Solar power

[Chucaro]

Just wonder if here is a member with knowledge in the solar power industry to know if this news are good for potential customers specially for us here in Tasmania

New rays of hope for solar industry (http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1665854/New-rays-of-hope-for-solar-industry)

[Mudsloth]

Whilst the solar industry insists on charging $2.00 per watt when the cost is closer to 50 cents per watt they are only getting what they deserve. I wouldn't buy into this scheme if i were you. Source your own equipment and employ an electrician to install, use a credit card if up front payments scare you, you will still save thousands. lol, rant ends here.

[bussy1963]

If you go to this site: You should be able to source solar panels and the other equipment at a reasonable price

GraysOnline Australia - Online Retail & Auctions (http://www.graysonline.com.au)

[isuzurover]

Just wonder if here is a member with knowledge in the solar power industry to know if this news are good for potential customers specially for us here in Tasmania

New rays of hope for solar industry (http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1665854/New-rays-of-hope-for-solar-industry)

Might be an option for some.

However even without RECS or feed-in tarifs a solar system will break even well within the lifetime of the system - especially with a carbon tax.

We had a 1.5 kW system installed a few days ago, and since then it has been covering our usage - even though now is the worst time of year for solar.

A 1.5kW system is $2-3k installed without RECS.

[George130]

I put in a 1.5kw system almost a year ago. Cost us $3200 paid over 12 months by monthly instalments. We didn't get any feed in tarifs but it has insulated us from the price increases.

[Reads90]

I put in a 1.5kw system almost a year ago. Cost us $3200 paid over 12 months by monthly instalments. We didn't get any feed in tarifs but it has insulated us from the price increases.

Hi
Got to ask why don't you have feed in tariffs. I have a 2.5 system and it has given me bills of about $50 a quarter and I used to have bills of about $550 and rising.

Ali

[stuee]

Might be an option for some.

However even without RECS or feed-in tarifs a solar system will break even well within the lifetime of the system - especially with a carbon tax.

We had a 1.5 kW system installed a few days ago, and since then it has been covering our usage - even though now is the worst time of year for solar.

A 1.5kW system is $2-3k installed without RECS.

A bit of a thread hijack but do you mind letting me know who you used (I'm assuming you're still in Perth) and whether or not you'd recommend them? Feel free to PM.

Haven't looked to seriously but when you do half the vendors look gimmicky and hard to tell the quality.

[Vern]

Whilst the solar industry insists on charging $2.00 per watt when the cost is closer to 50 cents per watt they are only getting what they deserve. I wouldn't buy into this scheme if i were you. Source your own equipment and employ an electrician to install, use a credit card if up front payments scare you, you will still save thousands. lol, rant ends here.
Where can you get panels for 50c a watt, please let me know, i'll buy a heap of them. $2 a watt is ball park, depending on quality. You need to be CEC qualified to install the system and be able to claim rebates, so not just any electricain can install it. Well they probably can but not sure how they'll go getting it connected to the grid. Now i install solar, and theres a lot of competition out there, i can get a system installed on my house cheaper thean what i can buy it for plus installation costs.
Shop around

[isuzurover]

A bit of a thread hijack but do you mind letting me know who you used (I'm assuming you're still in Perth) and whether or not you'd recommend them? Feel free to PM.

Haven't looked to seriously but when you do half the vendors look gimmicky and hard to tell the quality.

Regen.

Happy overall. I would use them again.

PM me your phone number if you want more detail.

[George130]

Hi
Got to ask why don't you have feed in tariffs. I have a 2.5 system and it has given me bills of about $50 a quarter and I used to have bills of about $550 and rising.

Ali

I signed up during the period that the gov cancelled them in NSW. I was given the choice of proceeding with the panels or cancelling. Since I was already paying more for my electricity than the rebate at that time we still got the system.

[tonic]

For my 2cents worth, I just installed a 1.5kw system but with a twist that is worth considering.

The system has been installed with a 5kw inverter so I can add more panels as finances allow.

If you install say a 1.5kw system with a 1.5kw inverter then to go bigger you have to get another inverter as well as more panels.

We still do not have a digital metre which I think goes in this week, so it has been a bit of fun watching the old style meter run backwards, when the pool pump is not running that is.

[d2dave]

For my 2cents worth, I just installed a 1.5kw system but with a twist that is worth considering.

The system has been installed with a 5kw inverter so I can add more panels as finances allow.

If you install say a 1.5kw system with a 1.5kw inverter then to go bigger you have to get another inverter as well as more panels.

We still do not have a digital metre which I think goes in this week, so it has been a bit of fun watching the old style meter run backwards, when the pool pump is not running that is.

I have discussed this with solar installers and have been told this can have problems. Apparently the panels are set up in groups run in series to supply a much higher voltage than the 12 volts(or 21volts if you are talking about unregulated volts)

Now I do not know if this is correct but I was told that if you add more panels they must be exactly the same as the existing ones. If you can no longer buy them you cannot add any more.

Would be interested to hear from anyone that does know about this stuff, as to whether this is correct.

[tonic]

I have discussed this with solar installers and have been told this can have problems. Apparently the panels are set up in groups run in series to supply a much higher voltage than the 12 volts(or 21volts if you are talking about unregulated volts)

Now I do not know if this is correct but I was told that if you add more panels they must be exactly the same as the existing ones. If you can no longer buy them you cannot add any more.

Would be interested to hear from anyone that does know about this stuff, as to whether this is correct.


You are correct, the way I understand it they have to be the same outputs to be able to work together. I have already done this planning for my system in the long term plan, forgot to mention, thaks for that.

[rovercare]

For my 2cents worth, I just installed a 1.5kw system but with a twist that is worth considering.

The system has been installed with a 5kw inverter so I can add more panels as finances allow.

If you install say a 1.5kw system with a 1.5kw inverter then to go bigger you have to get another inverter as well as more panels.

We still do not have a digital metre which I think goes in this week, so it has been a bit of fun watching the old style meter run backwards, when the pool pump is not running that is.

In qld well worth it as it secures your fit on 5kw

Victoria not so much

[rovercare]

Where can you get panels for 50c a watt, please let me know, i'll buy a heap of them. $2 a watt is ball park, depending on quality. You need to be CEC qualified to install the system and be able to claim rebates, so not just any electricain can install it. Well they probably can but not sure how they'll go getting it connected to the grid. Now i install solar, and theres a lot of competition out there, i can get a system installed on my house cheaper thean what i can buy it for plus installation costs.
Shop around

Tianwei .85c/w

[ramblingboy42]

we are investigatiing an opportunity to instal a system for a dollar ($1). the company puts in a system to their requirements, not yours, they then reap the benefits, we never pay electricity bill again.

[tonic]

In qld well worth it as it secures your fit on 5kw

Victoria not so much


I got in early and have approval for a 10kw. You did not need to put a system in to get approval, so I got the approval about 21/2 years ago and the beginnings of the system 3 weeks ago.

[Chucaro]

we are investigatiing an opportunity to instal a system for a dollar ($1). the company puts in a system to their requirements, not yours, they then reap the benefits, we never pay electricity bill again.

Interesting, please keep us informed and let me know if the company is Australia wide or only is in Qld

[ramblingboy42]

its Qld based but has australia wide contacts, I will find contact number ....I believe it closes tomorrow or tuesday

[ramblingboy42]

Interesting, please keep us informed and let me know if the company is Australia wide or only is in Qld


its Qld based but has australia wide contacts, I will find contact number ....I believe it closes tomorrow or tuesday

Jasmin Solar.... their offer is on their internet page......
expressions of interest can be taken now and an agent will contact within ten days. Their call centre is being flooded. All expressions of interest must be in by 5pm Monday 9th July 2012. Can be done online.
good luck.

[Vern]

Tianwei .85c/wquality?? Tianeng is about that, about $1 actually. My maths not so good, r.e $2 per watt. more like $1.25

[rovercare]

quality?? Tianeng is about that, about $1 actually. My maths not so good, r.e $2 per watt. more like $1.25

Suntech $1.10/W

[Vern]

i was close ish:D

[d2dave]

Jasmin Solar.... their offer is on their internet page......
expressions of interest can be taken now and an agent will contact within ten days. Their call centre is being flooded. All expressions of interest must be in by 5pm Monday 9th July 2012. Can be done online.
good luck.


Does anyone have a link to Jasmin Solar. All my google searches change to JaZmin solar who is a musician.

[isuzurover]

Does anyone have a link to Jasmin Solar. All my google searches change to JaZmin solar who is a musician.

You suck at google... :p

JASMIN Solar - The Offer (http://www.jasminsolar.com/Offer.php)

[d2dave]

You suck at google... :p


Computers and the net are definitely not one of my strong points.

[Landover]

I see a problem with this but could be wrong as I don't know much about it. Can someone answer this.

They say that they get all power that is sent to the grid. So during the day I imagine the power is being generated and put onto the grid. If you are not home to use it during the day and mostly use power at night this power would be coming off the grid and you pay for it. If they are getting all the uploaded power it is not offsetting the power use use off the grid during the night. Is this correct or does the meter run backwards so the day offsets the night.

I hope someone can understand my babble.

[rovers4]

During the day your fridge and freezer and hot water (or top up if on solar h/w) will all use power.
Your pv cells/inverter will feed these loads, any excess goes back into the grid. The smart meter allows for such and credits your account. Your are in the black.
When you are home and draw more, or when the sun sets and the pv system cannot deliver, your load is as was before the solar install - you draw back from the grid- and your account goes into the red.

So, even if you do not generate enough to feed the grid, or cannot due to contract "deals", you still get to run your fridge/freezer, hot water top up, and any other daytime draw for free. Unless you need a bit more, that is.

Either way, you will save! It is just a matter of how much.


Rovers4

[George130]

The way mine works is I use what I generate first. Excess is fed to the grid. Any more we use than the panels generate we draw from the grid.

What this means just now is I have fed 200km/h into the grid and not been paid so far. I believe I can apply for this to be paid out at the going rate so nothing like they would be charging me for what I have used.

Either way it still ofsets you bill.

[isuzurover]

... I have fed 200km/h into the grid ....

You are generating some slow electricity there George... Electrons usually travel at ~300000 km/s in copper AFAIK :D

[George130]

You are generating some slow electricity there George... Electrons usually travel at ~300000 km/s in copper AFAIK :D

should have been kw/h

[isuzurover]

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).

[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

[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?

[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.

[Vern]

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 HDthat 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:(

[ugu80]

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.

[bee utey]

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.

[isuzurover]

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.

[1976_michelle]

Not clear what you are saying there, do explain.

Just that lpg needed to be a particular percentage lower in cost than petrol given the reduction in miles you can get on it per litre for it to justify the cost of the conversion, and with the gap between lpg and petrol prices closing the worth of it is not so great (though I'm sure still there, just take longer to cover itself)

In the case of power, what has been raised with the connection costs and usage costs rising is about what I would expect
Right about now we'll be wishing the government never sold the power companies... perhaps it's time they take them back :eek:

[isuzurover]

Just that lpg needed to be a particular percentage lower in cost than petrol given the reduction in miles you can get on it per litre for it to justify the cost of the conversion, and with the gap between lpg and petrol prices closing the worth of it is not so great (though I'm sure still there, just take longer to cover itself)

In the case of power, what has been raised with the connection costs and usage costs rising is about what I would expect
Right about now we'll be wishing the government never sold the power companies... perhaps it's time they take them back :eek:

I think you have things a bit twisted there... The economics of solar are completely different to LPG. Even with no feed-in tarrif, a large solar system will pay for itself eventually as long as the admin fees from the power company are less than what you would be paying to buy the power from them.

In most cases power prices are rising because the companies which own the infrastructure have realised that they haven't been upggrading the infrastructre at the right rate.

If the power retailers start charging too much in admin fees, those with solar can switch to a stand-alone (battery storage) system.

[d2dave]

In most cases power prices are rising because the companies which own the infrastructure have realised that they haven't been upggrading the infrastructre at the right rate.

And I reckon that this is wrong. I run a caravan park. Right now I have a lot of infrastructure that needs upgrading, which I am doing as finances allow. If I went to all my residents and told them that I am upping site fees/rent to pay for the renovation that I am currently doing on the amenities block, I would have a riot on my hands. I might get away with it once, but I am sure I would lose business to the opposition

This is what profit is for, some for me and some to reinvest in the upkeep of my business. Power companies are no different except much bigger.(huge)

[d2dave]

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.

We call the connection cost "The Supply Charge" In the last two years this charge has more than doubled. It was about 40 cents per day. It is now 94 cents per day. This has been done to offset their loses as people are using less power due to the cost. So if you go away on holidays and you turn your power off at the switchboard (after empting the fridge) you will still be billed 94 cents per day.

[DeanoH]

I have discussed this with solar installers and have been told this can have problems. Apparently the panels are set up in groups run in series to supply a much higher voltage than the 12 volts(or 21volts if you are talking about unregulated volts)

Now I do not know if this is correct but I was told that if you add more panels they must be exactly the same as the existing ones. If you can no longer buy them you cannot add any more.

Would be interested to hear from anyone that does know about this stuff, as to whether this is correct.

Solar panels are set up in strings, that is connected in series. The limitation of how many can be connected in a string is usually the maximum string voltage the inverter can handle. More strings can be added in parallel to the first string but to work efficiently their characteristics must be similar to the original string, you can't just use any panels.

Each string or group of strings is managed by a MPPT controller. This is a Maximum Power Point Tracking controller which ensures that the panels are managed to give maximum power for the prevailing conditions.

Solar inverters can have 1, 2 or 3 MPPT controllers. These controllers work independently of each other to achieve optimum power for each input so it doesn't matter (as long as you stay within design parameters) what mixture of panels you have between controllers as long as the panel characterists are the same for each controller.

One method if you were going to set up an upgradeable system would be to use a multiple MPPT inverter and set up the original panels on one MPPT leaving its other MPPT controller(s) for expansion.

Inverters can be connected in parallel. So another method is to just buy an inverter with capacity enough for the original panels and when upgrading buy another inverter and parallel its output with the original one.

With panels on different azimuths (roofs pointing in different directions) you must have a different MPPT controller for each group.

Hope this helps

Deano:)