Anybodys house Solar powered?

[BOMI]

Anyone got Solar panels on their house?

Also does anyone have a grid tie conection where they can their house on batteries if power goes out?

Im looking into this for my house.

What do you think of the cost verses power credit paid back from the power companys.

Cheers,

Troy :cheers:

[lautray]

Actually we're looking into solar at the moment Troy. We're looking at ~4kW-ish system, which is much more than we actually use, but the NSW gross feed-in tariff is 60c/kWh so it should help subsidise the system & pay itself off in the future. I think we worked out break-even to be ~7-8 years. My olds won't be moving from the current house ever so making the investment isn't too hard a choice.

As for battery storage, we're not going down that road. Have heard that can get exxy. Not sure exactly where your house is, but we rarely have power outages here.

[Kyle]

Battery storage basically voids any possible profit you might get from feeding back to the grid.. The maintenance alone is pretty high

[savvy]

AGL are offering 80c/kWh. I think from memory a 2.4 or 2.8 system for about $3000, other cost would be the meter.

How much do the meters cost and who fits them?

[lautray]

AGL are offering 80c/kWh. I think from memory a 2.4 or 2.8 system for about $3000, other cost would be the meter.

How much do the meters cost and who fits them?

I think those smartmeters are >$500? Installed by the sparky with the install?

Just checked... AGL offer 68c/kWh (= 60c NSW government scheme rebate + AGL bonus 8c/kWh)

The 4kW system we were looking at was ~$13k ballpark iirc.

[Kyle]

HggVzyFoJsk

[firebug]

That damn background music is stuck in my head... :headbang:

[BOMI]

Thanks for the info guys, Kyle, good vid, way to catchy song LOL.


Troy :)

[GTS Listy]

There is a thread on trackchat with more details on what I am doing with my house

In summery I have a 1.5 kw system and has been in for about 9 months. Cost was just over $2000. So far the averages are

Day use at home about 50% reduction in costs including use of the large a/c unit when needed
Total savings in a 24 hours cycle not including the returns from power going back into the grid is just on 20% total bill savings.

As yet I have not got a bill for over 9 months from the Power company so I have no idea what the go is there. I do expect one soon as there is no way this system is big enough to be free.
I dont know how much the local energy company pays for power going back into the grid but when we are not at home the only thing on is a fridge, clock, security system and answer machine. Average is about 1 amp but of course not all the time with the fridge. The pool pumps comes on in the day so runs via the solar system.

I average about 5-6kwh per day but the hotter and more humid the better but cloud cover it can get down to 2 kw/h per day. That would be the big killer for large systems is you have lots of cloud cover it may take a long time for your money to be returned. Still better that the estimated 50% increase in power bills cost in the next 3 years

I use a meter called a Clipsal centameter to monitor the power from the solar verse what I use at home. Very good idea if you go solar as it is a great tool to save energy and get the best from the solar system

In the future I plan to install another 1.5 kw system with a medium size battery bank that I can switch power over to at night. I already have a back up generator for power outages but the battery's will be still good so I simply charge the battery's for a few hours and run off them saving fuel

I just finished a 5 day seminar on green buildings with specialist from all around the country and overseas in Adelaide so I am pretty well full up with all sorts of green/energy saving advice. I have completed a number of courses and green buildings accreditation over the last 12 months too.

.

[BOMI]

Cheers Listy, thanks for the info mate. The other thread is a good read mate, cheers!


Troy :)

[savvy]

I think those smartmeters are >$500? Installed by the sparky with the install?

Just checked... AGL offer 68c/kWh (= 60c NSW government scheme rebate + AGL bonus 8c/kWh)

The 4kW system we were looking at was ~$13k ballpark iirc.

Ah sorry, i knew there was an eight in there.

Is that $13k before the (i don't kow what its called) green rebate?

[lautray]

Is that $13k before the (i don't kow what its called) green rebate?
Looking closer at the quote it is almost $23k before rebates; <$14.5k after rebate. 4kW system isn't a usual budget small system ;).

[BOMI]

Was at a local Solar place and they told me that NSW has hit the 50 MG solar output level. It was at that point that they would re think the rebate per KW and the value/price or the RECs.


Troy :)

[lautray]

Yeah man, read here: http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/cec/policyadvocacy/NSW-solar-bonus.

[GTS Listy]

Looking closer at the quote it is almost $23k before rebates; <$14.5k after rebate. 4kW system isn't a usual budget small system ;).

That takes up allot of roof space and plenty of panels so check out a house with one already if you can so you know what you are in for. A house a street away has a 4kw and panels on both sides of the roof. It is a high set house and would of been a pain to install them.
They dont pay a cent for power even now but I believe they spent close to 15k on the system. I did a audit at their home as a favor (mate) and got the lights changed, changed to inverter split systems, better blinds for reduction in sun coming inside, ceiling exhaust vents, new ceiling fans thoughout and a one touch remote control isolator for lights/fan circuits when they leave the house. Their bills were $1200 per quarter average with 4 people.

Total with the solar, lights, blinds, fans, some small changes to the power board, the power monitor (clipsal centrameter) and upgraded to a/c systems was about $22k so not cheap.
They are long term residences and have no intention of moving. They got the house revalued after all the work and upgrades done, and it was 20k more in property value and that is from the real estate agent with the changes only excluding the external property increases. Not bad really. Basically paid for itself and then on top of that you dont have to pay electricity.

This is just a sample to help get some ideas. Just solar electric alone is good but do the other stuff over time to make the entire house more efficient and it will payback faster and be good for the pocket.