Hi Everyone,
Simple question…I hope…
I'm renovating in Victoria. Should I or should I not invest in a Solar Energy System (Panels/Battery)…and if so what should I go with? Is there are good website someone could recommend that takes you through the comparisons and process?
Thanks all.
Brant
solarquotes.com.au
If you export 100% of your power it pays back in under 10 years. Nobody uses zero during daylight so you will be ahead before then.
A typical household will pay the system off in 3-5 years, after which it will continue to generate power for many years.
So the simple answer, is yes, get a system approximately in line with your consumption (likely a 5kW system is big enough unless you smash out the daytime aircon/electric heating or run a pool pump a lot).
Batteries are more marginal. They approximately break even over 10 years, but since their life is likely to be shorter than PV panels, this likely means they are touch and go.
They make financial sense for retirees on a fixed income seeking to minimise their exposure to future power price rises, for whom spending capital is a better move, especially if it helps them meet assets test hurdles or super drawdown minimums etc.
But battery prices are dropping fast. I have panels now and will get a battery in the next few years. There is no problem adding one later.
I went with Solargain (in WA, but they operate in Victoria too), www.solargain.com.au ,have been getting better production from the system (+1yr) than indicated by their sales team & ended up with $200 in credit with my electrical provider over the period (3.3 kW system, 4bd house).
They supplied: Jinko panels + Fronius inverter. You definitely want to stick with a European brand for the inverter (Fronius, SMA, ABB) most come with a 5yr warranty but at times you can get up to 10 years.
I used to work in the industry and whilst admittedly it was some years ago the failure rate on Chinese made inverters was 5~20x higher than our Euro spec equipment (the company I worked for was not Solargain & I would not recommend/name them based on their continued use of substandard equipment - they do also operate in Victoria). Chinese panels I am more comfortable with provided the payback of the system is within 5~6 years as the panels should last at least 10 or be covered anyway.
Batteries will be a good investment in around 5 years but definitely deliver worse ROI than a panel only system when you consider the money saved on the battery can be used to add additional panels.
If you have the flexibility on your roof try to position the panels to catch sunlight when you are most likely to be using power: north eastern roof in the morning, north western for afternoon, or perfect if you can split panels NE, NW, & N. (North will give the best production but if you are not present through the middle of the day but are in the morning or afternoon the NE/NW aspect will deliver greater ROI.
I agree with the others, batteries can be added later and the main benefit would only be if you generate excess energy and use most of your energy needs during the evening.
For a solar system, I'd definitely check the amount of surface area your roof has to accommodate the panels and also consider panels with micro-inverters for better long term efficiency.
Micro inverters will make a bigger difference if your roof is subject to partial shading. I looked at micro inverters, but given our house has no shading felt that the extra wasn't worth it. We have two arrays on different sides of the house and two inputs into the inverter
Oh that make senses from that perspective, I added that suggestion more considering on the panel efficiency depreciation over time and yes, it'll definitely cost more.
battery still too exp. i think, hence not worth it on ROI POV
if you have family at home during day time then it's worth it to go solar