How effective is a Grid Connect solar power system in terms of value for money?
Grid Connect solar is proven throughout the world to be the most effective action individuals can take to make a significant reduction in CO2 emissions by directly offsetting their coal fired energy consumption. This is especially the case for Australians who have twice as much sunlight as Germans for example who are the world leaders in the number of installed systems .Individuals know their energy is green by becoming green energy producers themselves.
From the ONE cost of less then $6500 including rebates, (cheaper than a granite bench top) an expandable 1 to 2 kilowattt Solartec Grid Connect solar system saves over 2 Tonnes of CO2 every year. This system designed by us allows you to gain maximum benefit from your new power system. We can double the ou put simply by adding more panels for you. Our average system size of 2 kiilowatts, saves over 4 Tonnes of CO2 every year. There are no costs after the initial purchase price. The system keeps generating free electricity from the sun for a lifetime with exceptional life expectancy of system components and no batteries. There is exceptionally low maintenance (washing the dust off the panels once in a while). A Grid Connect Solar System will appreciate in value as its value is directly coupled to energy prices. At the same time your energy bills are turned into credits. This situation is about to get even better with the new "Solar Premium " about to be passed in Canberra where grid connect energy producers will be paid almost four times the rate for every kilowatt hour produced..
How does a hybrid car compare to Grid Connect Solar in terms of CO2 reduction?
A hybrid car available in Australia, costs between $37,600.00 to $46,000.00. The average driver will save only 1.5 Tonnes of CO2 per year(Manufacturers information from advertising campaign). The cost does not stop there. There are ongoing expenses after the initial purchase price of the vehicle. The vehicle will depreciate in value loosing 50% of its resale value after 3 years, there is ongoing maintenance, continuous petrol costs to keep it running, just how long and how much is the battery replacement when it fails?, and the high cost of CO2 emissions from production of the car that is conveniently ignored.
For a similar purchase price to the base model hybrid car you could be saving around 8 Tonnes of CO2 every year with a sizeable 3.5 Kilowatt Grid Connect solar system, exporting excess energy to the grid, and much better off financially, with no ongoing costs.
Is paying more for "Green Power / Green Choice " effective in reducing CO2 emissions?
Most Grid Connect producers question why the public should pay a premium rate (subsidy) to coal fired energy companies who cannot guarantee the energy you purchase from them is from renewable resources. With the money collected from "Green Power" over the years, where has it gone? There is a long que of wind farm proposals which have been shelved with little or no progress. It has been debated as a government scandal and that the penalty price should be with the use of coal power. The State Government's "Green Power" program has set a target of 15% of NSW electricity from renewable resources by 2020. The increase of energy demand over this time will make this target ineffective. There is not enough being done now to combat the huge problem of climate change. More significant action must be taken now by individuals to be responsible for the energy they use. This is possible and affordable with a Solartec Grid Connect Solar Power system. Individuals can take comfort knowing their energy is green by becoming green energy producers themselves. For less then the cost of a can of drink each day you can make a real difference for our children's future.
How does a solar power system work?
During the day sunlight falls onto the photovoltaic solar modules & an electrical charge (Direct Current) is produced. This charge is transmitted to either an inverter and fed into the electricity grid in a Grid Connect System or into batteries for storage and later use in a Stand Alone System.
Is Grid Connect solar power the same as solar hot water?
No. Solar hot water uses heat from the sun to heat water, a basic principle. In a Grid Connect System the Photovoltaic (solar) panels convert photons in the solar spectrum into Direct Current (DC) power. This is possible due to the electrical characteristics of silicon. The DC power produced is converted into Alternating Current (AC) by the inverter and the energy is available as standard 240 volt power in the home.Solartec solar power systems use high quality Suntech modules to get you the most power possible.
Do I need batteries for a grid connect system?
No, solar energy is collected on your roof and fed into the electricity mains via your inverter. You have the convenience of using electricity from the electricity grid while the renewable energy you produce spins your meter backwards while you are not using electricity, & slows it down when you are using less electricity than you are producing. A Grid Connect System is low maintenance. An occasional wash of the solar panels with a hose is all that is required. It is possible to have a battery storage system for use as an uninterruptible power supply in the event of a blackout. This is when a battery storage bank is added.
Is it legal for your electricity meter to ‘spin’ backwards?
Yes. As long as you have notified your energy retailer of your system (some retailers require an interconnection agreement) it is legal and in most western countries it is actively encouraged with large feed in tariffs. Soon to be passed in Canbera, the buy back rate will be 3.88 times your peak rate - around 50 cents per kilowatt hour.
Can I increase the size of my Grid Connect system at a later date?
Yes. Most Grid Connect systems installed by Solartec Renewables can have additional panels installed depending on which system size you choose and the capacity of the inverter. If you wish to increase your system significantly at a later date it is better to install a larger inverter now. Our most common systems allow you to double and even triple your solarpower systems output simply by adding more panels.
Are my solar panels covered under my home and contents insurance?
Yes. Ask your insurance company to add the system on your policy.
Are my solar panels resistant to hail?
Yes. All premium solar panels that we use (Suntech, Sunpower and Sharp) have been extensively tested & will withstand a 25 mm hailstone at terminal velocity. They are very resistant to storm damage. The tiles on your roof are more likely to be at risk of damage before the panels are.
How efficient is my system?
In Australia, your solar power system is very efficient, generating near its peak all year round. Your system will generate 54% more energy than a system installed in Europe. For example, Germany has an irradiation level of 751 KWh for every square meter per year, and Canberra's irradiation level is 1386 KWh of sunlight for every square meter. Germany has around 250,000 Grid Connect Systems installed, whereas there are only approximately 4000 systems installed in Australia. Our abundance of sunlight is there waiting for us to utilize!
How much CO2 will my solar power system save?
The average household in NSW & ACT produces 8.27 Tonnes of CO2 emissions every year, by using approximately 21.5 Kilowatt hours of coal fired electricity per day. For every Kilowatt hour of electricity that you use, you are pumping 1.03 Kilograms of Carbon Dioxide into the air we breathe.
An installed Solartec 2100 watt grid connect system will save over 4 tonnes of CO2 every year compared to your recycled garden waste and paper products saving an estimated 500 kilograms.
If I am concerned about 'payback', how long does this take?
There are anti solar energy groups who claim that it will take in excess of 65 years to pay your system off. This is completely false as it does not take into account the annual price rises in electricity rates that occur. For the average system installed by Solartec Renewables, it is around 14 to18 years, before feed in tariffs and current price increases of between 20 to 30% already experienced in late 2007 . This is a conservative estimate as it only allows a 5% increase in electricity prices per year. The actual increases with ACTEW was 17% last year. Country Energy has been up to 8%. This does not take into account the feed in tariff system for the ACT which will bring your return on investment down to around 8 years. South Australia has a feed in system where solar energy producers are paid double the amount for their excess green energyand Queensland are about to implement the same scheme. The standard rate to the consumer for using coal fired electricity will always increase. What will happen to NSW energy prices whern the Yemma government sells the generators? There are indications that the retail price of electricity will increase by 25%.
Should I wait for sliver cell technology?
No. The future is governed by what we do now. Sliver cell modules utilize a smaller amount of silicon per panel, however, they are still in a pre production stage, and not yet tested in the field. They are an estimated 10 years away from commercial production and the technology is likely to go offshore due to foreign investment. Also a 175 watt 'sliver' cell module is the same physical size as a conventional 175 watt module. In the meantime there are a number of new silicon refineries being built and that will come online early next year. This will allow solar cell manufacturers (of which Suntech is number 3 in the world) to readily source silicon and remove the requirement for this untested technology.
Is it worth it?
Yes. From less then $6500, much the same as Granite bench tops in your kitchen, you can be generating your own, free energy from the sun.You have the option to double your electricity generating capability simply by adding more panels later and your electricity bills will be reduced or cut completely. Your investment will help to ensure that our children have a cleaner world in which to grow up in. If each household took up this initiative, the very real issue of climate change (especially in Australia) can be addressed significantly. We need to start acting now and this is a great way to do it.
Contact us to receive your Getting Started Grid Connect Pack and make your contribution to a sustainable future:
Contact us on: Ph: 02) 6235 9220 / 0429 359 220 email: enquiries@solartec.com.au
Address: PO Box 220 Fyshwick ACT 2609
Phillip May
Your Local Full BCSE member Accredited Installer, Lic. Electrical Contractor ACT / NSW
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