spec to be able to be connected to the grid the difference between the good brands and the cheaper brands is huge despite the fact that they all meet that same spec.
It pays to do you homework on what you are being sold to avoid dissappointment.