From the category archives:

FAQ’s

Get a discount by buying in bulk – set up a Solar Community

January 27, 2010
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Setting up a solar community is a great way to do a big thing for the environment. If you’re a local council, it’s a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your municipality and provide a helpful service and discount to your residents who would like to go solar. Here is a description of what they are, [...]

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Solar trackers

January 21, 2010
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A good way to maximise the output of your solar PV system is to have it mounted on a solar tracker. Solar trackers can boost the electrical output of your PV system significantly, allowing you to earn more income from the feed-in tariff. However, as discussed in this article, the economics of solar trackers are [...]

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How much energy will my solar cells produce?

Thumbnail image for How much energy will my solar cells produce? January 19, 2010

The electrical energy output of solar cells is obviously one of the crucial things that you need to know when looking to install a solar system. Some solar energy companies are giving a wide variety of unreferenced numbers, so we have done our research and provide you with fully referenced and reliable information for you to consider. Blog this! Digg this post [...]

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Physics 101 – what is the difference between power and energy?

January 19, 2010
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For the non-scientifically inclined, all this talk about power and energy can get confusing. It gets worse when people start saying kilowatt and kilowatt hour, and then using the letters k, W and h everywhere. What does it all mean?  Blog this! Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share with Stumblers Tweet about it [...]

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Putting solar cells on your holiday home – a nice little earner

Thumbnail image for Putting solar cells on your holiday home – a nice little earner January 15, 2010

For those of you luck enough to own a holiday home you no doubt already know that renting it out to friends and the public is a great way to earn some extra money. Now there’s another way to earn some extra money from your lovely little holiday shack – putting solar cells on it. Blog this! Digg this [...]

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The Green Loans program

January 12, 2010

(N.B. the Australian government’s Green Loan program came to a close on 21 December 2010. Some information below is out of date.) A solar PV system is a great way to green your home, reduce your energy bills and shrink your carbon footprint. The various solar feed in tariffs offered, which pay you a special premium for the [...]

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Solar Panel Tilt and Orientation in Australia

Thumbnail image for Solar Panel Tilt and Orientation in Australia January 7, 2010

Solar panels are installed differently based on their geographic locations throughout the world. The premise behind this is simple; the sun is in a different place in the sky, so panels need to be directed according to this positioning. Blog this! Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share with Stumblers Tweet about [...]

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What happens if my solar energy installation is slightly over the Feed in Tariff limit?

Thumbnail image for What happens if my solar energy installation is slightly over the Feed in Tariff limit? January 6, 2010

So you’ve made the decision to install solar panels on you roof and would like to take full advantage of the Feed in Tariff’s available. How big can you make your system, and what are the limits for the Feed in Tariff? Blog this! Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share with [...]

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Your Gross or Net Solar Electricity Meter

December 17, 2009

This article will identify the type of electricity meter you’ll require for your solar energy system. This will depend on your State’s respective Feed In Tariff Scheme and once the proper meter is installed you’ll be able to properly feed into the grid. For your solar energy system you will either have a Net or [...]

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Solar Energy Myth Buster #1: Solar cells take more energy to manufacture then they will ever generate

Thumbnail image for Solar Energy Myth Buster #1: Solar cells take more energy to manufacture then they will ever generate December 16, 2009

One of the myths that has floated around about Solar Energy is that it takes more energy to produce, transport and install solar panels then the amount the panels will ever be able to generate in their lifetime. Quite simply, this is untrue. Blog this! Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share [...]

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Which electricity retailer is giving the best Solar Feed-in Tariff?

December 11, 2009
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(Interested in what’s happening with the feed in tariff in your state? Chat with a Solar Choice broker about the incentives that apply to you and get a free comparison of solar quotes from solar system installers in your area.) Solar energy feed in tariffs–where you are paid for the solar energy you generate and feed back [...]

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List of CEC (formerly BCSE) Approved Solar Energy Components

November 5, 2009

The reality of the situation in Australia is that there is a diverse number of panels, inverters and installers in the solar industry. These three factors are the most important and vital to customers looking at installing a solar energy system on their properties. If even one of these considerations turns out to be unreliable, [...]

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The REC Market: Determining your Solar Credit Discount

October 5, 2009

(Some of the information in this article may be out of date! Please see our Solar Credits and Rebates page for updated information on Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs, also known as Small-scale Technology Certificates or STCs).) (Request a free solar quote comparison from solar system installers in your area.) The new Solar Credit Scheme, which operates Australia wide, [...]

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RECs / STCs – What are they and how are they calculated?

July 29, 2009

(Although still an accurate description of the REC scheme in general, some of the details in this article may be out of date! Please click here for regularly updated information on Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)/STCs and the Federal Solar Credits scheme.) (Chat with a Solar Choice broker about the incentives that apply to you and get [...]

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Round up of solar hot water rebates, federal and state

July 16, 2009

Round up of Solar Hot Water Rebates, federal and state by state There are a variety of financial incentives being offered at state and federal levels for solar hot water systems. These rebates are designed to make the installation of a solar hot water system more affordable to the average property, and vary in effectiveness. [...]

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What size solar power installation should you buy?

February 22, 2009

A Solar Choice broker will help you, at no charge, decide what size solar energy installation best suits your needs and budget. In the meantime, we hope the following factors will assist you in making the right decision. (Get a free comparison of solar quotes from the installers who operate in your area, anywhere in Australia!) Blog this! [...]

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Which solar panel type best suits your needs – monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous thin film?

January 29, 2009

While there are numerous brands on the market, there are essentially just three types of technologies involved in making a solar panel – monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin film amorphous. The following descriptions set out the relative advantages or disadvantages of each of these three types. Blog this! Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on [...]

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Solar installations – a short 101

January 22, 2009

There are two main types of solar installations. The first and most common system connects your solar energy system with the main electricity grid. This Grid Connect system allows you to feed energy back into the grid through your meter, and be financially rewarded for it by your energy company. See our Feed-In Rewards page. [...]

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