Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels capture the sun’s UV light, converting the energy into a DC electrical current. The energy is being created from light, not heat. We have chosen our panels carefully to ensure they still work on cloudy days. An inverter is installed on the side of the house to convert the D.C. to A.C. allowing you to use the electricity for your pool, fridge, TV or any other electrical appliance. Solar panels only produce energy during daylight hours and do not store energy so you will benefit most from a solar system if you are able to use power during the day.
Surplus solar electricity from your solar panel is fed back into the grid. In NSW Electricity retailers pay between 6c and 10c for every kWh you send back. It is possible to store your energy in batteries, however, at this stage they are very expensive, incredibly large and not very efficient. The new generation of cost efficient batteries will be available late 2015, early 2016.
While investing in solar is one of the best things that you can do for your pocket and the environment, some people have unfortunately not had the best “luck” with their investment and have lost a lot of money. They may have taken a risk on a cheap solar bargain and the solar company has gone into liquidation and the panel company has closed up shop and re-opened under another name. What can you do to avoid it happening to you?
· Check how long the company has been established for. Make sure they have at least been around for 4+ years
· Check the installers are accredited by the Clean Energy Council
· Are the panels and the inverter they are selling you still in production? If not your warranty cannot be fulfilled. Watch out for “end of line” products often sold in “special sales”
· Getting a bargain is great but we don’t recommend you choose a 25 year investment on price
· Watch out for aggressive sales techniques. Take your time to review and make your mind up
· Only invest in brands that have offices in Australia. If your solar company goes under, you want to be able to phone someone in Australia to get your warranty honoured.
· Stick to tier 1 panels from companies that have been producing panels for more than 5 years
· Have the company taken the time to get to know you, and your power usage? Have they taken the time to recommend you the size of system that fits your needs?
This all depends on various factors; these include roof size, your electricity bill, your future plans and your budget. In NSW there are regulations as to the size of the system depending on the number of service meters. If you are a single phase property you are capped at under 5kW system. With 260W panels this is a 4.94kW system which will produce on average 21kwh per day. If you have 3 phases you can go up to a 12kW system and produce 52kwh per day. Our consultants will analyse your bill and discuss your day to day running of your home to help you ascertain the right size for your needs.
Solar Energy not only saves you money but saves the planet through lowering your greenhouse gas emissions. This entitles you to Small-Scale Technology Certificates or STCs. These are credits issued by the government for the amount of energy you generate from today until the year 2030. The number of credits you are entitled to is related to the size of your system. Every year the number of credits available reduces. As the STCs are a traded commodity their value will also fluctuate. The more people that are buying solar the lower the value.
This means that the price of STCs is not fixed but your savings would be roughly between $2000 and $10,000 depending on the size of your residential solar installation. Make the most of the STCs and install your solar system now!
One reason for tilting panels is so that they self-clean in the rain. It is however recommended that you clean your panels once a year. Layers of dirt from birds, trees or pollution will cause a film that will reduce the efficiency of your panels. The panels simply need wiped down with soapy water. If you are able to do this yourself you must turn the system off first. There are many companies, including Solar Energy who you can employ to clean them. If you already have solar and would like your panels cleaned please call 02 9080 1850 for a quote.
