Unlike other current Solar Installation programs on offer Diamond Energy's offer involves:
No installation costs*
Installing a 1.16kW solar system…
The Solar Installation Package includes:
1.16kW Photovoltaic Solar Panel (First Solar panels 25 yr wty)
Mounting bracket
Inverter (Sunny Boy 1100W inverter 10 yr wty)
Standard wiring (circuit breakers, cables, connections)
A Bi-directional Meter
Installation by a licensed installer
said "Installation by a licensed installer" so would presume that's installation included.
yeah doesn't take much for 2 or more people to bring in 100+ it should be 100k per person not per household!
Boo to eligibility criteria… it's getting rarer and rarer in Sydney for anyone to own a place with a household income < $100k
Also be aware that they force you to sell them your REC (renewable energy certificate), which means that the good you will be doing for the environment by using solar power will be offest when they sell your REC to a carbon producer, which will effectively negate any environmental gains you may think you are making. Some other companies let you keep your REC (but just charge you for it). I think the RECs are worth about $800-$900 currently.
Thanks for the info!
This was my only concern in the contract
Otherwise it looks pretty reasonable
Would be great if someone with lots of knowledge on the topic could see if it's a good deal (or provide feedback here)
i.e. performance/value in comparison to other deals.
Great that they included the bidirectional meter in the package, which was a ~400 extra in a previous deal i think.
note that tiled roofs may attract an extra charge of maybe 500. i remember my friend's mum ringing up and thats what they told her.
Tile roof $500 extra is alot as Nuenergy is $120.
Can anyone confirm on this price if you already sign up with Diamond.
So is this absolutely no costs at all….it just sounds too good to be true
so you don't have to pay for the solar panel do you..?
Another factor to consider is that this rebate does change - our socially responsible government - you know take from the rich give to the poor except when it suits them not to. In this case after July 1 the rebate will still be there except it reduces by a $1000 AND the $100K income limit goes away. Now all the "RICH" families - you know the ones ripping off Medicare (LOL) will be able to get this rebate. Sorta rob from the rich and pay to the rich. Ah the joys of the political spin.
The other factor to consider is that the prices of these systems will drop over time, so that $1000 loss will be offset by lower prices AND probably more efficient systems - like 1.5KW or 2 KW systems - that will generate more power and savings long term. I base this on discussions with a number of installers (as my roof is not as exposed to sun - so current kW generation wouldn't be acceptable with a 1kW system), who were more willing to offer alternative advice and in both cases they said wait.
Clear quoted me $2900 up front with $2500 rebate after instalation {6-8 weeks} poss $250 more if I recomend someone and they sign up.I pay $650 or $450
25yrs garantee My current use is 608kw per 3 mths
I have done a few sums and come up with these figures
1kw x 6panels should produce 4-6 kw a day = aprox $5 a day
Credit is refunded at 64c a day
4kw a day = 4 x 7 = 28 kw a week
= 28 x 4 weeks = 112 kw per month=
= 112 x 3 mths =336 kw per 1/4
= 336 kw x 64c = approx $ 21.50 saving every bill
or $21.50 x 4 = $86 per year. As I will only be sending 336kw to the grid every 3 months and using over 600kw every three months I will be using more than I will be sending to the grid and will never receive a return on banked power and the system would take approx 7 years to pay for itself. I hope i live long enough If you can show me I am wrong please do so as this is not real exciting.
If a day = 8 hrs and you say you get 64c for a day thats less than 9c Kwh.
I looked at my Powersmart rates and I was given the following
Off peak 6.05c (10pm-7am)
Shoulder 10.89c (7am-2pm 8pm-10pm)
Peak 30.25c (2pm-8pm)
Given that the solar generation would be during day lets say 9-5 this would save during those times 5hrs @ 10.89 and 3 hrs@ 30.25
Which I work out about 145c saving. Now this would be less if I didn't use all the power during those times and excess is shipped off to the grid as this excess is only paid for at 6.05c. (I have used 9-5 to be conservative ie Winter sun times)
But this is my calculations - if I am wrong help me understand as this is an important decision for all of us to make. (NSW Energy Australia prices used.)
thanks for the info on the energy rates, i've always wanted to know them!
regarding your calculations, i think its optimistic for sydney at least. you're working off the assumption that 8kwh is generated per day on average, and that there's enough battery energy to last your peak usage when sunlight is diminished.
5kwh per day average over a seasonal/climatic year is more likely with a 1kw panel i think. 1kw is only made during summer between 10 and 4 anyway.
solarsure man ur calculations are all messed up. kw isn't the same as kwh. with 6 1kw panels you could almost run 2 households! with some to spare!
Hello again .My working was done at 4kw a day working on S.A. winter time ..Hopefully more in summer—-Kimmik -My quote was for a 1kw system which is 6 panels and yes I dont understand the difference between kw and kwh —perhaps you could tell me . However I do know someone that is already connected to the same system and has a saving of just $13 on his second bill.[no savings on the first one] At that rate I doubt that I am not close to the mark but interested in your comments My figures were the result of talking to an electrical adviser working with Tru Energy
ah i see you meant a 1kw system not 6kw.
KW measures power not energy, eg. a kettle is 2.4kw.
KWh measures energy not power, eg. a kettle 2.4kw in power used for 1hr has used 2.4KWh of energy.
each KWh costs 15cents on average, so if your panel generates (on average) 1KW for 5hours each day, you save 5KWh which is 75cents a day. makes for 250$ or so per year if assumption true.
Also a mistake I meant 64c a kwh not per day sorry
Will they do installations in SA?
Yes they do.
Got a email from them last week confirming this.
Bluesky is the master installer for Australia for this Solar Offer. In most cases they will be able to source a local installer in your area, depending on your location. Please proceed with the application via the website. It will request your postcode and advise if an installer is already sourced for your area. If not you can request us to seek an exceptional ruling, as installers for this programme are being constantly updated.
Try the website first and contact us again if you are unsuccessful.
Thanks for your response.
I'm ready to sign up but just find out the latest new…and it sucks!
_To be eligible for assessment under the SHCP guidelines, completed applications must be sent to the Solar Homes and Communities Plan Manager by midnight on Tuesday 9 June 2009. _
http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/pv/index…
Wow. that's turely sucks!!!!
WTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes Peter Garrett is a wanker!
I love how much notice (i.e. 24 hours or less) that the Rudd government gives people with these schemes.
i.e. Getting insulation put in two days before the rebate was announced really pissed me off and now this.
I had all the paperwork ready to go … but there's no way it's getting to St Kilda by tomorrow even via express post.
Thanks again for wasting my time Kev!
email your scanned copies and send the hard copy via express post.
That's what I did 1 he ago
Yeah but I'm in Perth
Express post needs to be sent within certain postcodes to other certain postcodes to guarantee next day delivery
Even if I emailed them a copy I wouldnt be able to get the printed copy to them by their tomorrow deadline
@hellrazorone: I see. Even I "made" it today, still Canberra won't receive my application today…
I might missed as well. Damn, I should sign up clear energy as a back up plan.
Anyway, it was too late.
Keep in mind they use Cadmium Telluride films, not the conventional silicon panels. Two issues: you will need a 3.7x3.7 area (13.7sqm) rather than the conventional 3x2.5m (7.6sqm) area on your roof. This may cause issues cosmetically or limit your expansion options later.
Also see this:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/55392-cadmium-telluride-cast…
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) produces CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) based solar panels as their sole product. In a previous Seeking Alpha article I wrote that although Cadmium is extremely toxic, the mildly toxic tellurium is lethal to FSLR, due to a potential global tellurium shortage. It comes out that cadmium is indeed not just extremely toxic to human, but more fatal to FSLR as well, once I discover and understand what is RoHS and what it means to FSLR.
This is also the reason why they can offer $0 (compared to $500-$1000 offered elsewhere) packages, as Cadmium Telluride panels are close to 50% cheaper than their silicon counterparts.
Anyone know how heavy each panel is?
Well Im ——ed off as I heard many advertisements to say we had until the end of the month How can Rudd change his mind mid stream? No one else would get away with that..Thats a broken promised and yes Im angry that I missed out as I phoned yesterday to sign up but I got a recorded message to say They were busy and would ph back
Be mindful of the Terms & Conditions "However, you will be responsible for any additional expenses for the installation of the System if …". if possible get an on site quote. Using a different company a friend found out that the installation was going to cost >$2500.