Hybrid Solar Panel Installations

• 

  nocure on 20/02/2016 - 12:42

  +1

  The "gummint" have destroyed the solar industry..I wouldn't bother.

  I have a 1kw system, installed in 2010 and managed to lock in .50c feed in until 2028 but after that the panels will become landfill.

  • 

    mskeggs on 20/02/2016 - 14:48

    This seems a bit silly. Your 1kW system is earning $2.50 per day on the FIT, which seems very generous, and after it expires will still generate around 5kW hours per day, worth around $1.25 per day.
    Why would you dispose of them?

• 

  Euphemistic on 20/02/2016 - 12:48

  +2

  My brother in the industry says don't go for batteries. At least, not unless you want them for philosophical reasons, not economic. The cost benefit isn't quite there yet for batteries. I was recommended a 4kw system for our bills, but that was partially because I wanted to split the panels across the northern and western roof sections to allow good generation in the mornings and afternoons.

  Our last bill was around the same as yours so 3.5kw might do you depending on your roof space and direction. Our roof could easily accommodate an extra kW or so, but wasn't worth it as the additional power would probably just get exported to the grid at very low rates, unlike the good old days of the 60c feed in tariff.

  No point recommending installer without knowing where you are. There are plenty of companies big on advertising, but installing inferior products and doing rough install to take advantage of the current market (that got smashed by the government tariff and rebate roll back)

  • 

    mskeggs on 20/02/2016 - 14:52

    This is correct, and you can easily do the numbers yourself or look for a calculator. Based on a 10yr battery life the kWh cost works out around 40c - 50c, quite a bit more than any grid charge currently.
    The signs are that battery costs will halve in the next 4 years or so, driving the kWh charge down below grid.
    So economically, it pays to wait, unless you wish to get them for environmental reasons.

  • 

    EdAus on 21/02/2016 - 11:05

    Agreed. I just have an offer from AGL. Batteries warranty for 10 years or 5000 cycles, whichever is first. As I recall my calculations were:
    5000 deep cycles if deep cycled once per night = 13.6 years. If the batteries do indeed make it to 13.6 years, I would then have to replace them at a current cost $9990. I would have to put aside approx $740pa over 13 years to buy a new battery. . Of course battery price prob will drop by then. I didn't even bother calculating usage/savings calculations. Ontop off that as I recall AGL recommended installing just enough PVs to charge the battery, which I thought strange since I would have a day time use of generated power. I'll wait until lower price.

• 

  nrg2010 on 20/02/2016 - 16:12

  +1

  For most there isn't any environmental benefit in installing 100 kg of batteries, the embodied energy is far more than a grid connection over that time. According to a recent review at Standford Uni only large scale molten salt batteries (can't remember the other) would pay back the embodied energy within their life spans. At this stage Tesla is glorious eco-bling, little different in function then the stand alone PV battery systems that can be found throughout Australia.

  Saying that, the post FIT market is developing and their are a number of opportunities for PV owners including;

  -Solar load controllers/diverters
  -Local Energy Trading
  - Community Energy Companies (see Enova)

  And don't forget if you want to maximise savings, then you should investigate energy efficiency, smart house design and energy conservation. Start here http://www.yourhome.gov.au/

  Oh yeh for those thinking that PV is landfill…… I'd be happy to come take your inverter and the solar off your roof

• 

  Unbranded on 20/02/2016 - 19:06

  +1

  I've got a 5.1 kW system (with micro-inverters) but on the best sunny days the maximum it generates is 4.51kw. Solar panels and the inefficiencies of inverters/wiring you will never generate 100% of the theoretical output, so you need to factor in losing 10-20% of the stated output. That's on a clear sunny day in spring/summer/autumn between 10am and 2pm. In winter with the position of the sun, I probably generate half as much electricity and the daylight hours are much shorter. On a cloudy day I might only generate 1kw per hour and if it is raining, you will generate virtually nothing.

  The important factor to make the most electricity savings is to run your major appliances during the daylight hours, particularly between 10am - 2pm when your electricity output is highest. Washing machines, dishwashers, and irons use from upwards of 2.2kWh, so you would not generate enough from a 3.5kW solar system to comfortably run these appliances without paying for excess electricity from the grid (remembering that your fridge, telephone, clock radios and various charging devices are also continuously drawing electricity). If you have air-conditioning, that probably runs at 6+kWh, a small solar system will not cover your running costs. Switching to LEDs will make a huge reduction on your night time electricity usage.

  I'd go with the biggest solar system that you can afford and fit on your roof to cover your winter electricity needs. Get a system that offers you a monitoring device like the Enlighten Enphase panel so that you know exactly what your system is generating (and sends the data to an app for analysis). I agree that you are better off waiting a few years on the batteries as the costs outweigh any benefits, particularly on such a small sized system you are thinking of.

  I've had my 5.1kw system for 12 months now and have saved 80% on my prior year's usage, with a 8c feed in tariff and switching to LEDs, saved about $1800 for the past 12 months. Unfortunately you still have to pay the daily fee for connection to the grid! If you are in Vic or WA, I highly recommend Solar Gain as a professional, experienced installation company.

• 

  Aust on 21/02/2016 - 10:33

  We had our 5.2kw system with a fronius inverter installed mid November. I elected to just get solar on the roof and think about battery storage later.
  I see your in Qld so anything over 3kw will have a reactive power control set by Energex which will nerf your system by 10%
  So a 5.2kw system will only generate 4.5 kW at its peak.
  our first full bill just came in at $770 which included a $300 charge by origin to change the meter over in the meter box.
  Previously our bill was around $770 so At present that's a saving of $300 a quarter excluding the one off meter charge.
  We use an average of 30 kW per day with 10 being used by a spa.
  If your in seq, We used keen2bgreen but also would recommend positronic.
  I'd recommend the solar forums on whirlpool.
  And fwiw I know this is ozbargain but please don't buy a solar system off a random on gumtree.

• 

  barginhunter11 on 21/02/2016 - 22:58

  +1

  Just get a 5kw system.

  If you use it right you will win

  Batteries too expensive and not worth the hastle

• 

  EddyHendra on 08/03/2016 - 01:59

  As per my experience for most there isn't any environmental benefit in installing 100 kg of batteries.
  The embodied energy is far more than a grid connection over that time.
  Large scale molten salt batteries would pay back the embodied energy within their life spans.