All things Solar (merged threads)

[GASWAGON]

So what is solar like for people in south eastern Vic where the weather during winter is often overcast so not much sunlight around? I wouldn't mind getting solar but only if it will be effective and efficient..

[sgt_doofey]

Don't worry so much about winter, it's about averaging your power usage and solar generation over the whole year. The idea is that you build up enough credit over the sunny months to help cover the not so sunny months.

As an example, here in SA, we get clouds during winter too, and my generation for a day for my 1.5kW system can usually be anywhere between sweet FA and around 4kWh. My daily average averaged over the last two weeks was between 2-3kWh per day.

[comagutsa]

i see on the news today here in Perth they are looking at people who have solar fitted to their homes and they might have to pay more for their power as the power companies aren't making as much money ....WTF they already only pay 8.8c for our power we export back to them and they sell back to us at 25c...

whats the world coming to

[prydey]

solar customers here in s.a. are already on a higher tariff than non solar. i assumed it was like that everywhere. obviously not yet.

[poppa smurf]

yep!....we were enticed to go solar with rebates and FIT's then when we did they didn't like it and are hitting us with penalties such as higher KW charge and higher supply charge.

I enquired about going "off grid" but was told even if I did I would still pay "supply charge" as the lines go past my house.

south australia has the highest cost per household for power than anywhere else......a famous man once said "why is it so".....even government officials cant work that one out.

however there has been murmurings within the upper echelons to consider repurchasing our generators in order to rein in the ridiculous power charge.

going to do that the day after hell freezes over.

[Winter XR8]

Originally Posted by comagutsa

i see on the news today here in Perth they are looking at people who have solar fitted to their homes and they might have to pay more for their power as the power companies aren't making as much money ....WTF they already only pay 8.8c for our power we export back to them and they sell back to us at 25c...

whats the world coming to

With our FIT, it will be nearly more beneficial to have our solar panels disconnected from the grid and not even use them!

[xisled]

In Victoria, depending on when your panels were installed and what network you are with will depend on the tariff.

Basically the PFIT and TFIT tariffs that are now closed, would have to be put on a TOU tariff. Time of use. Basically you pay higher for peak usage, but you also got off peak. Most houses in Vic only have off peak if they had a electric hot water system, electric floor heating or pool pump. So people were paying more for power during peak, but could save a heap using off peak. Plus using solar during the day. So you can reduce your bill.

Since the drop in buy back this year, most of the disturber networks are keeping people on the same tariff when you get solar, so your price per kwh does not increase, but you do not get off peak either.

[poppa smurf]

theres talk here of dropping the $0.16c governmental FIT within the net month or so for new installs as well.

leaving only the FIT granted by suppliers.....wont be much longer and I guess that will go as well.

future for solar is not looking good for new installs.

[prydey]

not really. even with no FIT, they will still reduce your grid usage.

payback periods haven't changed a huge amount. many of those who jumped in early at premium FIT (40-70c) also paid a fair bit more for their systems. the price of solar systems has plummeted since their inception and will probably continue to do so until the next round of technology, similar to car lpg installations.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by comagutsa

i see on the news today here in Perth they are looking at people who have solar fitted to their homes and they might have to pay more for their power as the power companies aren't making as much money ....WTF they already only pay 8.8c for our power we export back to them and they sell back to us at 25c...

whats the world coming to

Bro-in-law in NSW lives beyond the black stump with no services. Claimed his water tank rebate and billed for service fees, water disposal charges etc. but no connections for kms.

[xisled]

Interesting article today, about APG.

http://www.brw.com.au/p/entrepreneur...UKO1ydHX8YMg1O

APG retailer in Vic, NSW and QLD. I used to work for them. Basically if it happens around 200 odd people will lose their jobs.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

I enquired about going "off grid" but was told even if I did I would still pay "supply charge" as the lines go past my house.

Hmm ok. Bastards have it well sewn up so they're not out of a quid then. We will have to wait and see what the WA govt do before committing to solar.

[xisled]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Hmm ok. Bastards have it well sewn up so they're not out of a quid then. We will have to wait and see what the WA govt do before committing to solar.

In WA the FIT is not going up at least this year.

[Winter XR8]

Originally Posted by xisled

In WA the FIT is not going up at least this year.

Mine just went up...... From 8.4c to 8.8c, yay and now when I purchase from Synergy it's 25.9c instead of 24.4c or something like that. FIT went up 0.4c and my buy back went up 1.5c.

[xisled]

Originally Posted by Winter XR8

Mine just went up...... From 8.4c to 8.8c, yay and now when I purchase from Synergy it's 25.9c instead of 24.4c or something like that. FIT went up 0.4c and my buy back went up 1.5c.

Horizon powers hasn't, got told they arnt going up.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by xisled

In Victoria, depending on when your panels were installed and what network you are with will depend on the tariff.

Basically the PFIT and TFIT tariffs that are now closed, would have to be put on a TOU tariff. Time of use. Basically you pay higher for peak usage, but you also got off peak. Most houses in Vic only have off peak if they had a electric hot water system, electric floor heating or pool pump. So people were paying more for power during peak, but could save a heap using off peak. Plus using solar during the day. So you can reduce your bill.

Since the drop in buy back this year, most of the disturber networks are keeping people on the same tariff when you get solar, so your price per kwh does not increase, but you do not get off peak either.

O.k all good....So how much would a 5kw system cost to get installed these days and how much would it save me? I may have some investment money coming through later in the year and i'm looking at ways to save money long term?

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by EF_6

O.k all good....So how much would a 5kw system cost to get installed these days and how much would it save me? I may have some investment money coming through later in the year and i'm looking at ways to save money long term?

I've seen 5 kw systems being advertised here (South Australia) for $8,500, less if you go Chinese systems.

even without FIT's the reduction in power draw and reliance on the grid will pay for the system in a few years.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

I've seen 5 kw systems being advertised here (South Australia) for $8,500, less if you go Chinese systems.

even without FIT's the reduction in power draw and reliance on the grid will pay for the system in a few years.

Screw the Chinese systems! I'd much rather pay a bit more for something local......I was thinking it would be more like 5-6k but 8.5K is still o.k as long as it doesn't break down and lasts for 25 years..... Is there anything to look out for when buying a system?

[RJx307]

Originally Posted by EF_6

Screw the Chinese systems! I'd much rather pay a bit more for something local......I was thinking it would be more like 5-6k but 8.5K is still o.k as long as it doesn't break down and lasts for 25 years..... Is there anything to look out for when buying a system?

Reliable company,
Sma inverter

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by EF_6

Screw the Chinese systems! I'd much rather pay a bit more for something local......I was thinking it would be more like 5-6k but 8.5K is still o.k as long as it doesn't break down and lasts for 25 years..... Is there anything to look out for when buying a system?

about a week ago I did up a plan for a couple and passed it on to the supplier/installers who did an install for $7,000......bargain for that system in this area.

could you get this price again, I dont know, this was in south australia, top installer, SMA inverter and quality panels.

bottom line if the solar sales folk want the business (and in this day and age who doesn't) then bargains are to be had.

my advice, get on the phone and get many quotes, dont be afraid to play one against the other, look at "online" sales.

things to look out for are

dodgey sales folk who promise the earth but deliver purgatory.

overstated production figures

short term tariff top ups from power sales companies (usually 12 months)

shonky installers, try to see previous work carried out.

look for a reputable business who has been there for a while.

check the warranty on panels and inverter......the warranty should run something like.....10 years 100% production of stated output, 15 years 90% stated production then down to possibly 85% until 25 years has passed.

a blanket warranty of 25 years is a little misleading, folks think the system will produce 100% output for the full 25 years.....not so.

the better systems will produce more for longer but it will still decline over time.

most of all gain knowledge on the subject, ask questions, look at installs in your area, ask the owners about output, install, where did they buy it from.

solar is a large purchase and should not be taken on without enough information to reliably purchase a system that you know will work.

hope this answers a few points of concern you have, if you have any more don't hesitate to ask.

[deesun]

For all those who think they have an adequate system at their home. http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-news.html
I don't know how he got such a big system passed. I thought you were only allowed around the 5-6kw. Not something I would do.

[prydey]

i wouldn't automatically discount something based solely on the 'made in china' tag. the same attitude used to be shown toward japan many years ago. china are a big country, and is/was a cheap place to manufacture. this is changing to thailand, korea, india etc. whilst some 'made in china' products are still 2nd rate, they do have state of the art facilities over there that produce world products.

its just a case of doing a lot of homework. china produces something like over 80% of the worlds solar panels if i remember rightly.

i have a cheap chinese system. it is nearly 12months old and has performed flawlessly. obviously 12 months is still very young in the scheme of things. i'm not going to promote them, as it just starts a bun fight (given i've used a company that many like to hate) but i'm happy with it, and my neighbour is happy with his. the install is very neat and its doing its job.

if i was a bit better off financially i probably would have gone a different route, but i'm not, so price was a major consideration for me. if i was going to go solar, it had to be big enough to make it worthwhile. my system is 3.8kw and cost $6500. obviously 12months on thats not that cheap, which is an indication of how the price is falling out of the market.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by deesun

For all those who think they have an adequate system at their home. http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-news.html
I don't know how he got such a big system passed. I thought you were only allowed around the 5-6kw. Not something I would do.

wouldn't be allowed in suburbia here......

[prydey]

love some of the comments by neighbours in the article. this one is a beauty.

Neighbour Norma Serradura said she more concerned about safety.

"I'm not anti-solar panels. We have 20 but the difference is they're on our roof," she said.

"The frame is already showing some movement and flexing. If it came off in a severe storm it would cause serious damage to nearby homes and put lives at risk. He has essentially created a massive wind sail ... it's a potential death kite."

i'm guessing Norma is an expert in that field?

as far as i'm concerned, its his property, he got approval, so he can build whatever he wants.

[xisled]

Originally Posted by deesun

For all those who think they have an adequate system at their home. http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-news.html
I don't know how he got such a big system passed. I thought you were only allowed around the 5-6kw. Not something I would do.

In Victtoria you can get around a 10kw system with most networks.

[supershifty]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

yep!....we were enticed to go solar with rebates and FIT's then when we did they didn't like it and are hitting us with penalties such as higher KW charge and higher supply charge.

I enquired about going "off grid" but was told even if I did I would still pay "supply charge" as the lines go past my house.

south australia has the highest cost per household for power than anywhere else......a famous man once said "why is it so".....even government officials cant work that one out.

however there has been murmurings within the upper echelons to consider repurchasing our generators in order to rein in the ridiculous power charge.

going to do that the day after hell freezes over.

That is just so wrong! If you're using a service, then fair enough - you pay. I've just spoke to my neighbour who recently did some reno's and related what you said about supply. He opted to change the stove and hot water to electric as it is way cheaper than natural gas.

He's got natural gas plumbed into his house that he no longer uses - he doesn't pay a supply charge. He did give me a WTF look when I asked the question!

Big fail on SA electricity retailers there!

[Spinner77]

as far as i'm concerned, its his property, he got approval, so he can build whatever he wants.

Absolutely.

For example, I'm sure Rex would show no interest in this at all, in any circumstance.

[mik]

Originally Posted by prydey

love some of the comments by neighbours in the article. this one is a beauty.



i'm guessing Norma is an expert in that field?

as far as i'm concerned, its his property, he got approval, so he can build whatever he wants.

i don't see a problem with it either, by the looks of it , you can't see it from the street, and my guess is the whinger would get a decent amount of glare off a metal garage shed or a house with big windows on a sunny day too,
good luck to him i say, if i could afford it i would have the whole house constructed of solar panels......walls and all charging my battery system and never paying government allowed thieving power companies that charge exorbitant rates for energy again.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by supershifty

That is just so wrong! If you're using a service, then fair enough - you pay. I've just spoke to my neighbour who recently did some reno's and related what you said about supply. He opted to change the stove and hot water to electric as it is way cheaper than natural gas.

He's got natural gas plumbed into his house that he no longer uses - he doesn't pay a supply charge. He did give me a WTF look when I asked the question!

Big fail on SA electricity retailers there!

well not only AGL but water as well, if I went all rainwater and shut my meter down I would still be eligible for supply with its "minimal use" amount.

I dont know about the gas side regarding shutting it off.

[deesun]

I wonder if he's growing stuff in the house,lol. Shadecloth over his windows, no light coming in on panels side. I think his first certifier had some scruples or wasn't happy that the frame was not as what was on the plan. He says its a patio roof but clearly it isnt and also says theres not much money in it. Well I have a 6kw system 24 panels and I know my return so he's going to be making a few dollars.