Thread: Solar power

Originally Posted by George130

should have been kw/h

Sorry George, you are still wrong. It is kWh (= kW.h = kW*h = kWxh).

If you generate 1 kW continuously for 10 hrs you end up with 10 kWh, as opposed to 1 or 0.1 kW/h (depeding if hourly or cumulative kW value used).

I have 2.75 kWh system for 2 years or so consisting of 16 panels. Cost 18,000 to install, sold RECs for about 6,500. Will break even in 5-6 years.

It feeds to grid and we get rebate on all power generated. We have 2 adults and 3 kids and use about 12kWh a day. We have gas HW and stove. We get cheque not bills

The sales pitch said 2.75 x 10 hrs a day x 365 days = payday. It is not true. Max day has been 14.9kWh and worse has been 20Wh. Way less than the pitch.

I asked about adding more panels and told if i alter the system in any way I would lose the rebate completely. No way to increase output and retain rebate.

worth it but at time installers making a killing!

James



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

anyone able to predict what this will do to the power companies long term,and price of power for those who haven't the solar systems? Will it all backfire on us magnificently in 10/20yrs time in the way LPG conversion seems to be?

The power companies will up their price to ensure they still get a profit. They have already increased the cost of being connected, even if you don't use any electricity you will still pay. Unless you produce enough power to cover the connection costs as well. So even if you produce the same number of kWh as you consume you have to pay for the ability to get electricity when your PV array is not producing.

Originally Posted by zwitter

I have 2.75 kWh system for 2 years or so consisting of 16 panels. Cost 18,000 to install, sold RECs for about 6,500. Will break even in 5-6 years.

It feeds to grid and we get rebate on all power generated. We have 2 adults and 3 kids and use about 12kWh a day. We have gas HW and stove. We get cheque not bills

The sales pitch said 2.75 x 10 hrs a day x 365 days = payday. It is not true. Max day has been 14.9kWh and worse has been 20Wh. Way less than the pitch.

I asked about adding more panels and told if i alter the system in any way I would lose the rebate completely. No way to increase output and retain rebate.

worth it but at time installers making a killing!

James



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

that same system is about $10,000 cheaper now after rebates, i think they took advantage. Calcs work on an average of approx 6hrs per day. and its the salesman that making the killing, trust me

Originally Posted by slug_burner

The power companies will up their price to ensure they still get a profit. They have already increased the cost of being connected, even if you don't use any electricity you will still pay. Unless you produce enough power to cover the connection costs as well. So even if you produce the same number of kWh as you consume you have to pay for the ability to get electricity when your PV array is not producing.

The power company bosses have already declared that if people use less electricity due to the carbon tax price rise that they will increase the price of electricity again in order to maintain their profits.

Originally Posted by 1976_michelle

anyone able to predict what this will do to the power companies long term,and price of power for those who haven't the solar systems? Will it all backfire on us magnificently in 10/20yrs time in the way LPG conversion seems to be?

Not clear what you are saying there, do explain.

Originally Posted by 1976_michelle

anyone able to predict what this will do to the power companies long term,and price of power for those who haven't the solar systems? Will it all backfire on us magnificently in 10/20yrs time in the way LPG conversion seems to be?

In most states power retail companies and power generating companies are separate. Power retailers need to buy power from somewhere. The buyback rates for solar have fallen to ~8c/kWh in many states, which is probably about the same as the retail companies are paying for coal, etc...

If anything, solar will drive electricity prices down on sunny days (as has been happening already). It has meant that the generation companies are making less profit during the peak times than they were previously, however they are not in a position to dictate prices.