A provision for a mandatory ‘retailer payment’ under South Australia Solar Feed-in Tariff scheme has come into effect as of 29 January 2012. The state’s Solar Feed-in Tariff scheme is now composed of two separate parts: A ‘base rate’ of 16c/kWh (for those signed up before 30 September 2011), plus a retailer payment of 7.1c/kWh until 30 June 2012. The base rate will remain unchanged until 2016, while the retailer payment will rise annually to reflect the ‘real value’ of solar electricity to the electricity grid. The retailer payment will also be paid to those whose solar PV systems are signed up on the State’s former 44c/kWh rate.

South Australia offering one of the best solar PV incentives in Australia

With a cumulative rate of  23c/kWh (and rising), South Australia offers one of the most generous buyback rates for solar power in the country. For example, Adelaide households where the occupants are not home during the day can expect annual savings of approximately (5.6 Sun Hours x 5kW x 23c x 0.5 =) $1,200 in the form of credit on electricity bills assuming a 50% export rate of the solar power to the grid. These savings will grow as the retailer payment component of the Solar Feed-in Tariff rises over the coming years.

Further savings from self-consumption of solar power

On top of returns from electricity exports, system owners can also count on savings from avoided purchase of electricity from the grid: each kWh of power used at home while the solar panels are producing energy means 1kWh fewer that will appear on the next bill. With the price of electricity set to rise sharply across the country (by 36% in SA) over the next 2 years and beyond, it will make increasingly more financial sense for solar-installed households to opt to time their use to favour self-consumption over export to the grid.

Returns on any solar system will of course vary depending on factors such as system size, ratio of self-consumption vs export to grid, and the weather patterns for the year. But with solar PV system prices hitting all-time lows, payback periods are relatively short at 4-7 years for most systems in South Australia.

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Resources and links:

South Australian Government: Solar Feed-in Scheme page, Retailer Payment

More Solar Choice articles about the South Australia Solar Feed-in Tariff and other SA-related solar issues

A future where Australia’s power needs are met by renewable energy sources will demand substantial alterations to the way that electricity is generated and distributed. This point was recently highlighted in an editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald by Matthew Wright, executive director of Melbourne-based thinktank Beyond Zero Emissions, who described how rooftop solar power could actually be a benefit to the electricity grid and, ultimately, the average electricity user.

Solar power’s place on the electrical grid

Residential solar PV system incentive policies have been given a bad rap, especially in NSW, where an overly ambitious Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff Scheme and the drama surrounding its hasty and badly-planned implementation have left a bad taste in the mouths of many. However, as Solar Choice has pointed out previously, poor policy-making does not reflect the viability of the technology itself (which does have a good reputation amongst Australians). There are numerous examples of Solar Feed-in Tariffs being implemented effectively throughout the world–most notably in Germany, where a scaled and measured approach to subsidisation has enabled the country to become a solar world leader in spite of its sub-optimal climatic conditions. Solar power can be effectively integrated into the electricity grid, to its benefit.

Distributed generation: Solar PV everywhere

A major benefit of distributed generation such as rooftop PV (as opposed to centralised generation in the form of large-scale generation plants) is the reduction in the costs of peak energy demand. A phenomenon termed the ‘merit order effect‘, recently discussed in a research paper published by the University of Melbourne’s Energy Research Institute, explains how different forms of electricity generation should be prioritised to meet demand. Under the merit order effect, sources with the lowest marginal cost per kWh would be brought online first, followed by more expensive forms of generation. Where solar PV generation is concerned, this means during periods of peak demand–most notably late afternoons in the summer, when home air-conditioning units are at full throttle.

Marginal cost of energy: fossil fuels vs solar power

Such high-demand events have a disproportionate influence on the average cost of electricity–up to 30% of the cost of power as shown on your bill at home is attributable to a handful of these extreme peak periods across the course of a single year. This is primarily due to the fact that, conventionally, the sources of electricity that meet this peak demand, such as gas-fired power plants, have a high marginal cost–as much as $12.50/kWh. This is partly because energy retailers can use their position in the market to charge higher rates to put their plants online when needed most. As Wright comments, “The reason customers were getting an average price under the state (feed-in tariff) programs is because it’s too difficult for ordinary home owners to set up a trading desk and participate in the national electricity market.” Instead, Feed-in Tariffs simplify the matter by setting a flat rate for solar, making it easier for owners of small-scale generators to understand and rely on.

In addition to the cost of generation, there are also additional infrastructure costs associated with the construction of ‘peak’ plants and maintenance and upgrades of the network infrastructure (‘poles and wires’) required to deliver this power over long distances. In contrast, a Solar Feed-in Tariff guarantees a price for power that, once implemented, does not increase as time goes on; 1kWh of solar energy fed into the grid on a 44c/kWh Solar Feed-in Tariff will never cost more than that.

Solar power: modular generation distributed across the grid

Solar PV systems, once reaching a high level of grid penetration, have the ability to confront the electricity price issue on several fronts: They are a modular, scalable, and proven electricity generation source that can be deployed gradually over time (as opposed to in a one-off investment in a centralised plant); they reduce the need for transmission of electricity over long distances (electricity from solar systems connected to the grid is generally used by homes and buildings nearby); and if connected to the grid on a net feed-in tariff, they reduce overall demand by becoming a home’s primary electricity source (electricity is drawn from the grid only when consumption exceeds production).

Realising the benefits of solar requires vision and willpower

The take-home point made by Wright in his SMH editorial is therefore that, with a bit of holistic vision, drive, and willingness to change the status quo, the Australian state and Federal Governments could protect electricity users against the spectre of rising electricity prices whilst simultaneously smoothing a transition to a clean energy economy. The advantage of a Solar Feed-in Tariff as a policy instrument for achieving these goals is precisely what has given it such a bad reputation in NSW–its cost. While electricity purchased from conventional fossil fuel sources in order to generate 10kWh of energy can cost in the order of $120, an equivalent amount sources from rooftop solar PV on a feed-in tariff rate of, for example, 50c/kWh (lower than NSW’s now defunct scheme but higher than Queensland’s existing one), would cost only $5. According to the University of Melbourne’s findings, the projected savings would be enough to cover cost of the NSW government’s electricity price support scheme for low-income households.

Reaching the level where this benefit could be realised would require rooftop solar PV on a broad scale, however. Although PV prices are reaching all-time lows, attractive Feed-in Tariffs for solar such as those in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria would provide a significant incentive for households to go solar.

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Fronius, one of the world’s leading solar inverter manufacturers, has announced a special promotion for the company’s 20th anniversary as an electronics manufacturer. Under the promotion, customers are eligible for a 50% discount on 20-year warranty extensions for all inverters installed between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2012. Warranties can be purchased through Fronius Installation Partners, a number of whom are in the Solar Choice Installer Network. Request a Solar Quote Comparison today.

Fronius: Extended Warranties for Extended Peace of Mind

Fronius maintains a close partnership with the solar installers who install its products, allowing a superior level of customer service, and an impressive dedication to the end customer.  The Fronius 20-year warranty offer is significant, as although an inverter is generally regarded as the ‘brain’ of a solar PV system, it is also the component with the shortest lifespan–more prone to malfunction than a system’s solar array itself. Most standard inverter warranties are ordinarily limited to 5 years (as opposed to a standard of 25 years for solar panels), and warranty extensions generally come at a premium. A discounted 20-year warranty therefore presents a disproportionately attractive investment in a system–protecting the system owner against unexpected, pricey inverter replacements in the future.

Certain Fronius inverter models are excluded from the promotion, including some IG (transformer) models, and RL models. For full details of the promotion, visit the Fronius website.

Download a flyer about the Fronius Discounted 20-year Inverter Warranty (pdf)

Solar Choice is running a Solar Community around Kununurra, in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. In addition to Kununurra, the community also encompasses Lake Argyle and Wyndham, WA. Residents of the region are encouraged to take advantage of a special bulk discount rate on solar power systems by putting forward the local community’s collective bargaining power.

Solar Choice is experienced in managing Solar Communities for other regional areas throughout Australia–most notably in Broome WA, and Bundaberg, Townsville, and Mackay, Queensland. As Australia’s nation-wide Solar Brokerage service, the Solar Choice team is able to negotiate with a range of local, regional, and national installers to broker the best possible deal for members of the local community. Inquire about getting solar power and how to become part of the Kununurra Solar Community today.

Kununurra Region: Prime Ground for Solar Power

The Ord River Dam (Image via lakeargyle.com.au)

The local areas of Kununurra, Wyndham, and Lake Argyle receive a significant portion of their electrical power from the 30-megawatt Ord River Dam hydropower station. Solar power, however, is an ideal supplement to this large, centralised power source. Solar capacity can be incrementally increased unit-by-unit, expanding the total capacity of electrical generation connected to the grid and mitigating the need for construction larger-scale plants in the future. Solar power is a generation source well-matched to Kununurra for a number of other reasons as well, most of which are of direct benefit to residents who install a system.

-Solar PV systems in Kununurra can expect to receive plenty of sun. The area, near Australia’s northernmost tip, is one of the sunniest in the world. Furthermore, its location in the tropics means that, unlike non-tropical regions, the sun is sometimes to the north of and other times to the south of any given building–changing the dynamic of solar panel tilt angle and orientation that most Australian solar installers are accustomed to dealing with. In fact, thanks to its location (but rather counterintuitively for seasoned solar PV installers in most of Australia), a solar-equipped south-facing roof in Kununurra will receive more sun than a north-facing roof in Perth. This translates into higher system yields and increased savings on power bills.

-Thanks to the abundance of sunshine, the Federal government offers significant rebates on solar power systems in the Kununurra region. The Solar Credits Rebate available to those who go solar in the region are among the highest in the country. Kununurra is located in REC Zone 2, which means that 23 RECs will be are generated for each kilowatt of eligible solar power installed and connected to the local grid. REC prices fluctuate with supply and demand, but at the time of writing are hovering around $30 each–meaning a base rebate of approximately $700 per kilowatt. After the Solar Credit multiplier is applied, however, even more significant benefits are to be had. And thanks to the nature of the electrical grid in the region, residents of the Kununurra region are eligible for especially large up-front discounts on solar PV systems. This is one of the main reasons that solar power is a wise financial investment for local residents.

Kununurra is located about halfway between Broome and Darwin (Image via Google Maps)

-Horizon Energy’s Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS)–Get paid to export your solar power to the grid. Horizon Power currently offers a 1-to-1 net tariff for solar feeders-in. Under this setup, solar customers get paid the same rate for each kilowatt-hour of electricity that their solar systems export as they themselves pay for electricity. This means that, in addition to the savings afforded by using their solar power directly, solar customers will received credits on their power bills for exported electricity. A 1-to-1 tariff is a generous offering; in contrast to Horizon’s offerings, Synergy customers on Perth’s electrical grid receive only 7c for each kilowatt-hour that they feed into the grid.

Now is the time to go solar in Kununurra

Take advantage of bulk discounts on solar through the Kununurra Solar Community

Residents of Kununurra may utilise their bulk buying power via the Solar Community facilitated by Solar Choice. Solar Choice, utilising its network of over 70 installers nationwide, has negotiated and secured competitive solar PV installation pricing with a number of local, regional, and national solar power installers.

Solar communities are not always a readily available option for regional areas, which have a much lower penetration of solar energy system installers than more densely-populated urban centers tend to do. Some Western Australia solar installers may charge travel fees when called out for one-off installations, and prices may be higher due to the lack of competition between installers. With the establishment of a Solar Community, however, these hurdles will be overcome as greater numbers make it more worthwhile for solar installers to travel the distance.

Benefits include:

-Leading quality, fully accredited solar installations with 25-year performance warranties and German inverters

-Payback of less than 3 years with an expected return over 30 years

-Protection against electricity prices which are expected to increase by over 30%

-Potential to reduce electricity bills by up to 100%

-Deposits of only $100 to secure interest on the limited availability for solar capacity on the Horizon East Kimberley grid

The price of solar PV systems nationally has never been lower

Due to a combination of global, national, and regional factors, the price of solar power has recently struck unprecedented lows. Low solar system prices means that return on investment and payback times have never been as attractive as now. Prices are projected to being rising again in the latter half of 2012.

Solar Power incentives in Kununurra will not be around indefinitely

The flipside of the factors that make Kununarra one of the most financially lucrative places to install solar power in Australia also mean that there is a limitation on the amount of solar that can be connected to the grid. The Federal incentives are likely to be scaled back in the coming years, especially with the introduction of a carbon price and speculation that the Government will withdraw some of its direct support for renewable energy sources.

Kununurra Lookout - Hidden Valley National Park (Image via Wikipedia)

Limits to the solar capacity that can be connected to the Kununurra grid

In addition to the possibility of incentive reductions is the fact that there is an absolute physical limit to the amount of solar power that may be connected to the region’s electrical grid without potentially causing service disturbances. Once this prescribed limit is reached, homes and businesses will not be allowed to connect to the grid or benefit Horizon Energy’s Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme.

Register your interest:

Information Session

Meet Kununurra Solar Community manager Iain McGregor for personal discussion on your solar project

Date: 31 January 2012

Time: 12pm – 6:30pm

Location: Kimberley Grande PKG Bare & Grille (20 Victoria Hwy)

Contact the Solar Choice Kununurra Solar Community Team

The Kununurra Solar Community team are available for further information, questions, and clarifications.

To arrange a personal visit to your home or business in Kununurra, Wyndham, or Lake Argyle, call, email, or request a Solar Quote Comparison by filling out the form to the right of the page

Contact details:

Rob Burnett -

Mobile: 0410 154 410

Email:  rob@solarchoice.net.au

Justine O’Neill

Mobile: 0406 525 507

Email: justine@solarchoice.net.au

Solar Choice-

Phone: 1300 78 72 73

Email: sales@solarchoice.net.au

Iain McGregor

Justine O'Neill

Rob Burnett

Further reading:

Read more articles about Solar Power in Western Australia

© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

(Top image via http://expressway.paulrands.com/)

The incentive for the Federal Government’s Solar Credits rebate program is set to drop from 1 July 2012. The impact of the impending reduction will have the biggest impact on those who are planning to install solar PV systems around 1.5kW in capacity. Under the 3x multiplier that is currently in place, those who install their systems before the deadline will receive additional STCs (a type of REC) for the first 1.5kW of installed capacity of their system, providing an effective up-front subsidy to their solar systems.

How much will the Federal Solar Credits rebate drop?

According to the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Solar Credit multiplier, which multiplies the number of STCs issued for the first 1.5kW of a solar power system, is to drop from 3x to 2x after the 1 July 2012 deadline. The annual reductions are a planned part of the Government’s incentive scheme for small-scale solar power under the eRET, which was designed so that subsidies would be strategically wound back as solar PV systems become more affordable.

Last year’s premature reduction, the new Carbon Price may mean greater drop this year

However, if last year’s reduction is indicative of what is to come, there is a possibility that the STC multiplier may be reduced to 1x–meaning that, although the standard (non-multiplied) STC rebate will still be applicable, no ‘bonus’ for new solar PV system owners. There is also speculation that the Federal Government, having passed its Carbon Price legislation (scheduled to enter into effect in July as well, and intended to indirectly buoy renewable energy industries), will withdraw some support for the eRET.

What does the Solar Credit rebate reduction mean in monetary terms?

REC Zones

What do Solar Credits amount to in terms of the savings on the cost of a solar power system? This depends firstly on in which ‘REC Zone‘ your property is located. Some areas of Australia tend to have more sunshine than others, as a result of latitude and climatic factors. REC zones take these differences into account, and provide a greater subsidy for systems that can be expected to attain a higher energy yield over the course of their functional lifespans, which are officially ‘deemed’ at 15 years (but ordinarily expected to be 30+).

(You can check which REC zone you are in and the according number of STCs you may be eligible for with the ORER STC Calculator.)

RECs are a tradable commodity, and as such the REC price is prone to fluctuation. For the last few months (the latter half of 2011), the price has hovered at approximately $28, but has since its introduction seen fluctuations from as low as $16 to over $40. Depending on where the REC price sits when you install your system, your Solar Credit rebate will vary. (Some solar installers will also guarantee a higher REC price in order to entice customers with lower up-front system costs, taking the liability of price fluctuations on for themselves.)

Multiplier vs no multiplier scenarios: The difference in Solar System prices

The STC allotments for a 1.5kW system and the applicable ‘Solar Rebate’ for each Zone, under different REC multiplier scenarios are detailed in the chart below. (Prices are based on an assumed REC price of $30–actual rebates may be higher or lower.)

The savings on solar PV systems available under the 3x multiplier are significant. For example, at the moment, the price of a 1.5kW solar PV system in a REC Zone 3 area of NSW can be as low as $2000. In the absence of Solar Credit support (i.e. no REC multiplier), the same system would cost as much as $5000. Solar system prices currently sit at an all-time low, due primarily to a global glut of supply of components, and are not expected to sink much further. These factors, in combination with the projected electricity price rises across the country, mean that for Australians considering having a system installed as an investment, now is arguably the best time to do so.

For updates on the state of affairs with the Solar Credits Scheme, follow us on Twitter.

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

The Victorian government has announced that “in the context of the implementation of a national carbon price“, an inquiry will be carried out with regard to the state’s Feed-in Tariff incentive schemes. The Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC), the state’s consumer watchdog body, will conduct the investigation, and will ultimately make recommendations about “the most appropriate arrangements to encourage Victorian households, community organisations, and small businesses to generate renewable energy”.

Government efforts to ‘improve’ Victorian Feed-in Tariff incentives, remove barriers to distributed generation

The review will not be restricted to the State’s Transitional Feed-in Tariff (TFiT), which is for small-scale solar PV generation systems of 5kW or smaller, or the Standard Feed-in Tariff, which applies to all forms of renewable energy generation, including solar PV systems of 5kW or greater. Instead, the inquiry is being conducted to take holistic look at the state of renewable energy initiatives in the State in order to determine how to obtain the most environmental and financial benefit from them. This could result in alterations to current incentive schemes, but at the moment it is entirely unclear as to what form these alterations might take.

According to the DPI website, the inquiry’s terms of reference (as set by the State Treasurer’s office) require VCEC to:

-Consider how efficient and effective feed-in tariffs are as a greenhouse gas reduction program;

-Provide a recommendation as to whether feed-in tariffs should be continued, changed, or phased out; and

-Identify barriers to a network of distributed renewable and low emission generation in Victoria, including co-generation and tri-generation

What this inquiry is: A proactive attempt on the part of the government to streamline its renewable energy incentives to make them more effective. It seems to be an attempt by the government to learn and improve its approach to renewables policy.

What it is not is a reactive, retrospective, and critical attack on a failed or bungled policy initiative, much as the inquiries into the NSW and WA Solar Bonus Feed-in Tariff schemes were.

An issues paper on the inquiry is expected to be released ‘in the near future’. The issues paper will describe the inquiry’s scope, the information the Commission is seeking, and an outline of the process and timetable for the inquiry.

Current Feed-in Tariff recipients not to be affected

It is important to note, as the DPI has, that outcomes of the inquiry “will not be applied retrospectively to any customers on existing feed-in tariffs, and potential customers wishing to sign up to the current Transitional Feed-in Tariff scheme will not be affected”.

Resources and Links

Victoria Department of Primary Industries: “Government inquiry into Solar Feed-in Tariffs”

VCEC: Feed-in Tariff Inquiry Terms of Reference (pdf)

For updates on the state of affairs with the Victoria Feed-in Tariff, follow us on Twitter.

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Thinking about making an investment in a solar power system? While you’re at it, it might make sense to insulate your house and get rid of some of your old energy-guzzling white goods. If you’re a Victoria resident, the government has a scheme to help you mitigate some of the up-front cost of cutting down your carbon emissions and your energy bills.

Victoria has a reputation for being one of the most progressive and environmentally-minded states in Australia. The state offers one of the most generous Solar Feed-in Tariffs in the country–25c per kWh. Victoria’s state government’s incentives take a holistic, well-rounded approach to sustainability, providing support not only for renewable energy generation, but also for the implementation of energy efficiency measures that reduce a home or business’s carbon footprint. Victoria Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) are the state’s energy efficiency version of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which are offered by the Federal government as an effective upfront subsidy for renewable energy installations, including solar PV systems.

What’s a VEEC? Certificates issues through the VEET

The Victoria Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) is the scheme which sets up the rules for the creation and sale of VEECs. There are 10 categories of activities which, if undertaken, can result in the creation of VEECs and the associated discount which is passed on to energy users. 1 VEEC represents 1 tonne of CO2-e abatement, calculated by comparing the difference between the energy use of the new product (e.g. an air conditioner), and the ‘baseline’ energy use (essentially, the amount of energy that would have been used if the new high-efficiency product had not been installed.) There are free VEEC calculators available on the Essential Services Commission (ESC) website.

The price of VEECs vary according to supply and demand (at the time of writing, the value of 1 VEEC is approximately $33). The greater the energy efficiency gain of the upgraded product, the more VEECs are issued. This value comes through to the end customer in the form of a discount, which is recouped by whoever provides the product/service (see below).

Some of these categories are applicable only to households, some only to businesses, and some to both. 1The categories into with VEEC-generating activities fall are:

Water heating
Space heating and cooling
Space conditioning
Lighting
Shower roses
Refrigerators/freezers
Televisions
Clothes dryers
Pool pumps
Standby Power Controllers

Who can issue VEECs?

VEECs can only be created by ‘Accredited Persons’. Businesses and sole traders can be deemed ‘Accredited Persons’ after being certified by the Essential Services Commission (ECS). Some examples of accredited bodies are sole traders, appliance stores, and electricity retailers. Unlike the Federal Solar Credit scheme, individuals cannot ordinarily hold on to their certificates in order to trade them at a later date to get better value.

Who buys the VEECs?

Much like under the Federal Solar Credit scheme, ‘Relevant Entities’ (usually big polluters and carbon-intensive industries) are required to ‘surrender’ a set number of certificates on the 30 April to cover their liability for the previous year. Not surrendering the requisite number of certificates results in a penalty. Although ESC does not provide a trading floor for VEECs, all ‘transfers’ (as sales are known) must pass through a VEET account to be registered.

Dual benefit: Upfront discount and electricity bill savings over time

VEECs offer a benefit to households and businesses by lowering the initial capital expenditure of energy efficiency improvements. On top of this comes the benefit of money saved on electricity bills as time goes on, especially important considering the electricity price rises that are expected across the country. As with installing a solar PV system, energy efficiency measures taken by a household mitigate these impact of these price increases, acting as an investment whose value increases as time goes on, with an ROI greater than the interest rate on many savings accounts.

Reducing your energy use makes sense when going solar

It is also worthwhile to note that energy efficiency and solar power investments can work hand-in-hand to reduce the need for further fossil fuel-based electricity generation sources–with the caveat, of course, that they are utilised strategically. Installing a solar system for a home, for example, makes little sense financially or environmentally if that home proceeds to consume even more electricity during peak tariff rate times.

What is special about Tindo’s solar panels?

Soon to be Australia’s only solar panel manufacturer

Australia is home to one of the world’s most widely recognised solar PV research centres: UNSW’s Photovoltaic Engineering faculty. This is where the seeds for the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels–Suntech–were planted. It is also a hub for ongoing development of solar technologies. Despite this, nearly all solar panels available on the Australian market are manufactured overseas. Given Australia’s relatively small manufacturing base, this state of affairs may be inevitable, but it does not prevent shoppers from favouring a ‘Made in Australia’ label where one can be found. This is perhaps why news of Tindo’s emergence is causing such a buzz. Since Silex has stopped production of panels, Tindo will be the only company that can call its panels ‘Australian-made’.

Supporting its home-grown image, Tindo’s name comes from the Kaurna Aboriginal language–the language of traditional inhabitants of the Adelaide plains, where the company’s manufacturing plant is located–and means ‘sun’. The name of the company’s first panel line–the Karra 240–gets its etymology from the Kaurna word for ‘sky’ or ‘heaven’.

Hand-selected solar system installers

The company prides itself in its commitment to more than just turning a profit, and hopes to appeal to customers who share a similar mindset. Tindo has hand-selected the installers who will install their panels based on their credibility, ethics, and motivations, hoping to build a great reputation through association with quality installations and excellent customer service. As community engagement is one of the qualities that Tindo requires in its installers, almost all of those selected are small businesses who similarly rely on their reputations and word of mouth to promote their businesses and grow their customer bases.

Solar panels that produce grid-compatible AC electricity

Most solar panels produce Direct Current (DC) electricity, which needs to be converted to 240-volt Alternating Current (AC) via a solar inverter in order for it to be compatible with the electricity grid and to be used by home electrical appliances. Most solar systems have centralised inverters into which all solar panels in a system feed. In such conventional systems, if there are variations in electrical output among panels in an individual string, the output of the whole of the array can suffer.

Tindo panels, on the other hand, each come equipped with micro-inverters made by Enecsys. These inverters allow each panel to function individually, converting DC to AC on the module level. This means that entire strings or arrays will not suffer dramatic output losses in the event of the failure or shading of an individual panel; this increases the yield of a system over its lifetime. Although inverters for each panel may mean a higher upfront cost for the panels themselves, decreased installation labour costs, and the elimination of the need for a central inverter offset much of the upfront cost of a whole system. Additionally, improved yields over the life of the system thanks to the micro-inverter technology make micro-inverter equipped panels a wise investment decision.

Enecsys Micro-Inverters for Tindo Panels--One panel failure does not bring down the whole array. (Image via Enecsys)

In addition to the obvious benefit of circumventing the need for a central inverter (often the most expensive individual part of a solar PV system), Enecsys micro-inverters offer a number of other potential benefits, including improved safety (avoidance of ‘arcing’ across strings of panels, for example), enhanced monitoring capability (the performance of each module can be tracked on a smartphone or a PC individually), and simplified system design and installation (no need to worry about matching panel wattage on strings or what the acceptable central inverter input voltage is).

(SolarEdge, as discussed previously, is a  technology similar to that used in Tindo panels, except that DC electricity is harnessed from each individual panel before all being centrally converted to AC in an centralised inverter. While still advantageous in terms of mitigation of output loss due to partial shading, SolarEdge does not afford the same safety features as the Enecsys micro-inverters used by Tindo.)

High-quality components make a high-quality panel

Where can I get Tindo Solar Panels?

As noted above, only around 60 installers who have been hand-selected by Tindo will be using their panels in installations. At least two of these installers are members of the Solar Choice installer network, and Solar Choice hopes to incorporate more in the future in order to offer an even wider range of installer options to our customers throughout Australia. If you are interested in Tindo solar panels, contact Tindo directly or fill out the Solar Quote Comparison Request form to the right of this page to see if any Solar Choice Network installers in your area offer a Tindo option in their installations.

Resources and Links

Tindo Solar Karra-240 Brochure (pdf)

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Top image via Tindo Solar

Kyocera Solar boasts some of the most efficient and arguably the most reliable solar photovoltaic (solar PV) panels in the extremely competitive emerging global solar industry. A strong player in the solar field since long before solar power reached its current status as a mainstream and well-regarded electricity generation source. Kyocera Solar has made steady progress since its inception in 1975, in both the quality of its products as well as its service, working hard to get its well-earned reputation as one of the best manufacturers in the industry.

(Interested in Kyocera Solar Panels? Request a free Solar Quote Comparison and find out which installers use them in your area.)

Kyocera Solar: Unparalleled performance and reliability

-Kyocera KD modules: High-efficiency, dark-blue polycrystalline silicon cells-

Kyocera Solar might be said to have mastered polycrystalline silicon solar cells, having pioneered the

silicon casting technique developed within its ceramics divisions. Polycrystalline, along with monocrystalline silicon cells, are known as the two most efficient solar technologies that are commercially available. Typically, polycrystalline modules have module efficiencies (input sunlight to output electricity) ranging between 12 and 14%. As always with solar panels, however, it is crucial to look beyond the generalities of technology type and into the details of the brand and its product lines. It is impossible to state as a rule that, for example monocrystalline solar cells are categorically ‘better’ than their polycrystalline equivalent.

Kyocera has refined its technology to attain efficiencies of up to 18.5% in the laboratory, typically translating to over16% during everyday use. One of the technologies that the company uses to enable this impressive level of efficiency is known as Reactive Ion Etching (RIE); RIE gives the Kyocera d.Blue cell line its unique and attractive dark blue hue, as well as its name.

A note about solar panel efficiency vs. durability and manufacturer credibility

Nominal efficiency is not the only or necessarily even the most important factor in when deciding which solar panels best suit your needs, but perhaps because it is the easiest number to point to, it understandably tends to be the first figure that gets a potential solar owner’s attention. There are in fact a number of questions to ask when considering buying a solar power system, and ‘How efficient is this solar panel?’, while important,  is just one of them.

First of all, nameplate efficiency of the solar panels may not reflect the efficiency of the system over the course of its lifetime. Other factors in the balance of system (BoS) such as the inverter–or if you have an off-grid system, the batteries–play an integral role in delivering the power from your panels to your appliances or the electrical grid. Secondly, provided there is ample space for panel mounting, efficiency should be a lower priority than dependability and durability; how long will your panels continue to perform as you want them to?

When considering buying a solar system, it is therefore also integral to consider what sort of solar warranty is on offer, the size and reputability of the manufacturer, the panel’s performance in the climatic conditions of your area (e.g. is it hot? often cloudy?)

Kyocera panels are winners by all accounts. They offer high yeilds than many panels over the course of their lifetimes, and the company has real-life case studies to back this up–the company has recently celebrated the 25-year anniversary of the

Kyocera Sakura Solar Centre - Panel Efficiency Degradation over 25 years

Sakura Solar Energy Centre. This world-renowned facility is the site of a 43kW grid-tie system, installed in 1984. The system consists of more than 1000 modules exposed to over 45,000 hours of solar irradiation. Research has proven that these panels have shown a degradation of an impressively low 9.6%. The company’s technology has also been performing well at the Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre, located outside Alice Springs. On top of their proven real-life performance, there are also warranties on Kyocera panels that guarantee no more than a 20% loss of production over 20 years (e.g. the capacity of a panel rated at 100W will not drop below 80W over 20 years.)

Durability is also a key consideration in the manufacture of Kyocera’s solar panels. They are the first in the world to pass TUV’s extremely stringent long-term sequential test, a test lasting 9-12 months in which one individual panel is subjected first to damp heat, then thermal cycling, followed by a humidity freeze and a bypass diode test.

The take-home point is, the spec sheet of a solar module should not be the final stop when considering which solar panels to install in your system; the credibility of the company itself needs to be considered. Kyocera Solar is a leader in efficiency, power yield, and dependability, and with a 36-year history in solar and a even older and more diversified and profitable parent company, there is little need to worry whether the company will be around to service warranties in the event that something does go wrong at some point after installation.

-Kyocera KD d.Blue Solar Modules: Points of Difference-

-Solar Panels for a full range of applications: residential, commercial-scale, and projects-

-Some of the highest efficiency polycrystalline silicon panels commercially available. 16+% conversion efficiency (sunlight to power), and outstanding yields across their entire lifetime

-First panel manufacturer to use 3 busbar technology (vs only 2)–one of the design technologies key in attaining 16+% efficiency

-Kyocera’s patented Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) technology increases surface area of cells, allowing higher conversion efficiency and resulting in Kyocera cells’ signature dark blue colour

-Manufactured by the world’s first serial producer of polycrystalline silicon solar panels–more experience with the technology than any other manufacturer, and a proven record of steady improvement

-Larger modules such as KD240+ are integrated with 2 back brace support structures that withstand high winds and protect the cells from stress fractures

-20 year warranty on nominal module output–output of solar cells typically falls with time; Kyocera panels have proven to remain remarkably productive over the first 20 years of their lifetime compared to the industry standard, with proven field results at Sakura in Japan, where performance has dropped by only 10% in 25 years. The fact that Kyocera has had 51 years without any losses as a company means that it is a company that can be trusted to service warranties well into the future.

-Proven performance, demonstrated through a variety of sites around the world delivering better than expected power yields; one of the only companies that has long-term data on large installations

-Superb customer service from before purchase through to post-installation troubleshooting–Kyocera takes pride in its products and offers advice and help for all aspects of an array’s life

-First solar panels in the world to pass the harsh new ‘long term sequential test’ developed by TUV

-Vertical integration of panels means Kyocera has direct oversight of all components that comprise modules

-Product Specifications/Electrical Characteristics-

Kyocera KD P series technical specifications (pdf)

You can compare how Kyocera panels compare to a number of other name brand panels on the Desert Knowledge Australia website, an invaluable resource for those shopping around for solar panels. Please keep in mind that one variable not accounted for, however, is the age of the installation in question. Kyocera panels are amongst the very first technologies installed at Desert Knowledge Australia in 2008. Kyocera also demonstrates that their panels deliver a higher yield (kWh/kWp) than technologies claiming a higher efficiency.

-Other products by Kyocera-

In addition to its KD line of solar panels, Kyocera is also a supplier of solar inverters and charge controllers

-Component standards met/awards-

-All models of Kyocera solar panels are certified by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) of Australia, and are on the list of CEC-approved components

-PV Cycle– Kyocera is a member of the PV Cycle program

-CE mark– Kyocera panels are compliant with European Union regulations

-EC 61215 ed.2 IEC 61730 and Safety Class II

-EC 61701 (Salt Mist Corrosion Testing)–Corrosion-resistant even in areas close to the ocean

-TUV.com-ID: 0000023299

-Kyocera is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified and registered

-Warranty-

20 year performance warranty guarantees no more than an 80% drop in efficiency over this period

(Your installer may also offer additional warranties for the entire system.)

Read about solar panel and solar system warranties.

About Kyocera Solar

-Company Headquarters-

Global head office: Kyoto, Japan

Australia head office: North Ryde, Sydney NSW

Kyocera Solar owns and operates numerous offices throughout the world in order to provide prompt and personal service

-Factory locations-

Centre of Cell Production: Yohkaichi, Japan

2nd production centre: Yasu, Japan

Kyocera Solar also has assembly plants  in the US, North America, China, and the Czech Republic

The panels available in Australia are assembled in Mexico.

-History in the Solar Industry-

Kyocera Solar has been researching solar technology since 1975 and producing solar cells since 1978.

Parent company Kyocera was established in 1959.

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Sources and links:

Kyocera Australia Home Page

Previous related Solar Choice articles: Solar Panels and Solar Modules – Questions to ask when considering buying a solar power system – Which solar panels are right for you? – Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) – Desert Knowledge Solar Centre solar panel comparisons – Solar Panel Tilt and Orientation in Australia