Domestic Solar power

aussietraveller · Guru

Domestic Solar power

Cruising Cruze · Guru

Hi David

wow that's a hard one for you

We get 44 cents in Qld but we did join them asap that time with a 3 kw system way paid back by now

My neighbour next door gets only 6 cents because he only has it less than 2 years ( 5Kw) so his bill is still huge

I really don't know whats going to happen after 2018 when my contract runs out with Ergon

I think by that time we will install a battery system so we wont use there power anymore

the battery pack from Tesla powerwall sounds better all the time

Cheers John

Cupie · Guru

I installed a miserly 1.5 KWh system (should have gone for 5 like my son) way back when it first became available with Govt subsidies.

We get a total of 50c/KWh, that includes, I think, 44c from the govt & 6c from Origin. It seems that we have a contract that runs till around 2024 unless we change anything like sell the house, or go to 3 phase or increase the size of our solar system. The bill that I have in front of me shows a Solar rebate at $212. After discounts & that solar rebate, it leaves $365 to pay.

Of course the sneaky Govt & Power companies are increasing the non usage based charges, like supply charges to counter the solar costs. Some want to have a surcharge for solar customers.

Beast thing to do is join & become active in Solar Citizens Org. Or perhaps pressure your pollie of choice.

brickies · Guru

When the battery come on the market you will be able to store your excess power and use it at later time like overnight .

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Depends on installed price ? When I first enquired it was expensive . Now it's sub 7k for a 5kw system .. You will save more by using the power when you generate it . Fitting a timer on your hot water system helps ., I figured the TV etc we use at night isn't much usage .. Can always switch to another elect company ?

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The minimum feed in tariff is determined by the Government, not by the power supplier.
I think you will find that it is 5.3c/kWh.

Cheers,
Peter

Yuglamron · Guru

Where I live in Qld there is only one supplier and no-one else but Ergon.

None of the companies that you visit that say they will save you money will give you a quote. They don't "do our location."

Treecrest · Veteran Member

Whole WA Suburb to test battery storage of solar power

An Australia-first trial of large-scale battery storage for households with solar panels is set to start in Perth as part of efforts by power provider Synergy to embrace technological change.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/30108289/alkimos-beach-to-test-battery-storage-of-solar-power/

Cupie · Guru

To help me keep up with the latest in relation to Solar, I subscribe to "The Climate Spectator'. It's free.

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/climate

(I also get the Business Spectator & Technology Spectator newsletters. They are mostly free but an increasing % of their stories require subscription).

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 19th of November 2015 04:36:27 PM

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 19th of November 2015 04:42:07 PM

Spydermann · Senior Member

Solar electricity equipment has come down in price and the subsidies have too as well as the buyback rates. The payback period hasn't changed much in ten years. What has changed is the dodgy equipment and installers have been weeded out. I've had two false starts where i've got quotes. Do not agree to anything over the phone either. Ask for a hard-copy contract to be sent out before you agree to anything. Phones (landline & mobile), electricity, gas in particular.

And then there are the companies that say they are German but aren't quite. One Chinese company just had a consulting engineer based in Germany and went to great lengths to advertise German links.

-- Edited by Spydermann on Thursday 19th of November 2015 07:28:50 PM

Cruising Cruze · Guru

@ Aus Kiwi

It seems that you can get here in Qld a 5Kw solar system for $2850

Cheers john

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Cruising Cruze wrote:
@ Aus Kiwi

It seems that you can get here in Qld a 5Kw solar system for $2850

Cheers john

That's sub $7k .. Good deal if inverter etc are up to task..

What I didn't say above is the payout on power going back to grid is much lower ..

But your not paying the big $$ in the first place .. Up in Queensland I'd be looking into solar hot water..

Heating and cooling uses the most power..

Here we have to go 3 phase to have over 5 KW system..

Cupie · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Cruising Cruze wrote:
@ Aus Kiwi

It seems that you can get here in Qld a 5Kw solar system for $2850

Cheers john
That's sub $7k .. Good deal if inverter etc are up to task..
What I didn't say above is the payout on power going back to grid is much lower ..
But your not paying the big $$ in the first place .. Up in Queensland I'd be looking into solar hot water..
Heating and cooling uses the most power..
Here we have to go 3 phase to have over 5 KW system..

I have long been pondering what I will do when my HWS dies.

My Son the plumber, has replaced his electric HWS with on demand gas units. One for each en-suite and a third for the family bathroom & kitchen. They are fed by a pair of those large gas bottles. They feed the gas/electric kitchen range as well. He's anxious to go down the battery path, but I caution him to wait a bit until the Powerwall and its competitors have a reasonable market penetration and are a mature product. If they don't suit him then he won't be able to go back to his 50 c/KWh feed in tariff.

For me it is a toss up between Gas on demand and a heat pump at this stage.... more research required though and perhaps a change of Govt with a new Solar HWS subsidy offer.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

My son has gas and solar.. From this time of the year on we can turn the gas off.. This is in Penrith area.,
My worry is converting to AC ? Unless it can run on 48v DC or so ?
I would have thought up in Queensland solar would be a no brainer ..
Yes considering the same when my old electric HWS packs it ..

Cruising Cruze · Guru

We have solar hot water for more than 9 years now
that was the best thing we ever did
It was 3 times as much to install than a normal electric kettle
But over the years I think you get your money back of your investment

Cheers John

deverall11 · Guru

Cruising Cruze wrote:
@ Aus Kiwi

It seems that you can get here in Qld a 5Kw solar system for $2850

Cheers john

Just like the Castrol add 'Oils ain't oils', cheaply priced solar panels may not do the mileage. Check out what the claimed longevity is.

Felicia · Guru

OH (recently retired) worked as an electrician with solar companies. He says that ALL panels are now made in China. Problems are not with panels but with the inverter. In our small town the worst solar sellers are normally the ones who knock on your door. They always ended up more expensive than the 3 Australian companies he worked with, have had 2 house fires due to poor inverters and sometimes they got the money up front or half way through the job and disappeared.

Lynda

Cupie · Guru

If you are serious about going in for batteries, this may be worth reading ....

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2015/11/20/smart-energy/two-charts-show-whether-powerwall-works-you?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1688864&utm_campaign=cs_daily&modapt=

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

All good info..
I have NEVER noticed how many overcast days we have in Sydney ..
Till we fitted solar panels ! Lol

aussietraveller · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
All good info..
I have NEVER noticed how many overcast days we have in Sydney ..
Till we fitted solar panels ! Lol

Exactly the same comment that I made to my wife yesterday, we certainly do notice the number of overcast days now we have solar panels and seeing we are just up the hill from Aus-Kiwi I know exactly what he is saying.

Cupie · Guru

I hope that you wash your solar panels regularly. Saw some down the road a bit that were covered in gum & mould from an overhanging gum tree. About 1/3 of the surface area was covered.

I have a two story house so I have to use an extension ladder to do mine. I have made up a soft broom with an extension handle & goose-neck to give the right angle, to scrub my panels from the ladder. Just a squirt of detergent and a good scrub followed by a rinse off with the hose, zip locked to the broom head.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Except for Gum or pollution as in diesel exhaust .. I find the panels on motorhome are somewhat self cleaning..
I have got up there and cleaned them.. Two peuny 80w panels .. I don't find any difference after cleaning..
However any shade or gum, bird droppings etc does ..
Our house faces both North / north west .. So we get a good long usage through the day..
My kids think I'm such a tight ass whinging about shade .. Aha even on 30*c day..
I purchased as Cheap 3 phase 8 KW diesel generator .. I have used it off and on to run spa and pool pumps ..
Don't have spa now .. I would say the cost of diesel is almost cheaper than paying for fuel.. Especially if used on bulk power items ..
The spa had 6kw heater .. It's only the noise of a single diesel vibrating away that limits its use..
If a double brick or insulated room was built it would be fine .. Can't complain for Sub $1200. Have hired it out a few years ago ..
When there was power outages up Galston area for a few weeks .. Well paid for itself...