Solar Options for New Install

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  Drakesy on 21/08/2022 - 15:53

  +5

  Jaysus thats expenno

  FWIW batteries are not financially viable at this point if you're connected to the grid. Something like 15+ year payback period on them - by which time they'll be close to end of life.
  I'd avoid the battery and just go with the PV and inverter.

  • 

    askbargain on 21/08/2022 - 16:45

    +2

    FWIW batteries are not financially viable at this point if you're connected to the grid

    https://twitter.com/MarkSPurcell/status/1545018688755027968

    It might be.

  • 

    thatonethere on 21/08/2022 - 17:43

    The neighbours house down the road caught fire from their LG battery too. Smoke damage screwed up all their soft furnishings etc.

    Fire brigade had a command centre with generator running 24x7 (diesal) and kitchen for 2 days. Massive shipping containers brought in to dump the smouldering batteries into.

  • 

    supersabroso on 22/08/2022 - 17:24

    +1

    Lol agreed, when I saw this post I was ready to talk about the best value deal on the market and how you could get a fully installed system for $5500 due to the recent amazing deal with Woolies + Origin. However, this is a business start up for a solar farm lol.

• 

  MaKa on 21/08/2022 - 15:58

  +1

  They are big systems with big price tags.

  Have you defined the use case for why you are having solar installed?

  1. Standalone system, disconnect from power provider?
  2. $0 bill, but remain connect to power provider in event that batteries are drained and it is a cloudy day
  3. Bill minimisation?

  Make sure you really think about what you want from Solar before you go with an oversized system. An installer will quote you for the best profit.

  Also consider if you will be running heating or AC at night. This will consume a lot of energy. Can you use alternatives?

  The pay back period for your systems is almost 10 years (assuming all energy usage is offset by solar). My guess is after 10 years you will be looking at replacing your battery meaning that your system will not be cost neutral.

  I have a 14kw of solar and 10kw of inverter capacity with 10kWh of storage. I am 95% self sufficient. Does your system need to be as big as it has been sized. It feels a little big, your load most likely currently includes heating, which is only part of the year. Do you use AC in summer?

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  Reader4 Long Time on 21/08/2022 - 16:09

  This is the systems they quoted on my monthly usage.
  I did say I would not like to have any power bills. As they just keep going up & up.
  Yes, we do run the heaters during the day - 19 and over night - 17 in winter and AC during the day and night - 25 in summer.

  • 

    MS Paint on 21/08/2022 - 16:17

    17 at night over a Gippsland winter - WTF - the thermostat is probably not even turning off. This is where you can save a fortune especially considering you are all basically adults. Get good quality winter bedding instead. Are you coastal or inland?

    • 

      Reader4 Long Time on 21/08/2022 - 17:03

      Inland up the mountains near snow line of Mt. Baw Baw. It does turn off as house is insulated and double glazed. Our elderly parents don't cope well in cold or heat.

      • 

        MS Paint on 21/08/2022 - 17:04

        +1

        Our elderly parents don't cope well in cold

        So they live near a snow line? That makes sense. Cheers.

        • 

          Reader4 Long Time on 21/08/2022 - 17:23

          +1

          @MS Paint: We moved there for the peace and quiet and we don't want them in a retirement village. Not after Covid in Vic and what happened in the retirement villages. So they moved in with us.

          • 

            MS Paint on 21/08/2022 - 17:26

            +1

            @Reader4 Long Time: Retirement villages or nursing homes?

            • 

              Reader4 Long Time on 21/08/2022 - 22:20

              @MS Paint: Both are no good in Vic

• 

  rooster7777 on 21/08/2022 - 16:48

  Agree with others that your energy consumption is horrendously high. I am speaking as single occupant using a max of about 4KWh/ day with a 6KWh panel array and 4KWh of lithium battery storage running selected appliances independent of the grid - total cost about $10K, with nett electricity cost of about -$800 p/a (they pay me p/a for power fed to the grid) You really should be doing an energy audit to find out where that power is going.

  Back to your question…
  I haven't got time to look up inverter specs, but be aware that most grid connected systems will shut down if the grid shuts down, to protect linesmen from being electrocuted. I don't know if the ones you specify will have special features to enable blacked out running.

  If your prime goal is to reduce cost, a grid connected solar setup without batteries will achieve this best.
  If your prime goal is to supply power during occasional blackouts then a dirty generator and an approved grid isolation system will achieve this at lowest cost.

  Whichever way, if you already have grid power connected, the cost/benefit of disconnecting the grid are negative. With consumption patterns like yours, the only reason to be completely off grid is if it will cost a prohibitive amount to run power lines from the existing grid to your house- but you are already connected.

  If you want to significantly reduce cost AND have backup power, then panels and a modest battery backup for emergencies (with the ability to automatically isolate from the grid in blackouts) will allow your household to limp along on reduced power until power is restored.

  Whichever way you end up going.. I reckon if you pay a solar energy expert (NOT supplying you with a solar setup) to analyse your consumption, possibly reduce your needs, and advise on what system would best suit your wishes…. you will come out a long way in front compared to seeking ozbargain advice on such a complex issue!
  Good Luck!

  • 

    Reader4 Long Time on 21/08/2022 - 17:19

    Only been in house just over a month and only had the 1 bill. Have looked at panels with a generator.
    A energy audit sound like a plan, did not know there was such a thing.
    We are grid connected and would like to reduce our bill by a lot. All quotes are still grid connected, but they have all said I will not know if there is a blackout if I get there systems.

• 

  Lord Fart Bucket on 21/08/2022 - 17:57

  My 2 cents:
  - Get a smaller solar system, probably micro inverter as you can add to it later. Maybe something like 10kW
  - If you don't have one yet: get a smart meter. Contact your electricity provider.
  - Look at your energy usage after small solar install. In essence, what you want is to use your own energy. Feed in tariffs are shit now. So, use your appliances (dishwasher, washing machine, dryer) when the sun is shining.
  - After 3 months, see when you're using most electricity (probably in the evening). Look at how much you're using and get a battery for that usage. Might need to increase your solar amount a little to fill your battery.

  • 

    Reader4 Long Time on 21/08/2022 - 22:18

    That sound like the way to go. Thx

• 

  Ocker on 21/08/2022 - 18:42

  +1

  Forget the batteries as (a) not financially viable and (b) make sure they can be used in a power black out situation

  • 

    Reader4 Long Time on 21/08/2022 - 22:19

    I'm hearing that about batteries.

• 

  apple2016 on 21/08/2022 - 21:30

  If you are grid connected, then you just need a battery to cover the peak periods. If you do not have any export restrictions, go for the max number of pannels. This way you will not be investing much in batteries but still would be able to get near zero bills. Batteries are still quite expensive, and not much incentives. the prices will come down in future. You will be able to add more batteries then.

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  Reader4 Long Time on 21/08/2022 - 22:20

  I'll check my export amount, thx