Solar Power FAQs 

 

Solar electric systems are generally 50% bigger than last year
The standard systems this year is 1.5kWs. This is the best value for money under the new “Solar Credits” rebate system. Many people are also going for 2.1kw systems or bigger.

These 1.5kW systems are 50% bigger than the 1kW units widely sold last year under the old $8000 Government rebate. They’re a bit more expensive, but give you more electricity, so they pay themselves off just as fast. The rebate is now lower (and it is paid by polluters rather than the government) but there is good news:

1. The rebate is not means tested. Anyone, rich or poor, home owner, tenant or business, can receive it automatically and it does not involve months of waiting.
2. Prices have fallen: 1.5kW systems are cheaper than they have ever been before.
Cheaper ways of marketing (like this one), a high $Aus and a recession overseas have all helped to cut solar PV prices. For example in December 2007, Going Solar, then one of only a few retail outlets for solar power in Melbourne, was selling 1.08kW solar systems for $13,800. The net price was $5,800 after the $8000 rebate. Now, even with the lower rebate, a customer with $5,800 can buy a 2.16kW system, twice as big.
This situation may not continue forever. The AUS dollar could fall or prices increase overseas, so it is a good idea to order now.
 

 

How long do the panels last?

The warranty is for 25 years, but mono-crystalline panels have been around for about 40 years. They are likely to work for 30  years but will lose some efficiency when they are very old.

There is no moving part in a solar panel: they are made of refined silicon, the same basic material as sand. It lasts forever. The frames are aluminium which does not rust. At the end their life the silicon can be recycled and used again.

 

Will they break in a hailstorm?

The panels are certified to withstand large hailstones. The aluminium frames are anodized for extra long life and certified  to withstand cyclone conditions.

 

Do  the panels need maintenance?

The panels have a sloping, strong glass face, so rainwater generally washes the dust off. In rare occasions a layer of bird droppings has been found to prevent the sunlight getting in. A wipe-down with hot, soapy water  once a year is a good idea. If the panels are inaccessible  it is suggested that you hire a professional window cleaner or Jim’s Handyman. This may be safer than doing it yourself. Other than that there is no maintenance. It’s not like a car: no servicing.

 

How big are they? Will they fit  on my roof?

The crystalline solar modules are compact. Each 1.5kW of system size is approximately 6.5m wide x 1.8m if 8 panels are installed in a line,  or if they are laid one row of 4 above another, 3.2m x 3.6m.  These may be split these up at for an extra charge if there is not room to put them together in a block.

Mono-crystalline panels are the most compact available. That is why we have chosen them, rather than cheaper thin-film panels. In urban areas houses may not have much north-facing roof space so the most compact panels are best suited. They are quite light and will not be too heavy for your roof.

Do I need a north facing roof?

North-facing is best, but panels facing more east or west will still have a good output, probably 80% or more of the output of a north facing system.  The optimum tilt angle of the panels is 20-25 degrees, so a standard roof pitch ideal, but if you have a low angle or flat roof an aluminium frame can be used to tilt the panels. This costs a few hundred dollars extra.

 

Shading: A  free assessment of your home will be done to find the best location for the PV system so it can avoid shading.  If there is nowhere else to put the panels the installers can make a stand with a pole planted in a concrete base.

Installation: This usually takes about a day or less , during which time men will be working on the roof, with a ladder. The frames for the solar panels are very firmly connected to your existing roof. If the roof is tiled, some tiles are lifted and brackets attached  to the rafters, then the tiles are replaced.

What happens at night? How much will I be paid for electricity feeding back into the grid?

At night you use normal mains power. The PV systems are “grid-connected”: you are are still wired up to the grid and can draw power from it when your solar panels are not working (when it is dark or too cloudy). Grid-connect systems do not need batteries.

In the middle of the day you are likely to produce more electricity than you need, especially in the sunny part  of the year. This goes back into the grid and you will be paid for it, or the power saving will come off your bill.

The 60 cent State  Government feed-in tariff

The State Government has now passed legislation requiring solar PV owners to be paid 60 cents a kilowatt hour, for electricity produced, apart from what they use themselves. Some power companies such as Origin Energy will actually pay cash for excess electricity, others will credit it against your bill, to be used at another time. You can change electricity retails to get a good deal.

In order to receive the State Government’s 60 cent “solar feed-in tariff”,  a special bi-directional meter must be installed and you must sign a form from the electricity retail company, agreeing  to sell them the  power – if not,  you may still get only 16 or 17 cents per kilowatt hour.

 

 

Does the system ever turn itself off? Will it still work in a blackout?

The system will instantly turn itself off if there is a blackout. This is required  by law: in a blackout  the line workers expect the lines to be 'dead' so they can safely repair faults.  If solar systems kept on producing electricity, it could electrocute them. When the systems shut down it also protects any electricians working in your home. A small emergency system (a solar panel, battery and inverter) for keeping food cool, and especially for sleep apnoea (CPAP) machines, is available.

In rare occasions an inverter may shut down if it overheats, for example on a day of 47 degrees Celsius one or two inverters out of a group of houses may shut off.  This does not mean the inverter has broken down: it will need switching on again later.

How much power will the system produce?

Every location is slightly different but a north-facing 1-5kW solar system will produce about 6 kilowatt hours (kWh) a day, averaged over the year.

 

Will a 1.5kW system power my home?

This depends on how much electricity you use. If you have an energy-efficient house with compact fluorescent lighting, efficient appliances, solar or just gas-powered  hot water and other gas appliances, and you avoid air-conditioning, you may be able to live on 6kWh a day. Some people use even less. And your greenhouse gas emissions will be low.  Most Australians use very much more. It depends on how many people and what appliances are in the house. If you have done what you can to save energy but still use more,  larger solar PV systems are available.

 

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