Mildura, 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 Mildura residents.
Solar power systems in Mildura: Benefits
Getting the most of Mildura’s sun
Mildura 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.
Mildura, Victoria: Power consumption patterns vs solar PV system generation
Understanding a home or business’s power usage habits and levels is the first step towards finding the best solar PV power system deals in Mildura, or anywhere else in Australia. Electricity demand varies by the number of occupants and energy usage patterns, but for means of example, the standard 3-person home uses an annual average of about 20kWh per day. A 5kW solar system will produce approximately this much power in Mildura, but this power is only be generated during daylight hours.
However, thanks to Victoria’s solar households and businesses on the state’s 25c/kWh Transitional Solar Feed-in Tariff (for systems of 5kW in capacity or smaller), households and businesses can also benefit from exporting solar electricity to the grid. Similarly, 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 Mildura residents
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 systems in Mildura. Victorian residents may be 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 system installed depends on the amount of solar irradiation (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.)
A 5kW solar power system installed in Mildura, 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 2x until 1 July 2013), the system would pick up an additional 31 bonus credits, bringing the grand total to 134. With an assumed REC price of $30, this means an up-front discount of $4,020.
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 Mildura
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 Mildura
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 Mildura. 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 Mildura, Victoria
How to use the calculator*:
1. Download the Solar Choice Mildura Solar PV ROI (Excel file) calculator
2. Request a Solar Quote Comparison of the solar system installers in Mildura 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)
He is now the communications manager for energy technology startup SwitchDin, but remains an occasional contributor to the Solar Choice blog.
James lives in Newcastle in a house with a weird solar system.
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Hi @James
You have done the best job!!! I totally agree with you. Mostly the solar project we have to consume for a better future.