ALZ Electrical Solar Consumer Guide ALZ Electrical Unit 6/3 Southern Cross Circuit, Urangan QLD 4655 T: (07) 4124 9552 E: admin@alzelectrical.net W: www.alzelectrical.net
Why go solar? Solar power systems save home and businesses millions of dollars on their electricity bills every year. Having your own solar power system gives you the opportunity to produce your own electricity, effectively lowering your retail consumption charges. The power produced by your solar power system is clean - an environmentally friendly way to produce electricity. Assuming you choose a quality solar system they are very reliable and require little maintenance over their lifetime, you can expect a quality system to last several decades. The average vehicle in Australia travels 15,000km per year, which is equivalent to 4.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. A 3.5kw grid connected system will offset approximately 4.5 tonnes of coal-fired electricity emissions a year so it s the equivalent to taking a car off the road!
Types of solar power systems The two main types of solar power systems are grid connected and off the grid (standalone). Their output capacity is measured in kilowatts (kw). Grid connect systems are the most common type. They are still connected to your energy retailers network, which means you will always have power regardless of weather. Did you know? Developments in solar battery technology will allow more Australians to disconnect from the grid. Battery storage is becoming more affordable, with the Tesla Powerwall being a popular battery option. To make the most of your grid connect system, we recommend changing your usage schedules. For example, using your appliances (i.e. air conditioning, dish washers and clothes dryers) during the day. Off the grid solar systems are entirely separated from the network. These systems tend to be more expensive as they use battery banks to store the electricity generated. Off grid installations are popular in outback regions where connecting to the grid is prohibitively expensive.
How does it work? Sun shines on the panels creating DC electricity. DC electricity is fed into the inverter that converts it to AC electricity, ready for use in the home. Any excess power is directed back into the grid, earning you credits from your energy retailer. Most people in residential areas invest in grid connected solar systems. Electricity from the solar panels is converted into usable electricity via a separate component called an inverter. Whenever the system produces more power than is being used, the system feeds excess energy back into the mains Depending on your electricity retailer, you can be paid for every kilowatt hour of surplus electricity your solar system feeds back into the grid. When your system isn t producing electricity- for example, at night your electricity is supplied from the mains power grid.
Solar panel installation factors As an accredited solar installer, we will make sure that your panels are positioned on your roof for maximum efficiency, safety and correctly wired to the inverter. In terms of panel installation, you need to consider potential levels of shading, the tilt and mounting system used. Orientation As Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, most houses will benefit from a north-facing installation. However northwest or westnorthwest can also be beneficial to those who use more power late in the day. Tilting Depending on your location, a tilt of 20 to 32 degrees allows for optimal performance. While the angle of your solar panels are a factor, it s generally not as important as the orientation. Shading PV Panels should ideally be in full sun from 9am till 3pm. They should be kept clean and free from dust and dirt. Shading from things such as roof antennas, trees and ventilators will have a significant impact on the amount of electricity produced. This is because it changes the flow of the electricity. Mounting The mounting system will be engineer certified for the area you live in. For example, in areas like Hervey Bay, cyclone rated mounting brackets are essential.
What size system will you need? The size of the system you should install depends on: The amount of unshaded roof space available The amount of electricity you want to generate Your budget Any size grid connected solar system will reduce your mains grid energy consumption, assuming your usage patterns don t change. The larger the system, the larger the benefit. The output of a solar system depends on its rated capacity, how and where it is installed. The most common size system chosen by homeowners is 4kw, however, some people choose to install systems of up to 10kw. The Australian Bureau of Statistics states that the average household uses 18 kilowatt hours (or kwh) of electricity per day. A 4kW system would cover 50-60% of the average daily energy usage. A 5 or 6kw system could generate 100% of the energy consumption for a medium to average sized family.
Solar Rebates There are currently two major forms of financial assistance offered for solar system installation. These are known as Small-scale Technology Certificates (STC s) and feed-in tariff incentives. STC S One STC represents one megawatt hour of electricity generated by your solar PV system. The value of STC s can vary, depending on location and market fluctuations. Here at ALZ Electrical, we help you extract the value from your STC s by offering a point of sale discount when you purchase your system. Australia doesn t have a national program for feed in tariffs, only State run programs. All state schemes currently offer net feed in tariffs. Feed In Tariffs A feed in tariff is paid to you by your energy retailer for every kilowatt hour of energy that you export back into the mains grid. There are two different types of tariffs; gross and net. A gross feed in tariff pays a rate for all electricity exported back into the grid; regardless of how much electricity is consumed by the household. A net feed in tariff only pays a rate for any excess energy that was exported back into the grid and takes into account the electricity consumed by the household.
Solar Financing Zero Deposit Payment Plans You don t have to save for a deposit to go solar. Some companies offer zero deposit arrangements, with payments structured to be less than your bill. Zero Deposit Solar Leasing and PPA S Under a solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), a solar provider installs, owns, monitors and maintains the system, with the customer purchasing the electricity generated at an agreed upon rate per kilowatt-hour. This purchase price is often significantly cheaper than mains supplied power. The grid connection is maintained to ensure a reliable energy source. Systems are usually designed to get the best performance during the day to maximise the customers savings. Solar Lease A solar lease is similar to a PPA. They payments for a solar lease are pre-determined, regardless of how much electricity is consumed. The installer will make sure your system best suits your energy requirements. Green Loans Many financial institutions offer green loans. These loans allow you to purchase items related to renewable energy, such as solar power systems. Another low interest way to purchase solar is to add the cost of your system to a home loan. Often, your mortgage can offer the lowest interest rate. It is important to seek financial advice before doing so.
Choosing A Solar Installer In order to be eligible for government incentives, your system must be installed by a qualified person. The Clean Energy Council s accreditation scheme ensures designers and installers of solar power systems: Have undertaken the necessary training. Follow industry best practice. Stick to Australian standards. Regularly update their product knowledge and skills. An accredited designer/installer will provide you with a solar system design and specification that take into consideration your current electricity usage, type of panels and panel orientations. The final quotation should include: An average daily estimate of the energy output in kilo-watt hours. An estimated annual production figure. The responsibilities of the customer and installer, including any payment requirements. Warranty and guarantee details, including compulsory information required by Australian consumer law. The party responsible for the metre change over. How the STC s will be handled.
Questions for your Solar Installer Solar is a substantial investment and it is important to arm yourself with the right questions and information to make this decision. These are also questions you should ask. Questions for your Installer Ask how much experience the solar installer has had. Are they an accredited installer? Ask for their accreditation number. Does this installer have customer feedback available? Do the products they use meet Australian Standards? Questions for your Electricity Retailer Will I move to Time of Use metering, with peak, shoulder and off-peak times? Recommendations from family, neighbours and friends can play a role in your decisions. They ll be able to tell you about their experience and tell you about any problems they have. What will my on and off peak electricity tariff be? Are there any other costs incurred from being a solar customer? What rate is our feed-in tariff? Questions for your Electricity Provider Which distribution company will be changing my meter? What kind of meter will be installed? How much will it cost? How long will it take to change my meter over?
Frequently Asked Questions Solar power systems are saving Australians millions of dollars a day on their electricity bills. Aside from giving you the opportunity to create your own electricity, a rooftop solar PV (photovoltaic) array helps address the issues relating to the expense and inefficiency of distributing power long distances. Will I still get electricity bills? You may still be charged a fee for meter servicing. Also, if you are using more energy than you re creating, you will be billed accordingly. How can I prevent this? You can prevent charges by using more of your electricity during the day. Your solar system produces the most power between 11am and 3pm. It s recommended to run appliances with high energy demands at this time (for example dishwashers, clothes dryers, air conditioners etc.). We also recommend implementing energy efficient strategies (for example, installing eco-friendly lightbulbs and appliances). How long will my solar system last? Most solar panels come with a 25-year performance guarantee. More sensitive equipment, such as the inverter, may need to be replaced after 10-15 years. There are solar arrays on Australian homes that have been producing power for over 30 years. If my energy needs increase, can I upgrade my solar system? Yes! If your energy requirements increase, additional solar panels can be added at any time. Keep in mind that the amount of energy you produce is limited by your inverter size (for example, a 3kw inverter can only use 3kw of power) so you may need to upgrade your inverter to accommodate this. If you plan to upgrade your solar system, it s recommended to choose a larger inverter. Can I insure my solar system? Most insurers allow you to include your solar system with your home and contents insurance. Please contact your insurer to confirm.