It appears that Tasmanians who install solar panels under current feed-in tariff arrangements will continue to be eligible to receive the generous 27c per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate for at least 3 years after state-owned utility Aurora Energy is sold off–up from the 2-year guarantee period originally discussed when the issue came up in the public discourse. Although a definitive answer about the destiny of the rate will not be announced until the end of the year, both Labour and Liberal parties in the state have signaled that the current offering should remain in place until at least 2017.

Although this news brings a greater degree of certainty to both industry players as well as rooftop solar PV system owners (who now number over 12,500 in the state), it still leaves a big question as to what will happen after the 3-year period is up. Tasmanian Energy Minister Bryan Green, interviewed by the ABC, insisted that the rate will not drop below 8c/kWh, as it has in many other states after feed-in tariffs were cut back. Save our Solar Tasmania group member John Thirgood, was pessimistic about hopes for anything higher than this rate, however. saying, “The big retailers will get their way at the same price, on the mainland, which is eight cents.”

The Tasmanian solar feed-in tariff situation differs from feed-in tariff schemes in other states and territories in that it is not state-mandated. Instead, it is an arrangement through Tasmania’s state-owned utility company, Aurora Energy. Unlike state government-mandated feed-in tariffs, there is no application deadline, nor is the 27c/kWh rate specifically guaranteed for any period of time. Those who successfully applied for NSW‘s 60c/kWh gross feed-in tariff (which was closed to new applicants on 28 April 2011), for example, knew that they would be eligible to receive this rate until 2016; Queenslanders can expect to receive 44c/kWh rates until 2028.

Since no end date was ever specified in Tasmania’s case, many homes and businesses who invested in solar PV systems made the reasonable assumption that the 27c/kWh rate–or a comparable rate–would remain in place indefinitely. Having the 27c/kWh rate in place means that homes and businesses do not need to worry about ‘wasting’ their solar energy by failing to use it themselves.

In places with an 8c/kWh feed-in tariff, solar system owners stand to save the most money on their power bills by ‘self-consuming’ as much of their power as possible–that is, using it while it is being produced, when the sun is shining. This saves them money on their power bills because it means that they have a reduced need to purchase more expensive power from the grid. Under Tasmania’s 27c/kWh rate, homes don’t need to worry as much about whether they are using their solar power or letting it go to the grid–the savings are comparable either way.

Although longer is clearly preferable, a 3-year guarantee of the 27c/kWh rate as opposed to a 2-year one would give significantly more time for solar systems to work towards ‘paying themselves off’. If the rate is thereafter reduced, system owners could still save money on their power bills by shifting their power usage–as much as possible–to daylight hours. “We’re not losing sight of the fact that we’ve got a product that we can point to the sun and make usable power, and there’s always an application for that, regardless of the feed-in tariff,” said Adrien Luke, a solar panel installer who was also interviewed by the ABC.

Looking to compare solar prices in Tasmania? Request a comparison of solar quotes by filling out the form to the right of this page or calling Solar Choice on 1300 78 72 73. Solar Choice also offers free, impartial advice on going solar across the country–feel free to contact us with your questions about going solar in Tasmania.

Top image by Jeff Schmaltz, via Wikipedia.

© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

With incentives having changed significantly both nationally and on the state level, many of those who are considering going solar ask themselves the question: “Is a solar system still worth the investment in Perth?” Thanks to the falling cost of solar panels around the world and the rising price of grid electricity in Australia and WA, the answer is ‘yes’ for the right homes and businesses. This article is an overview of the benefits and options for investing in a solar system in and around Perth, WA.

Solar PV systems are still popular in Perth. Why?

Solar system installation numbers have remained steady in WA even after the reduction of generous state-based feed-in tariff subsidies. More broadly, installation numbers have grown in leaps and bounds across Australia in just the past few years–with figures passing the 1 million solar homes milestone only a short time ago. Although the exact reasons for the financial attractiveness of solar PV systems has changed as both federal and state incentives for solar power have waxed and waned, the fact is that they still offer excellent returns for the right home and business owners.

Federal solar rebates and WA’s solar feed-in tariff

Federal solar rebates have been one of the driving forces behind the growing number of solar PV installations in Australia. Under the country’s Renewable Energy Target scheme, small-scale solar system (up to 100kW in capacity) receive what is in effect an up-front rebate on the cost of installing a system. The amount of this rebate varies by location, system size, and the market price of renewable energy certificates, but, as an example, a 3 kilowatt (kW) solar system in Perth will see a discount of about $1800.

You can see current average system prices for Perth by checking Solar Choice’s most recent Solar PV Price Index.

Although WA state government support for solar PV in the form of a feed-in tariff–where electricity utilities are required to pay a premium for solar power exported to the grid–was one of the major drivers in the solar industry here, this support scheme is no longer open to new applicants. Instead, customers in the southwestern part of WA are offered a rate of 7c per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for solar power through the regional utility company Synergy.

Since this 7c/kWh rate is less than the retail electricity tariff (which is more in the range of 20+c/kWh), homes and businesses with a solar system should endeavour to use much of their solar power as possible themselves in order to obtain the greatest financial benefit. Using the solar power directly instead of selling it back to the grid is sometimes referred to as ‘self-consumption’. Self-consumption means generating your own power, which means needing to purchase less power from the grid. The end result is lower power bills.

The falling cost of installing a solar system

If solar PV systems were still as expensive as they were 4-5 years ago, investing in a system would not be as attractive as it currently is.  Even though system prices are expected to begin rising again in 2013, prices are still at historic lows. Decent quality systems can be fully installed at a cost of about $2.00 per watt, but system prices are as low as $1.44/W for 5kW solar systems in Perth.

Ballooning electricity prices

Power prices skyrocketed across the country in recent years, leaving more and more people to look for alternative ways to save money on their power bills. Solar panels have proven to be one of the most popular options for doing this. After all, those who produce a portion of their own power have less need to purchase power from the grid.

Looking to compare solar system prices in Western Australia? Contact Solar Choice

Solar Choice, as Australia’s national solar PV installation brokering and advice service, makes comparing solar installers easy and straightforward. To date, we have helped over 60,000 Australians make an informed choice about going solar.

Get in touch with us and decide for yourself whether solar panels are worth the investment in Perth: Request a Solar Quote Comparison by filling out the form on the right of this page, or by calling Solar Choice on 1300 78 72 73. Our services are 100% free to our customers. 

© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

NSW’s Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has begun working on its recommendation for the state’s benchmark solar feed-in tariff rates for the financial year 2013-2014. IPART will be accepting submissions about its proposed approach until 7 June, with a final draft to be released by the agency in the last week in the same month. The new rates will go into effect from 1 July.

Solar feed-in tariff benchmark rates: What are they?

The benchmark rates are IPART’s answer to the dilemma about how to fairly subsidise solar electricity generation after the closure of the state’s Solar Bonus Scheme to new applicants in April of 2011, following a change of government in the state’s legislature. For 2011-2012, the recommended rates were between 5.2c and 10.3c/kWh, and for the financial year 2012-2013, they were between 7.7c and 12.9c per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The 2013-2014 feed-in tariff rates are likely to continue this upward trend.

IPART’s benchmark rates are a guideline only; ultimately, all NSW feed-in tariff rates are paid on a voluntary basis by electricity retailers to electricity customers who own solar power systems. However, as these rates are intended to independently reflect the ‘true value’ of solar power to electricity utilities, knowledge of the recommended range gives solar homes and businesses greater bargaining power when it comes to negotiating a deal with their retailers.

Electricity retailers, whilst not required to offer anything in exchange for solar power, are still obligated–in the name of market transparency–to display their offering (or lack thereof) on IPART’s MyEnergyOffers website. In fact, most electricity retailers advertise a feed-in tariff rate of zero, and the non-zero rates available are generally at the low end of the recommended range. For example, AGL offers a rate of 8c/kWh, and Energy Australia offers a rate of 7.7c/kWh.

I’m thinking about going solar. How will the new feed-in tariffs affect me?

NSW residents who install a solar system after April 2011 are no longer eligible for either the 60c/kWh or 20c/kWh rates that were once on offer in the state. Even so, the dramatic fall of solar photovoltaic (PV) system prices and sharp spike in retail electricity prices across Australia means that systems are still a worthwhile investment for the right NSW homes and businesses.

In particular, solar PV systems are a great investment for those who consume a lot of electricity during the daytime–when the sun is shining and the solar panels are producing power. This is often referred to as solar self-consumption. By using their solar power directly, system owners reduce the need to purchase costly power from the electrical grid.

Low feed-in tariff rates have 2 implications for potential solar system owners: The first is that systems should be sized to produce slightly less energy than the home or business in question will actually use during the day, and the second is that they should try to use as much of the solar energy as possible while it is being produced. Selling energy to the grid should be avoided as much as possible because the savings that can be had through self-consumption is greater than that which can be had by selling the solar power to the energy retailer. Electricity in NSW typically retails for over 20c/kWh–sometimes higher. Selling solar power to the grid for rates as low as 6c/kWh instead of using it is comparable to throwing it away. Although the new, presumably higher feed-in tariff rates will give a bit more of a buffer for times when the power can’t be used–e.g. holidays away from home–the basic idea remains the same.

If you’d like to learn more about options and benefits for going solar in NSW contact Solar Choice today by filling out the Solar Quote Comparison request form to the right of this page, or by calling us on 1300 78 72 73. Solar Choice is an impartial brokering and advice service that works with over 120 solar installation companies across the country. Let us help you make the right choice about going solar.

© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

‘Solar leasing’ or ‘free solar panel’ deals have arguably been the main facilitator of solar panel uptake in the United States, with the majority of systems being installed under such arrangements. Although solar leasing schemes have been on offer in Australia for some time now, until recently the availability of these packages was extremely limited geographically. A new initiative by environmental NGO Green Cross Australia in collaboration with a prominent Australian solar PV system installer, however, aims to bring this agreement to customers across the country. This means that Australians who are considering going solar must now ask themselves a question: Is a solar lease right for me, or should I purchase my system?

What is a ‘solar lease’?

The easiest way to understand a solar lease is to think of it like this: Right now, if you do not have a solar system (or other distributed energy generation system), you are purchasing all of your power from electric utilities. You get a monthly or quarterly bill for the power that they provide you, and–although you could look into reducing your electricity usage or by investing in energy efficiency measures–there’s little that can do to reduce the rate at which you are charged to use power. These rates (‘retail tariffs’) are dictated by the electricity retailers or non-partisan government bodies such as NSW’s IPART or Queensland’s QCA.

When you sign up for a solar leasing deal, you are effectively letting someone else build a mini power station–a solar PV system–on the roof of your home or business, at no or little up-front cost to you. The company that has financed the construction of the system then sells you the power that it generates at a rate that is lower than your retail tariff.

The theoretical result is a net power bill that is lower than what you would ordinarily pay for power–without having to pay for a system to be installed. Since the cost of solar power has come down so dramatically in the past few years, the financing company still makes a profit. It’s a win-win situation.

What are the benefits of a solar lease?

There are a number of potential benefits to installing a solar PV system under a solar leasing deal. The main ones are:

-The system will cost you or your business very little or nothing to install, as installation and materials costs are covered by the financier.

-Insulation against rising electricity prices. Power prices have skyrocketed across Australia over the past few years, and although there are signs that this is easing in some places, it’s highly unlikely that they will begin to fall at any point in the near future

-Solar system maintenance is the responsibility of the financier–not you. Since you do not own the system, you do not have to pay for repairs–and the company will not charge you for down-time.

-Know where your power is coming from–and that it’s clean. Unless you’re with a 100% renewable energy electricity retailer such as Diamond Energy, the power you purchase from the grid comes mainly from coal-fired plants.

Will my home or business benefit from a solar leasing deal?

Since feed-in tariff incentives–which pay solar system owners a generous rate to export their power to the electricity grid–have been scaled back in most states, solar systems most benefit those homes and businesses who can consume their solar power as it is being generated–i.e. while the sun is shining.

The rule of thumb these days for both those who are considering buying a system as well as those considering a solar lease is this: If you do not use much electricity during the day, or cannot shift more of your usage to daylight hours, solar panels may not be a realistic money-saving option for you. In particular, solar leasing deals tend to save the most money for those who consume a higher-than-average amount of electricity and whose quarterly bills are around or above $1,000.

Solar leasing vs owning your own solar system

Solar leasing programs have proved incredibly popular in countries like the USA, but until recently have not been available in Australia, where outright purchase has to date been the norm for both homes and small businesses alike. Since Australians now have a choice about whether to own their solar system or to opt for a leasing scheme, it’s important to consider what the differences are. The table below outline some of these differences.

Want to learn more about your options? Contact Solar Choice.

Since 2008, Solar choice has helped over 60,000 Australians make an informed choice about going solar by providing impartial advice and free Solar Quote Comparisons to our customers.We work with a network of over 120 installers across the country, some of whom offer a solar leasing agreement. To initiate a dialogue with us and learn more about your choices, please fill out the Quote Comparison Request form to the right of this page, or call us on 1300 78 72 73.

© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Are solar panels worth it in Melbourne, Victoria? To date, a huge number of homes and businesses in Victoria have made the investment in solar panels, and this trend is slated to continue into the future, even after government subsidies are withdrawn. This article is an overview of the factors that influence the attractiveness of solar PV systems as an investment in Melbourne–and the rest of Victoria.

Why have solar panels become so popular in Melbourne?

Victoria is only one of the places in Australia where solar panel installation numbers are growing rapidly. The country just recently passed 1 million solar homes mark a short time ago. Although solar panels have proved to be a popular investment option in the state, there’s still plenty of room for growth in solar panels–only 12% of suitable homes have systems installed so far.

Federal rebates & Victoria’s solar feed-in tariff

Much of the uptake of rooftop solar panels in Victoria can be attributed to federal government and Victorian state government incentives for solar power and other renewables.

The federal government effectively offers small-scale solar systems (up to 100kW) with an up-front discount on the cost of installation through its Renewable Energy Target scheme. Exactly how much this discount is depends on a number of factors, but as a rule of thumb, for a 3 kilowatt (kW) solar system in Melbourne, the purchaser can expect a discount of approximately $1,590. (You can see current prices by checking Solar Choice’s most recent Solar PV Price Index.)

On the state level, the primary support scheme for solar power has been Victoria’s feed-in tariff, which incentivises the generation of solar power by paying those who send excess solar power into the grid on a per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) basis. Victoria’s solar feed-in tariff is currently about 8c/kWh for new applicants.

Since this 8c/kWh rate is less than the rate that households typically pay for each unit of power that they purchase from electricity utilities, solar system should use much of their solar power as possible themselves in order to obtain the greatest financial benefit. This is usually referred to as ‘self-consumption’.

Solar system prices have fallen dramatically

The cost of installing a solar PV system in Australia has plummeted over the course of the past few years, due to both global and local factors, including greater competition between Australian solar system installers. These decreases are not expected to last indefinitely, however, and in fact prices are anticipated to begin rising again in 2013.

The rising cost of power

The cost of electricity has climbed dramatically across Australia in recent years; this has been one of the primary drivers behind the growing interest in and uptake of solar PV systems as a money-saving investment. The reason for this is simple: those who can produce a greater proportion of their own power will not need to purchase as much from the power grid.

Looking to compare solar system prices in Victoria? Contact Solar Choice

Solar Choice, as Australia’s national solar PV installation brokering and advice service, makes comparing solar installers easy and straightforward. To date, we have helped over 60,000 Australians make an informed choice about going solar.

Get in touch with us and decide for yourself whether solar panels are worth the investment: Request a Solar Quote Comparison by filling out the form on the right of this page, or by calling Solar Choice on 1300 78 72 73. Our services are 100% free to our customers. 

© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

If installation numbers are anything to go by, solar panels are still proving to be a worthwhile investment in Western Australia. The state continues to see a steady stream of solar PV systems go up onto rooftops even well after the generous feed-in tariff subsidies once on offer there were closed to new applicants at the beginning of August 2011.

Monthly solar system installation numbers in WA are still below what they were at the peak of state government’s incentive program, but are comparable to those of the pre-peak, subsidised era of WA solar power. The conclusions that might be drawn from this knowledge are that 1) solar power still makes economic sense in WA under current circumstances, and 2) adoption of solar PV amongst home and small businesses would be greater–and the solar industry doing better–if similarly generous incentives for solar power generation were still in place.

The main drivers behind the continued interest in solar panels in WA have been the rising price of electricity–which has skyrocketed by a whopping 69% since 2009–plus the falling cost of solar PV installations. The combination of these 2 factors means that it makes investment sense for the right homes and businesses to install a system–and many are doing so.

There are two separate, state-owned electricity grids in Western Australia: Synergy, which services Perth and the southwestern part of the state, and Horizon, which services its northern regions. Since WA’s 40c per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and 20c/kWh feed-in tariff rates were closed to new applicants, Synergy has been offering a rate of 7c/kWh to customers who install solar systems. As this rate is significantly lower than the cost of electricity purchased from utilities, it makes the most sense for solar homes and businesses to consume as much of their solar power as possible as it is being generated–that is, when the sun is shining. By contrast, a generous feed-in tariff would incentivise them to export their power to the electrical grid.

Over 1 of every 10 customers on the Synergy grid now have solar systems installed, according The West Australian, who spoke with the company’s chief executive, Trevor James. In total, this number is now about 112,000–up from a mere 8,000 in 2008. On average, 2,500 new installations are now going up every month. This trend is in keeping with the broader national one: Australia just hit the symbolic milestone of 1 million roofs with solar power. Solar panel installation numbers continue to grow, even in states whose subsidies have also been closed or reduced for new applicants.

Another trend that is observable across the country is a reduction in electricity demand–attributable at least in part to increased uptake of rooftop solar panels. Mr James admitted that the increase in solar system numbers has had an effect on the amount of business Synergy is doing. ”The surge in demand for photovoltaic cells has contributed to a reduction in the level of energy sales in the (South West electricity grid) over the past couple of years,” he was quoted as saying in the newspaper article.

News of this growth is also in keeping with predictions that solar PV systems will play a major role in the future of Australia’s energy mix: BREE anticipates that solar power will be amongst the most affordable types of electricity by 2030. Additionally, the IEA sees it as a major part of the global energy mix by 2060.

Are you a homeowner thinking about going solar in WA? Contact Solar Choice for a free Solar Quote Comparison by filling out the form on the right of this page. 

Are you a business owner thinking about taking advantage of what solar PV has to offer? Click the ‘Commercial’ tab on the top of the form to initiate a dialogue with our Commercial Tender Management team.

© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

The average price for installing a solar system at the beginning of May 2013 is down slightly from the previous month. System prices in Sydney, despite having risen slightly on average from April 2013, remain the lowest in Australia for all system sizes (1.5kW-5kW). Canberra and Perth continue to see gradual price reductions for all system sizes. Prices in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide have seen a reversal in the increases of the previous month, with price decreases of varying degrees in all 3 cities for all system sizes. Meanwhile, Hobart system prices have either remained steady or risen.

Average out-of-pocket cost for solar PV systems by size and city

The table below shows the average of the prices on offer for installed solar PV systems (after subsidy) of all sizes in Australia’s major cities at the beginning of May 2013. Sydney is home to the lowest average system prices in each system size category; Hobart is the highest.

$/watt solar system prices: Average, highs, lows

The table below contains dollar per watt ($/W) price data for 1.5kW, 2kW, 3kW, 4kW and 5kW solar PV systems in the 7 cities included in the PV Price Index (Darwin is not included at this point in time). Prices include the federal government’s small-scale technology certificate (STC) subsidy for solar power and other renewable energy sources.

For May 2013, STCs helped to decrease system prices in Zone 3 cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, and Perth) by on average 63c/W. In less sunny Zone 4 cities (Hobart, Melbourne), the contribution of STCs was approximately 53c/W, calculated based on the STC discounts explicitly detailed by installers, when available–i.e.when not omitted as part of a ‘package deal’. The rough ‘subsidy-free’ price of a solar PV system can therefore be calculated by adding this amount to the figures in the table below.

Solar PV system prices to date

Solar Choice has been compiling solar PV price data since August 2012. The charts below show the monthly movements in (subsidised) system prices since then.

Although system system prices are anticipated to increase through 2013, a steady upward trend has not thus far been observable in the data from the Solar Choice installer database. With the exception 1.5kW systems, the average price for all system sizes is now either lower or about the same as what it was in August 2012. Prices did fall across the board at the end of the 2012 calendar year, and increases could thereafter distinctly visible for the first 1-3 months of 2013, but this trend seems to have levelled out over the past 2 months–especially for the larger system sizes (3kW, 5kW).

About this data

The figures and charts in this article were calculated using data from the Solar Choice installer network database, which contains current pricing and product details from over 125 solar installation companies across Australia. Prices do not include meter installation charges or extra charges for difficult installations. The discount available exclusively to Solar Choice customers (the Solar Choice Discount) is also excluded from the figures and calculations. Although a range of installer offerings from each city are included in the calculations, average price figures do not incorporate installers’ ‘premium’ offerings.

About Solar Choice

Solar Choice has enabled over 55,000 Australian households to make an informed choice about solar power. Working with over 125 of Australia’s top  solar companies, Solar Choice is able to provide free and impartial Solar Quote Comparisons for customers across the country. Solar Choice’s commercial wing has managed the tenders for hundreds of large-scale solar PV projects throughout Australia for a variety of commercial clients, including BHP, Woolworth’s, and McDonald’s Restaurants Australia.

© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

As electricity prices rise in WA–and in Kalgoorlie–more and more homes and businesses are looking towards solar power systems as a way to save money on their electricity bills. With system prices at historic lows, solar power in Kalgoorlie can be a smart investment for the right person. Working with over 120 installers across Australia, Solar Choice helps customers to easily compare solar system prices and components, as well as offering free and impartial advice on going solar. This article is an overview of the benefits that solar panels offer Kalgoorlie residents.

Solar power in Kalgoorlie: Why invest in a system?

Kalgoorlie’s climate and latitude make it a good location for a solar panel installation. Across Australia, Western Australia, and the rest of the globe, solar power installations have been skyrocketing–even the cloudy UK. Sharp reductions in the price of components and system installations has been followed by reductions in government incentives–including state-based feed-in tariffs–but returns on investment for solar panels remain attractive, with payback periods of 5-6 years for the right homes and businesses.

Compare solar installation prices in Kalgoorlie

Solar system prices change with international and domestic market trends–not to mention between different installers. Solar Choice’s job is to keep our customers informed about the options that are available in their part of the country. We provide free, impartial advice and Solar Quote Comparisons to our residential customers, and based on the pricing information that our installers regularly update in our database, we publish a monthly Solar PV Price Index for all of Australia’s major cities.

Kalgoorlie solar system prices will be more or less comparable to those of Perth, but anyone who would like to see Kalgoorlie-specific system prices need only to request a free Solar Quote Comparison, which can be done by filling out the form to the right of this page. 

Solar panel system output for Kalgoorlie installations

Solar system power output depends first and foremost on the amount of sunshine available where the system is installed. Averaged throughout the course of a year, Kalgoorlie receives about 4 hours of ‘peak sun’ per day–more in the summer, less in the winter. In terms of electricity generation, this means about 6 kilowatt-hours (kWh) for a 1.5kW solar system, 12kWh for a 3kW solar system, and about 20kW for a 5kW solar system.

To put this into context, a 3-person household will use around 20kWh per day.

Saving money on power bills with solar

Solar panels are a proven method for reducing power bills, but taking advantage of them means truly understanding how they drive down costs for homes and businesses.

The WA government closed its feed-in tariff program to new applicants some time back. Since the feed-in tariff was essentially an incentive to export solar power (i.e. the amount that was paid to customers for solar power they exported to the grid exceeded the price that they pay when purchasing power from the grid), this meant it made sense to 1) install as large a system as possible, and 2) sell/export as much solar energy to the grid as possible.

With no feed-in tariff in place, the situation is reversed. Now, those who are considering investing in a system should 1) install one that does not produce more power than they would need during daylight hours, and 2) try to use as much of that solar power as possible as it is being generated–i.e. when the sun is shining. This is usually referred to as ‘self-consumption’ of solar power.

In short, this means that, for Kalgoorlie residents, solar systems present the best value to homes and businesses that consume a portion of their electricity during daylight hours.

Let Solar Choice help you find the best solar deal in Kalgoorlie

If you are a homeowner who is considering an investment in a solar system–a residential customer–Solar Choice can provide you with free, impartial advice and Solar Quote Comparisons. We work with a network of over 120 solar panel installers across Australia–including Kalgoorlie and the rest of Western Australia. Contact one of our team of solar energy brokers by filling out the form to the right of this page, or call us on 1300 78 72 73.

If you are a small business owner, a mining company, or similar–a commercial client–Solar Choice can help you find the best deal on a solar array by running a tender for your solar project. To date in Western Australia, we have successfully assisted such clients as East Pilbara Shire and Newman Airport in narrowing down the range of options to fit within budgets and offer better returns. To start a conversation with one of our commercial team, please fill out the Solar Quote Comparison form to the right (click the ‘Commercial’ tab), or get in touch with one of our commercial team members via the contact details below:

© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd 

(Top image of Kalgoorlie Post Office by Yewenyi via Wikipedia)

Why is Geraldton, Western Australia a good location for a solar photovoltaic (PV) system? Rising electricity prices are driving interest amongst home and business owners around the country in solar panels–Geraldton is no exception. Working with a network of over 120 solar installers across the country, Solar Choice is uniquely positioned to assist those considering a solar investment to make the right decision–and get the best deal on a solar system.

The benefits of solar panels for Geraldton residents

Geraldton gets lots of sunshine thanks to its location and climate–this is one of the reasons it is a great place to install solar panels. Solar power has taken off dramatically in the past 5 years or so, with Australia reaching the ‘1 million solar homes‘ mark. Even as feed-in tariffs are cut or eliminated in different states around the country, interest remains more or less steady–mainly due to rising electricity prices and the falling cost of installing a solar PV system.

Solar system prices in Geraldton

Solar system prices are not static–they fluctuate as a result of both domestic and international trends. Solar Choice, as a brokering and comparison service, endeavours to bring transparency to the market by making installation prices easy to compare at any given time. In addition to publishing our monthly Solar PV Price Index (which reveals average solar system installation prices in all of Australia’s major cities), we also have a constantly updated database of installer offerings which allows anyone considering going solar a peek at the market in their part of the country–including Geraldton.

Generally speaking, solar prices in Geraldton will be similar to those on offer in Perth, but anyone who wants to see current prices specifically for Geraldton can request a free Solar Quote Comparison by filling out the form to the right of this page. 

Geraldton, WA: Estimated solar system power output

On average throughout the year, Geraldton receives an annual average of around 4 hours of ‘peak sun’ per day–more in the summer, less in the winter. In terms of power production, this means about 6 kilowatt-hours (kWh) for a 1.5kW solar system, 12kWh for a 3kW solar system, and about 20kW for a 5kW solar system.

As a rule of thumb, an ordinary 3-person home will use about 20kWh of power per day.

Saving money on power bills with solar panels

More and more homes and businesses are considering solar panels as a way to save money on their power bills. To get the most out of a system, however, it’s important to understand how solar PV technology allows this to happen.

Since no generous feed-in tariff offer currently exists for new applicants in WA, Geraldton residents who install a system will want to take advantage of the power their systems produce while the sun is shining and the system is generating power–sometimes called ‘self-consumption’. Self-consumption allows system owners to reduce the need to purchase power from the grid, ultimately lowering power bills. A solar PV system installed in Geraldton is therefor best suited to homes and businesses that use power during the day.

Solar Choice helps you find the best solar deals in Geraldton

For our residential customers, Solar Choice provides free, impartial advice and Solar Quote Comparisons. We have a network of over 120 solar PV installers across Australia–including Geraldton and the rest of Western Australia. This gives us a bird’s-eye-view of the solar market, and means we are uniquely positioned to allow our customers to find the system and price that best suits their requirements and budget. Contact one of our team of solar energy brokers by filling out the form to the right of this page, or call us on 1300 78 72 73.

For our commercial clients, Solar Choice manages tenders for a range of projects. To date in Western Australia, we have worked with such clients as East Pilbara Shire and Newman Airport. To start a conversation with one of our commercial team, please fill out the Solar Quote Comparison form to the right (click the ‘Commercial’ tab), or get in touch with one of our commercial team members via the contact details below:

© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd 

(Top image of St George’s Beach by Terence Doust via Wikipedia)