Bunbury WA, just south of Perth, is a great place to install a solar PV system, even after the withdrawal of the state’s Solar Feed-in Tariff last year. With electricity rates rising, solar PV installation prices falling, and significant potential up-front financial subsidies through the Federal Solar Credits rebate scheme, now is a great time to find deals on solar PV systems in Bunbury.

Why is Bunbury a good place for solar power?

Financial benefits of the Bunbury sunshine

Bunbury has an annual average of around 4 hours of sunshine per day. 4 hours of peak sun means that, with a 1.5kW solar PV array, a home will generate 6kWh per day on average throughout the year. A 3kW system will produce around 12kWh per day, and a 5kW system will produce around 20kWh per day.

Household electricity consumption and PV system generation

Household demand varies by the size of family and the appliances used and how frequently, but as a ‘base case’, the average 3-person home uses 20kWh per day, averaged over the course of a year. This means that with a 5kW solar system, the home’s energy consumption is just about covered by the system’s output. Since Bunbury residents are not currently eligible for any significant Solar Feed-in Tariff or Solar Buyback Scheme (currently, Synergy customers are offered only 7c/kWh for electricity exported to the grid), the best strategy for residents of Bunbury and its surrounds is to consume as much of the power that the system generates as possible. Solar households try as much as possible to make sure that timing of electricity consumption coincides with solar PV system production.

Up-front Federal Government Solar Rebates for Bunbury

The amount of the Solar Rebate depends on a number of factors. Under the Federal Government’s Solar Credit Scheme, households are awarded a greater or smaller number of Renwable Energy Certificates (RECs, also known as Small-scale Technology Certificates), depending on their location, the size of the system that they install, and the REC price agreed on between the customer and solar installer. (REC prices fluctuate–although customers do have the option to hold on to the RECs generated upon completion of their installation and wait for the price to rise, most usually opt to have their solar power system installer take on the liability in order to receive upfront discount on the system installation.)

A 5kW solar PV system in Bunbury, located in REC Zone 3, means a base number of 103 RECs/STCs, but when the Solar Credit REC Multiplier is taken into account (currently 3x until 1 July 2012), the system would pick up an additional 62 bonus credits, bringing the grand total to 196. With an assumed REC price of $30, this means an up-front discount of $5,880. With solar PV system prices at unprecedented lows across Australia and the world thanks to increased competition and a glut of stock, solar systems are becoming an increasingly attractive investment.

Savings on electricity bills via solar PV systems in Bunbury

Depending on the electricity usage of the household, a solar generator could save Bunbury residents a significant amount of money on their power bills. It is important to keep in mind, however, that electricity consumption time management is the key to getting the most financial benefit of solar power. Since the Feed-in Tariff is only 7c/kWh, Bunbury residents get will want to avoid exporting to the grid as much as possible; solar electricity consumed at home is in effect worth as much as the the rates that they pay for electricity from the grid.

How can I find the best deal on Solar Power in Bunbury?

Solar Choice, as Australia’s free Solar Energy Brokering and advice service, connects solar PV customers with installers who service their area. We provide comprehensive quote comparisons of solar power installations throughout the country–including in Bunbury. With a bird’s eye view of the solar power market, Solar Choice is uniquely poised to identify the best deals on offer and facilitate our customers to find the solar system that best suits their needs and budget. Request a Solar Quote Comparison today by filling out the form to the right of this page, or call us on 1300 78 72 73.

Download a Solar Power System ROI Calculator for Bunbury, WA

How to use the calculator*:

1. Go to the Solar Choice Bunbury Solar PV ROI calculator in Google Docs (must be signed in to a Google account),

2. Go to ‘File’ menu, ‘Make a copy’,

3. Request a Solar Quote Comparison of the solar system installers in Bunbury to obtain system prices,

4. Visit SwitchWise or a similar site to find the best deal on solar electricity,

5. Find out which electricity retailer is offering the best solar Feed-in Tariff rate in WA,

6. Alter the variables in the light blue boxes (system size, system price, etc) in column B to calculate system Return on Investment (ROI).

(You may also open the file in Google Docs if you have a Google account.)

*Calculator outputs are indicative only–please keep in mind that electricity rates, as well as WA’s Feed-in Tariff rate, may change over time.

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd 

(Top image via Wikipedia)

Queensland’s proposed Solar Dawn concentrating solar power plant has vowed to carry on despite the newly elected Liberal-National government’s vows to withdraw funding from the project. Under the previous Labour regime, the Queensland government had promised to put forth $75m in funding for the project in order to enable it to meet funding requirements to procure funding through the Federal Government’s Solar Flagships program.

The Queensland LNP government will withdraw funding from Solar Dawn project as part of an election campaign promise to eliminate State government climate change initiatives that were deemed ‘redundant’ in the light of the introduction of a Federal tax on carbon. The one renewable energy initiative that will go untouched is Queensland’s Solar Feed-in Tariff, which is seen as cost-effective and important for the future of the state’s solar power industry.

The Solar Dawn Consortium has said that it will move forward with plans to construct the 250 megawatt (MW) facility in Chinchilla despite the government pull-out. The Consortium will have to find a way to make up the $75m funding gap, which may undermine its status as an initially successful applicant under the Solar Flagships program. Under Solar Flagships rules, projects must prove that they have managed to secure 2/3 of the funding for the project from non-Federal government sources in order to be eligible for the Federal government contribution.

According to an independent socio-economic study conducted by AECgroup, the Solar Dawn project offers significant potential economic, social, and environmental benefits to the state. Among these are job creation and contributions to the Queensland economy–including $1.5b of direct investment and indirect economic activity, plus $560m in gross value-added activity and $338m in wages and salaries over 3 years.

The estimates in the AECgroup report don’t account for the possibility of development of further solar projects in the region thanks to the creation of facilities for Solar Dawn. ”These are expenditure estimates only, including engineering, procurement, and construction,” Said Solar Dawn Project Director Anthony Wiseman about AECgroup’s estimates of Solar Dawn’s contribution to Queensland’s economic activity. “So they’re not the full project development spend and they don’t account for a possible ‘solar cluster’ developing in the Western Downs region, which would bring even greater advantages.”

The other Solar Flagships ‘winner’, NSW’s proposed Moree Solar Farm, has also run into problems with obtaining funding. At present, the future of the Moree project is up in the air, having been thrown back into the running against the competitors it had initially bested. Whether the reason be bureaucratic hurdles or an unstable government policy environment, the turmoil and constant delays and holdups of both projects have done little to instill confidence in investors that Australia is a safe place for commercial solar power. Similarly, the problems create the image that commercial-scale solar power is something that is difficult and new, when large-scale solar technologies are already in operation in other parts of the world such as Spain and the US.

There have been numerous instances of Australia failing to take advantage of its renewable energy potential and the potential of its own clean energy innovators; many cases of which were pointed out in a recent article by Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) Chief Executive John Grimes in an article in RenewEconomy.

Top image via Solar Dawn.

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Shepparton, Victoria is a great place to install a solar PV system, thanks to the state’s Standard and Transitional Solar Feed-in Tariffs. Rising electricity rates, falling solar PV installation prices, and up-front financial subsidies available through the Federal Solar Credits rebate scheme, now is a great time to go solar for Shepparton residents.

The benefits of owning a solar power PV system in the Shepparton

Harnessing the financial advantages of the Shepparton’s sun

Shepparton receives around 3.7 hours of sun per day, averaged across the year. 3.7 hours of peak sun means that, with a 1.5kW solar PV array, a home will generate 5.55kWh per day on average throughout the year. A 3kW system will produce around 11.1kWh per day, and a 5kW system will generate around 18.5kWh per day.

Electricity consumption vs solar PV system electricity generation in Shepparton

Understanding a home or business’s baseline electricity usage patterns and levels is the first step towards finding the best solar PV power system deals in  Shepparton, or anywhere else in Australia. Household demand varies by the number of occupants and energy usage patterns, but as a ‘base case’, the average 3-person home uses an annual average of about 20kWh per day. This means that with a 5kW solar system, the home’s electricity use is just about covered by the system’s output.

However, for Victoria solar households and businesses on the state’s 25c/kWh Transitional Solar Feed-in Tariff (for systems of 5kW in capacity or smaller), it makes more financial sense to attempt to export as much solar electricity to the grid as possible. On the other hand, for those receiving the state’s ’1-for-1′ Standard Feed-in Tariff (for all types of renewable energy generation, including solar PV systems greater than 5kW in capacity), a general strategy of energy use reduction and efficiency will yield the greatest results.

Up-front Federal Government Solar Rebates for Shepparton

Understanding the government subsidies available through the Federal and Victorian Governments is another important step in identifying and finding the best deals on solar power PV systems in Shepparton. Victorian residents are eligible for both a Federal government ‘rebate’ and Victoria’s Feed-in Tariffs.

The size of ‘Solar Rebate’ available to someone who has a solar PV system installed depends mainly on the amount of sunshine that the postcode in question receives and the size of the solar system installed. Under the Federal Government’s Solar Credit Scheme, households are awarded a greater or smaller number of Renwable Energy Certificates (RECs, also known as Small-scale Technology Certificates or STCs), depending on their location, the size of the system that they install, and the REC price agreed on between the customer and solar installer. It is also important to keep in mind that STC prices fluctuate with supply and demand. Solar installation companies should inform customers what price they give per STC when negotiating a price. (STC prices are also clearly detailed in Solar Choice’s Solar Quote Comparison sheets.)

Shepparton is located in REC Zone 4. A 5kW solar PV system installed in Shepparton would generate a base number of 88 RECs/STCs. When the Solar Credit REC Multiplier (currently 3x until 1 July 2012) is applied, however, the total number of STCs generated is (88 + 54 =) 142. Assuming an STC price of $30, a discount of $4,260 off the up-front price of the system. Solar PV system prices are currently reaching unprecedented lows across Australia and the world thanks to increased competition and a glut of stock, making solar systems are an attractive investment for homes and businesses. Victoria residents also enjoy the additional support of Victoria’s Feed-in Tariffs, which improve system return on investment (ROI) and shorten payback periods.

Electricity bill savings through solar PV power systems in Shepparton

All grid-connected Victoria residents can benefit financially from having a solar PV system installed in two ways:

- Avoiding purchase of electricity from the power grid/electricity retailers by consuming solar power as it is generated (“self-consumption”). For this to work, the premises with the system must be occupied, or the appliances scheduled to run during the daytime hours when the system is producing power. When solar power is self-consumed, its value to the user is effectively equivalent to that of electricity from the grid.

- Electricity bills may also be credited for solar electricity ‘exported’ to the power grid under the Transitional and Standard Feed-in Tariffs. When electricity is exported on the 25c/kWh Transitional Feed-in Tariff, its value is greater than that of electricity bought from the power grid. On the Standard Feed-in Tariff, however, the value of exported solar power is equivalent to that of electricity purchased from the grid.

It is important to bear in mind that, as the cost of electricity rises, the optimal Feed-in Tariff will be the Standard Feed-in Tariff, which guarantees that a solar exporter will be paid the same raid that is paid for electricity. In the meantime, however, the Transitional Feed-in Tariff offers a potentially better return on investment (ROI), provided the home or business that operates the system endeavours to export as much solar power as possible. (Read more: The economics of 1-for-1 Solar Buybacks vs Solar Feed-in Tariffs.)

Finding the best solar PV power system deals in Shepparton

Solar Choice, as Australia’s free Solar Energy Brokering and advice service, matches up potential solar PV customers with installers who service their area. We provide comparisons of Solar Quotes for solar system installers nation-wide, including the Shepparton. Solar Choice is uniquely positioned to identify the best solar PV power system deals on offer and facilitate our customers to find the solar system that best suits their needs and budget. Request a Solar Quote Comparison today by filling out the form to the right of this page, or call us on 1300 78 72 73.

Download a Solar Power System ROI Calculator for Shepparton, Victoria

How to use the calculator*:

1. Download the Solar Choice Shepparton Solar PV ROI (Excel file) calculator

2. Request a Solar Quote Comparison of the solar system installers in Shepparton to obtain system prices,

3. Visit SwitchWise or a similar site to find the best deal on solar electricity,

4. Find out which electricity retailer is offering the best Solar Feed-in Tariff rate in Victoria,

5. Alter the variables in the light blue boxes (system size, system price, etc)  in column B to calculate system Return on Investment (ROI).

(You may also open the file in Google Docs if you have a Google account.)

*Calculator outputs are indicative only–please keep in mind that electricity rates, as well as Victoria’s Feed-in Tariff rate, may change over time.

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd 

(Top image via Wikipedia)

Bundaberg, located in far north Queensland, is a great place to install a solar PV power system. Queensland residents who install an eligible solar PV systems are currently eligible for the most generous Solar Feed-in Tariff in Australia, at 44c for every kilowatt-hour of solar power exported to the electricity grid.

Why is Bundaberg a good place for solar power?

Lots of sunshine means lots of potential for Bundaberg homes and businesses to harness solar power

Bundaberg receives an an average of around 4.2 hours of full sun per day, making it one Australia’s sunnier cities, as well as one of the best places to install solar PV. 4.2 hours of peak sun means that, with a 1.5kW solar PV array, a home will generate 6.3kWh per day on average. A 3kW system will produce around 12.6kWh per day, and a 5kW system (the maximum capacity allowed under the Solar Bonus Scheme) will produce around 21kWh per day. Household demand varies by the size of family and the appliances used and how frequently, but let’s say that an average 3-person home uses 20kWh per day, averaged over the course of a year. This means that with a 5kW solar system, the home’s energy production is just about covered by the system’s output. This is why, when considering whether and how to go solar, one of the first questions a homeowner will ask themselves is ‘Do I want to offset my electricity bill, or cover it completely with my solar power system output?’ This is a decision that ordinarily depends on the amount of capital that of capital that a household has at its disposal for making an investment in solar power. At the moment, solar PV systems offer superb returns on investment, thanks to strong government incentives and record-low cost of components.

More sunshine means more up-front Federal Government Solar Rebates

The amount of the Solar Rebate depends on a number of factors. Under the Federal Government’s Solar Credit Scheme, households are awarded a greater or smaller number of Renwable Energy Certificates (RECs, also known as Small-scale Technology Certificates), depending on their location, the size of the system that they install, and the REC price agreed on between the customer and solar installer. (REC prices fluctuate–although customers do have the option to hold on to the RECs generated upon completion of their installation and wait for the price to rise, most usually opt to have their solar power system installer take on the liability in order to receive upfront discount on the system installation.) A 5kW solar power system installed in Bundaberg, located in REC Zone 3, would result in eligibility for a base number of 103 RECs/STCs, but when the Solar Credit REC Multiplier is taken into account (currently 3x until 1 July 2012), the system would pick up an additional 62 bonus credits, bringing the grand total to 165. With an assumed REC price of $30, this means an up-front discount of $4,950. With solar PV system prices at unprecedented lows across Australia and the world thanks to increased competition and a glut of stock, solar systems are an extremely attractive investment–especially when the Queensland’s Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariffis taken into account.

Returns from Queensland’s Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff Scheme for Bundaberg residents

Depending on the electricity usage of the household, solar-generated power could save a Bundaberg resident a significant amount of money on their power bills. Queensland currently has a 44c/kWh net Solar Feed-in Tariff–although this may not always be the case. This means that for every kWh of electricity that a solar system feeds into the electricity grid, the the owner is paid or credited 44c, which is (at least for now) more than twice the average retail rate for electricity in the state. It is important to bear in mind that time management with regard to electricity use is integral to squeezing the most financial benefit of solar power. Since it is a net feed-in tariff, households are only paid for the excess energy fed into the electricity grid. However, homes also save money every time they use electricity directly from their solar panels (referred to as self-consumption). In fact, as time goes on and electricity prices rise in Queensland, it will start to make more financial sense to opt for self-consumption over export, because self-consumed solar power will in effect be worth more than 44c thanks to the savings it affords. This means that even in the event that Queensland’s Solar Feed-in Tariff rate is reduced, solar is a safe and rewarding investmentfor homes and businesses.

How can I find the best deal on Solar Power in Bundaberg?

Solar Choice, as Australia’s free Solar Energy Brokering and advice service, connects solar PV customers with installers who service their area. We provide comprehensive quote comparisons of solar power installations throughout the country–including in Bundaberg. With a bird’s eye view of the solar power market, Solar Choice is uniquely poised to identify the best deals on offer and facilitate our customers to find the solar system that best suits their needs and budget. Request a Solar Quote Comparison today by filling out the form to the right of this page, or call us on 1300 78 72 73. Queensland State Manager Henry Walcott (based in Brisbane) can also be contacted directly on 0406 979 853, or via email: henry@solarchoice.net.au.

Download a Solar Power System ROI Calculator for Bundaberg, Queensland

How to use the calculator*:

1. Download the Bundaberg Solar Power System Return on Investment Calculator (Excel .xls file)

2. Open in Microsoft Excel or Google Docs, 2. Request a Solar Quote Comparison of the solar system installers in Bundaberg to obtain system prices,

3. Visit SwitchWise or a similar site to find the best deal on solar electricity,

4. Find out which electricity retailer is offering the best solar Feed-in Tariff rate in Queensland,

5. Alter the variables in the light blue boxes (system size, system price, etc) in column B to calculate system Return on Investment (ROI).

*Calculator outputs are indicative only–please keep in mind that electricity rates, as well as Queenslands’s Feed-in Tariff rate, may change over time.

(Top image by Nicolaroch via Wikipedia)

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd 

Wee Waa NSW is a great place to install a solar PV system, even after the conclusion of the state’s Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff scheme. Solar Choice, as Australia’s free Solar Energy Brokering and advice service, is in a unique position to help customers find the best solar PV power system deals in Wee Waa, NSW, as well as across the rest of Australia.

The benefits of owning a solar power PV system in Wee Waa

Taking advantage of Wee Waa’s sun

Finding the best deal on solar PV in Wee Waa, or anywhere in NSW, depends first on understanding what a solar PV system potentially offers a home or business. Solar panels produce electricity only when the sun is shining, and how much electricity is generated depends on the intensity and duration of the sunshine.

Averaged across the year, a rooftop in Wee Waa receives around 3.9 hours of sun per day–although this number will be higher in summer and lower in winter, and accordingly so will the output of a solar power system. With a 1.5kW solar array, 3.9 hours of peak sun will result in approximately 5.85kWh of electricity. A 2kW system in Wee Waa will generate approximately 7.8kWh of electricity, a 3kW system in Wee Waa will produce around 11.7kWh per day, and a 5kW system will generate around 19.5kWh per day.

Home electricity use vs solar PV system electricity generation in Wee Waa

Household and business electricity demand varies by the number of occupants and use patterns through the day. However,  as a ‘base case’, we can assume that the average 3-person home uses an annual average of about 20kWh per day. A 5kW system in Wee Waa, for example, would produce enough power to just about cover a home or business’s electricity consumption (provided all electricity is consumed during the day).

Since Wee Waa residents do not have access to a Solar Feed-in Tariff, it makes the most economic sense for a home or business to 1) install a solar system that will not generate more electricity than the occupants require, and 2) endeavour to use as much solar energy as possible while it is being generated–i.e. during sunshine hours. Although some electricity retailers do credit customers 6-8c/kWh of solar electricity exported to the grid, this is a nominal offering; by consuming solar power as it is generated, building occupants avoid purchasing electricity from the grid–effectively making each kWh of solar power worth as much as each kWh of power bought from the grid.

(Read more about the economics of 1-to-1 Solar Buybacks vs Solar Feed-in Tariffs,  who should consider going solar in NSW, and IPART’s recent determination regarding Solar Feed-in Tariff rates for NSW solar system owners.)

Federal Government Solar Rebates for Wee Waa, NSW

Under the Federal Government’s Solar Credit Scheme, solar systems are awarded a greater or smaller number of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs, also known as Small-scale Technology Certificates or STCs), depending on their location, the size of the system that installed, and the REC price agreed on between the customer and solar installer. It is also important to keep in mind that STC prices are not set in stone–rather, they fluctuate with supply and demand. Installation companies will usually tell customers what price they give per STC when initial pricing details are settled on. (STC prices are also clearly listed in Solar Choice’s Solar Quote Comparison sheets.)

Wee Waa is in REC Zone 2. (REC Zone and applicable certificates can be calculated for free on ORER‘s website.) Systems installed in REC Zone 2 receive a base number of 115 STCs, plus 69 bonus certificates available through the Federal government’s Solar Credit REC Multiplier (3x for systems installed before 1 July 2012). The total numer of STCs is therefore (115 + 69 =) 184. Based on a certificate price of $30, customers would be eligible for a discount of $5,520 off the up-front price of the system. (This is also clearly detailed in Solar Choice quote comparisons.)

Electricity bill savings through solar PV systems in Wee Waa

Grid-connected NSW residents can benefit financially from having a solar PV system installed by reducing their electricity bills. Since the Solar Buyback schemes in NSW are available only through certain electricity retailers, and even then only at a nominal 6-8c/kWh rate, it is only economical to install a solar PV system in NSW if occupants can somehow ensure that electricity can be used while the solar panels are generating power. This means, in essence, that solar is a great option for residences where the occupants are home during the day, or for businesses that operate during daylight hours. This is because power is automatically drawn first from the solar system; only when electricity generated by the solar panels has been exhausted or exceeded is electricity imported and purchased from the grid.

The future of the NSW Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff Scheme

Since the abrupt conclusion of the NSW Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff scheme, there has been no state government-mandated incentive for small-scale solar power. The Solar Bonus Scheme is currently under review, and a report detailing IPART‘s recommendations as to how electricity from solar PV should be valued is due out in April of 2012. The recommended rate is not expected to be much more than the 6-8c/kWh on offer voluntarily by some of the state’s electricity retailers, however, and it is expected that, should a new scheme be introduced, those with solar systems already installed will be eligible for the new rate. However, this new rate is not expected to have a significant impact on return on investment or payback periods for solar PV systems.

Finding the best solar deals in Wee Waa, NSW

Good return on investment and short payback periods on solar PV systems depend first on finding a good deal on a system. A reasonable price for reasonable quality components is what anyone interested in going solar should look for. Brokering the best deal on solar power installations is what Solar Choice does best, with a network of over 70 installers Australia-wide.

Solar Choice’s head office is located in Manly, NSW.  However, as Australia’s free Solar Energy Brokering and advice service, Solar Choice matches up potential solar PV customers with installers who service their area–anywhere in Australia, including Wee Waa, which is serviced by the Solar Choice Dubbo office. Solar Choice is uniquely positioned to identify the best deals on offer and help our customers to find the solar system that best suits their needs and budget. Request a Solar Quote Comparison today by filling out the form to the right of this page, or call us on 1300 78 72 73.

Download a Solar Power System ROI Calculator for Wee Waa, NSW

How to use the calculator:

1. Download the Solar Choice Wee Waa Solar PV ROI calculator (Excel file)

2. Request a Solar Quote Comparison of the solar system installers in Wee Waa to obtain system prices,

3. Visit SwitchWise or a similar site to find the best deal on solar electricity,

4. Find out which electricity retailer is offering the best solar Feed-in Tariff rate in NSW,

5. Alter the variables in the light blue boxes in the calculator (system size, system price, etc) in column B to calculate system Return on Investment (ROI).

(You may also open the file in Google Docs if you have a Google account.)

*Calculator outputs are indicative only–please keep in mind that electricity rates, as well as NSW’s Feed-in Tariff rate, may change over time.

Contact the Solar Choice Dubbo office

Solar Choice Dubbo Services all of Central West and rural NSW.

Contact Solar Choice Central West:

Ashley Myles and Graeme Walton-Smith

T: 02 6882 3419 – M: 0459 978 991 – F: (02) 6882 8281

ashley@solarchoice.net.au

Suite 1 39-41 Macquarie Street

Dubbo, NSW, 2830

PO Box 1417 Dubbo, NSW, 2830

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd 

(Top image via www.weewaa.com)

The Federal Solar Credits “REC Multiplier” will not be prematurely reduced, as had been speculated previously. Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has made a public statement that the government has no plans to drop the REC Multiplier from 3x to 1x. The news gives a degree of certainty and stability to an industry that has weathered numerous, tumultuous, and sudden policy changes since its rise to prominence in Australia in 2009–including the accelerated reduction of the Multiplier from 5x to 3x in 2011.

A REC Multiplier reduction from 3x to 1x would have meant a drop in the up-front subsidy from solar power systems of between $1200 and $1600. Instead, the reduction will now be only about half of this–between $600 and $800 (depending on the REC (renewable energy certificate) price). Although the reduction will have a disproportionately large impact on smaller solar systems (1.5 kilowatts – 3 kilowatts), the subsidy drop is not expected to adversely affect the nation’s solar PV industry in a dramatic way.

John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES), welcomed the news. “This will be an enormous relief to solar companies across the country, who continue to struggle with the solar coaster [the dramatic, unpredictable nature of government subsidies for solar power in Australia]. … Make no mistake, powerful forces, including utilities and other big polluters, have been calling for the solar multiplier to be abolished. We have been concerned about the uncertainty caused by this situation, and we commend the Government on this announcement.”

Solar PV system prices have fallen dramatically over the past few years, and are now more affordable than they have ever been, thanks in great part to greater panel and inverter production volume, increased competition between installers, all of which was facilitated by government subsidies both in and outside Australia. When the REC multiplier was introduced, it was intended to offer graduated support for the small-scale solar industry, and smoothing the way for its commercialisation. The solar industry has since grown dramatically and is thriving even in states such as Western Australia and to a lesser degree New South Wales, which do not currently have state-based Solar Feed-in Tariff schemes. In particular, it was meant to subsidise systems on the smaller end of the scale. Since its introduction, however, there has been a shift in interest amongst customers from 1.5 kilowatt (kW) systems to 3-5kW systems as falling prices have made systems of this size more attractive.

Following the 1 July 2012 event, the next reduction in the REC Multiplier is slated to occur on 1 July 2012. Barring any changes to the Renewable Energy Target scheme itself, the REC Multiplier will fall to 1x in 2013, meaning that there will be be no extra support for smaller systems. Instead, new solar systems will generate RECs equivalent only to their expected output over a nominal 15-year lifetime (although solar systems are generally expected to continue producing power for up to 30+ years).

Some, both within and outside the solar industry, have criticised the REC Multiplier initiative for having actually distorted the REC market, making it too easy for electricity retailers and other big polluters to meet their REC obligations using the ‘ghost’ certificates that have come into existence due to the Multiplier, and thus undermining the purpose of the scheme. RECs, which are a tradable commodity with a price that fluctuates with supply and demand, may see their value depressed with a glut of supply. REC prices have fallen to as low as $14 previously, although they have also seen highs of above $40. The price currently sits at around $25.

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd 

35% of the electricity generated in Scotland came from renewable sources in 2011, according to figures published by the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change. This puts Scotland ahead of its intermediary target of 31% renewable energy by 2011. The country plans on generating the equivalent of 100% of its energy from renewables by 2020.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing welcomed the news: “It’s official: 2011 was a record breaker with enough green electricity being produced in Scotland to comfortably beat our interim target. And Scotland met almost 40%of the UK’s renewables output in 2011, demonstrating just how much the rest of the UK needs our energy.”

Scotland’s achievement serves as a powerful demonstration of how a nation blessed in renewable energy resources can effectively harness its potential, and gives one pause when considering why certain Australian political figures have recently called for the Australian Renewable Energy Target to be scrapped or scaled back. Beyond climate change considerations, economic foresight plays a significant role in the country’s drive to shift to renewables. Scotland is keenly aware of its vulnerability to the rising cost of electricity generation from fossil fuels, which generally need to be imported. Scotland’s case can be seen as a comparison to Australia’s, which is blessed with abundant sunshine, wind, and open space but has not yet begun to seriously harness its renewable natural natural resources.

Scotland’s move to renewable energy is also expected to bring down electricity prices in the long-run. When contrasted to a ‘business as usual’ scenario (i.e. all power met using fossil fuels), electricity prices under the 100% renewables scenario are projected to be nearly 100 pounds less per year in 2020.

In addition to the strong encouragement of renewably generation (mostly hydropower and wind power, but also including a growing segment of ocean wave power), Scotland’s success can be attributed to its growing energy efficiency endeavours. Dr Sam Gardner, senior climate change policy officer at WWF Scotland, pointed out that “while attention has been focused on renewable electricity, we need to step up efforts on energy efficiency. With over 50% of our climate change emissions coming from heating buildings, more also needs to be done to support greater renewable heat technologies.”

Top image via Wikipedia, by Ruhrfisch.

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Western Australia’s Solar Feed-in Tariff scheme may exceed its budget by as much as 7 times original projections. The WA Government has been accused of having mismanaged the scheme: at the end of 2011 it was expected to cost $180m over 4 years. Estimates of the full cost of the 10-year scheme–$435 million–were not revealed until this week.

The situation in WA is not dissimilar to that of NSW, whose originally generous but now defunct Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff scheme has been the subject of much contention and media attention for running significantly over budget. The big question asked in both cases is: who will end up footing the bill?

In the case of WA, the government has proposed to have government-owned electricity grid operator and retailer Synergy absorb $150 million of the expected increase. If smeared across the Synergy grid area (Perth and surrounds), this would lead to a slight rise in the cost of electricity for households and businesses. The rest of the expense would be covered by the state government. WA Opposition leader Mark McGowan has criticised Premier Colin Barnett’s handling of the scheme, saying that the budget blowout would result in higher prices for families.

Electricity prices are rising dramatically across Australia and in WA, and these rises are often blamed on Federal and State government renewable energy incentives–frequently state-based Solar Feed-in Tariffs. However, according to a report by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) published in November of 2011, the vast majority of these increases will be due to the cost of transmission, distribution, and the wholesale price of electricity (“poles and wires”). Federal government renewables schemes such as the Enhanced Renewable Energy Target are only expected to account for about 5% of these increases, and the carbon tax will add approximately 7%. PV Magazine also sites literature refuting claims that renewables are the prime driver for electricity price rises.

In Western Australia, Solar Feed-in Tariff was to contribute nothing (0%) to the rising cost of electricity in the state, according to the AEMC report. This is because the costs were to be taken on directly by the government. However, if Synergy is made to cover $150m of the cost of the scheme, as has been proposed, households could see an increase in their power bills.

Although the scheme has run over budget, it also resulted in massive uptake of solar power in the state–76,000 systems were installed under the scheme, giving the state’s solar installation industry a massive kickstart, according to WA Energy Minister Peter Collier. In this respect, the scheme was “phenomenally successful”, and that the industry has managed to remain relatively healthy even after the state’s Solar Feed-in Tariff closed to new applicants. The current rate of uptake is around 200 installations per day, according to Synergy figures–one of the highest in the country, per capita.

Distributed generation in the form of small-scale solar power systems is believed to have the potential to actually reduce electricity prices; once a system is installed, there is no additional cost to produce solar power. Renewable energy advocacy groups such as Beyond Zero Emissions and 100% Renewable Energy call for a rethink of the way that the electrical grid is organised and a greater focus on demand reduction and energy efficiency, which would reduce the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades.

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

SolGuard is a comprehensive solar PV system performance monitoring and management solution that is compatible with a wide range of components that are already widely available and used in systems throughout the world–brand name inverters, weather sensors, security systems, and more. The SolGuard software platform is a smart investment for both smaller, residential PV system owners, as well as commercial-scale solar power system operators who require a way to maximise the output of solar systems located at one or across multiple sites. SolGuard not only monitors system production; it also provides rapid diagnostics and troubleshooting assistance.

Conventional output monitoring units for solar PV systems

Solar PV system owners and operators wanting to ensure a good return on investment (ROI) should be keenly interested in the ongoing performance of their system. A wide array of monitoring systems and equipment are available on the solar market; sometimes these come standard or as options in system inverters, sometimes as separate units. Generally speaking, these monitoring devices are able to show overall system output, but are not able to explain why a system may not be meeting expectations. Whilst better than having no clue about system performance until the power bill comes (as would be the case with no monitoring system at all), the limitation of knowing that something is wrong without knowing why can potentially be frustrating when trying to troubleshoot issues with your solar PV system.

SolGuard: Policing the whole solar PV system

SolGuard Functionality Overview. (Click to englarge. Image via Amitec)

SolGuard offers a unique, holistic means of ensuring optimal solar PV system output and ROI over the system’s lifetime–generally 25+ years–without the installation of new hardware. Instead, SolGuard’s platform utilises, integrates and analyses the data from existing system hardware to give a bird’s eye view of system performance.

SolGuard software platform overview:

-No need to purchase additional hardware: Existing monitoring, security, and safety equipment can be used with the SolGuard software platform.

-SolGuard is a cost-effective, unified solution for monitoring, analysing performance, detecting faults and managing repairs, undertaking preventative maintenance, ensuring site security and safety, and even managing the plant construction schedule (for larger systems). It is the only software that combines all of these functions in one single platform.

-Access and control of SolGuard software is possible on computers at a designated central ‘control station’ or on ‘smart’ mobile devices.

-Smart monitoring and analysis for the whole PV systems, as well as inverters and strings. Additionally, SolGuard can also detect dust and shade, and faulty panels and strings, reducing the overall manpower and resources needed for system maintenance. Accurate data collection ensures rapid problem-solving capabilities.

-SolGuard can integrate security and safety monitoring equipment such as CCT cameras and electrical sensors for the early detection of potential issues, ensuring quick response time by alerting the relevant people (by SMS or email) about potential threats such as theft, vandalism, electrical faults, and fire.

SolGuard system architecture. (Click to enlarge. Image via Amitec)

Is SolGuard available in Australia?

SolGuard developer Amitec, an Israel-based IT company founded in 1996, is currently looking to form partnerships with Australian solar system installers and commercial-scale solar power project developers. As such, SolGuard is not yet commercially available here. If your company is interested in becoming a partner, please contact Amitec directly.

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd