Solar Panels

[Blinky]

Around $6000 for a 6.6 kw array. A 5kw battery will cost $10000, but the Victorian government will provide a rebate of $4500 after July. I’ll get a couple more quotes.

 

[Quickstatus]

Was the N and W orientation just roof space, or were you trying to capture the afternoon sun to add generation time?

N roof would have acommodated the entire array. However, in residential applications, electricity use is greater as the afternoon progresses. so even though a W orientation would overall generate slightly less, Im hoping that it would capture greater portion of the peak tariff period.

Ive asked if its possible to add another panel or two to max out the inverter due to the slightly less generation from the dual orientation array.

 

[NM]

As I approach the 12-month mark and my original rate plan with Origin Energy was going to lapse, the current Origin plan reduced the discount on energy purchase by 1% and decreased the FIT from 17c/kWh to 15c/kWh. So that was a catalyst to evaluate alternate energy retailers.

Since I have captured all my statistics in a spreadsheet, it was a very easy exercise to alter the rate plans from alternate suppliers to see how my actual usage over the past 11.5 months would impact the bottom line. So my total cost with Origin for the last 11.5 months would be $350 at their new rates. Moving to Energy Australia Anytime Saver plan, including their once-off bill credit of $50 for on-line sign-up, reduces that to $184.

My total cost is down from $3080 in the 12 months before solar installation. I was counting on a reduction of around $2200/year in my budget planning. Turns out my reduction will be approx. $2700 this year. Pretty happy with that, but should be closer to $2900 reduction next year with the new provider/plan and bill credit applied.

My actual average daily generation over 11.5 months is 32.34kWh/day (6.54kW of SunPower E20-327 panels and Fronius Primo 5kW inverter)

 

[Blinky]

Got a second quote. This guy said a battery would not pay as the surplus produced would not be high and the FIT with my provider will be 20c/kWh. It would take too long to pay for itself in his opinion. I will need the board updated, which I’ve been told before. The first quote will upgrade for free, the second will charge $1100. They turn out pretty close, around $6000 out of pocket with a new board.

 

[cove]

At work we are getting closer to a net zero electricity cost after recoveries from tenants. I think we will be pretty close by 2020. We used to pay about $150,000 a year some 4 years ago so the trend is our friend.

 

[Quickstatus]

Just had a 6kw dual orientation system installed.

Got told by Energy Australia that I need to go to a solar compatible plan (same as current but addition of NFiT). However need to “serve” a 10 day cooling off period before they will reconfigure smart meter for solar export metering which may take 20 days after the cooling off period.
In the interim the solar system is under an export restriction. So it cannot export.

 

[Hillbilly64]

My provider took a month to organising putting the new metre in middle of summer...no export. Changed providers the next day

 

[Quickstatus]

The meter is already a smart solar compatible. They just need to remotely configure it. And the cooling off period is a crock of s*** because it’s the exact same plan and rates plus a NFiT

 

[NM]

The meter is already a smart solar compatible. They just need to remotely configure it. And the cooling off period is a crock of s*** because it’s the exact same plan and rates plus a NFiT

while it seems like a stupid requirement, I believe it is required by the government policy rather than imposed at the whim of the retailer. They are required to provide a 10 business day cooling off period and cannot waive it. I had the same thing with my retailer when first having the system installed. I was not changing provider, just the contracted plan. But still needed the 10 day period and visits by both the retailer (Origin) and the wholesaler (Energex) to verify and approve the installation before it could be turned on to export. Painful I agree.

 

[RB]

Just had a 6kw dual orientation system installed.

Got told by Energy Australia that I need to go to a solar compatible plan (same as current but addition of NFiT). However need to “serve” a 10 day cooling off period before they will reconfigure smart meter for solar export metering which may take 20 days after the cooling off period.
In the interim the solar system is under an export restriction. So it cannot export.

My recollection is that during the wait we didn't get FIT but we were obviously using less from the grid during the wait. With Origin it only ended up being 4 days and was done remotely-we already had the latest meters

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes our consumption is less by about 35%.
But it is not a 35% reduction in cost because the peak tariff period 1700-2000 is not covered.

 

[cove]

The reason many of our solar systems at our workplaces are so successful is because we operate mostly in sunlight hours.
With the social housing solar payback isn’t as good is because of the peak power usage can be outside the sunlight hours.
The lunch bar should be ok other than the cool room that operates 24/7. That solar system will go live this month and has been handled by Sustainable Savings in Adelaide due to the site complications.
I can see that a battery solution add on may be the solution in a couple of years time for our social housing sites once the cost and quality of batteries has improved.
We added 16 mostly two story apartments to our social housing pool this year so we house up towards 160 folks most nights. Having a builder as a partner in these projects together with a really good architect helps a lot.
If you look up Urban Fabric you can get an idea of what we are doing over in WA.
We have discussed the social housing with our two sons to try to ensure it continues past our use by dates.

 

[Quickstatus]

My network application for FiT has been knocked back. (25kW inverter)
I’m too close to the Transformer in the street and because my line voltage is bang on 250V at midday (under load), the electricity distributor does not want my solar panels pushing the line voltage into an over-voltage situation.

They are using the assumption that all the generation will Feed in to the Grid rather than my predicted 0-20% on the best solar days.

They will approve a 10kW inverter.

 

[DC3]

My network application for FiT has been knocked back. (25kW inverter)
I’m too close to the Transformer in the street and because my line voltage is bang on 250V at midday (under load), the electricity distributor does not want my solar panels pushing the line voltage into an over-voltage situation.

They are using the assumption that all the generation will Feed in to the Grid rather than my predicted 0-20% on the best solar days.

They will approve a 10kW inverter.

WOW. 25kW Inverter. So, 100kW +/- per day. Are you wanting to generate for the entire street?

 

[cove]

Our biggest one is 100kW system in Adelaide for one of our manufacturers.
That sucks when you are adjacent to a transformer. We were told that in WA and yes we are close with two buildings. We were limited to two 30 kW systems.

 

[Quickstatus]

Well, the distributor is viewing the application like I am. Ill most likely use most of it and at most send maybe 10kw instantaneous peak (but about 20kWh per solar generation period to the grid - approximately 5kW per hour per solar period)

Usually 5kW per phase is allowed (=15kW).

Solar installer is asking for a review as the inverter is able to dynamically shut down if line voltage goes high (if it does it will be during the peak generation time around midday +/- 1-2 hours either side). Likely this is only going to be in summer months.
20kwh per day for 3 months @0.1375 FiT = $250 loss.
A battery is a theoretical solution for me (though not financially) but is not a mitigating factor in the Network application.

 

[cove]

Our Sydney apartment building has just approved a solar system and there were no objections from any owner.

 

[amaroo]

Quality is always important.....

Rex spent $8,000 on solar panels he expected to last 25 years — they conked out in four and a half

Rooftop solar industry veterans say Australia has become a dumping ground for poor-quality solar products and some are questioning the regulatory oversight of household rooftop solar installers and products.

www.abc.net.au

 

[cove]

We have had 2 inverters fail out of about 25 and they were replaced under warranty. Warranties and quality are quite important when it comes to solar.In SA it has been interesting using an energy consultant for the largest systems.

 

[moa999]

Our Sydney apartment building has just approved a solar system

To feed common power? Paid for out of sinking fund or admin fund?

Would love the same on my building but many of the usable areas were sold off by the developer to connected investors and rented to the telcos for mobile antennas.