FAQs
How does the feed-in tariff work?
Is the smart meter included in the price?
Do I have to organise the smart meter?
What is the ideal position for the panels?
How does solar work?
The solar panels are attached onto rails which are then attached to the surface of the roof of the house. All the panels are connected via cables. The panels are then connected to an inverter. The inverter is the about the size of 2 shoe boxes stacked on top of each other and it¨s job is to convert solar power into electricity which you can use in your home. The inverter is connected to the electrical board, feeding live to the grid.
Your solar system will be active during daylight, therefore anything powered by electricity in the home will be powered by solar during the day. In the evenings, you are using electricity from the grid.
Where does the inverter go?
The inverter is usually installed close to the electrical board. It has a weatherproof outdoor casing so it can be installed outdoors as well.
Can I store the power?
No, you won¨t be able to store the power as we specialise in the systems which connect to the main grid. You need large battery stalls to store the power which can be very expensive. Also, if we did not connect you to the grid, the system is not subsidised so you end up paying the shelf price for the system. For example, a 1.5W system would be approximately $6,000.
How does the feed-in tariff work?
Any excess electricity generated from your solar system is put back into the grid. For the next 15 years, you are effectively selling this electricity to your power provider at a higher rate than what you pay for electricity. With electricity prices set to rise, this means you pay your system off quickly and reducing your bills in no time. Once you¨ve paid your system off, you basically have free electricity.
Feed In Tariffs are issued by most State Governments and provides an incentive to switch to renewable energy. Feed In Tariffs offer a premium rate for your solar electricity.
The below table is a snapshot of the different Feed In Tariffs between States. This is a guide and you should find out more at each State¨s official website.
Click on the State to find out more information on that particular State and its Feed-In Tariff.
|
State |
Program |
Rate |
Net/Gross |
Limit |
End Year |
|
|
Electricity Feed-In Tariff Scheme Only applicable to systems installed between 1 March 2009 and 30 June 2011 |
Between 1 March 2009 and 30 June 2010
Between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011 |
Gross |
30kW |
20 years from commencement of agreement |
|
|
Solar Bonus Scheme
Only applicable to systems connected to the grid prior to 28 April 2011 |
Prior to 18 November 2010: 60c/kWh Between 18 November and 28 April 2011: 20c/kWh |
Gross / Net |
10kW |
2016 |
|
Solar Bonus Scheme |
44c/kWh |
Net |
5kW |
Not specified |
|
|
|
Solar Feed-In Scheme |
Between 1 August 2010 and 30
September 2011:
Between 1 October 2011 and 30
September 2013:
After 30 September 2013: |
Net |
The first 45kWh exported to the grid daily |
2028 2016 |
|
|
Solar Feed-In Tariff
|
Not specified |
N/A |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
|
Premium Feed-In Tariff Closed on 30 September 2011. Standard Feed-In Tariff Transitional Feed-In Tariff Replacing the Premium Feed-In Tariff. Due to come into effect 1 January 2012. |
Premium: 60c/kWh
Standard: 23.5c/kWh Transitional: 25c/kWh |
Net |
Premium:
Standard:
Transitional: |
2024
|
|
|
Feed-In Tariff Is now closed to new applications. |
Prior to 1 July 2011: 40c/kWh Between 1 July 2011 and 1 August 2011: 20c/kWh |
Net |
Not specified |
10 years from commencement of agreement |
*Feed In Tariff information is taken from each
of the respective states¨ government website and is subject to change
without notice. For more information, please visit your local government
website.
Is
the smart meter included in the price?
No. The cost of the smart meter is billed to you by your power provider and every household will eventually be billed for one as the smart meters are being rolled out across the country. It depends on who you are with but it should cost around
$100-$400.
Do I have to organise the smart meter?
Each power provider will have their own company procedures for installing the smart meter, so it depends on who you are with.
If a 3kW system is twice the size of a 1.5kW system, why is it more than double the price of the 1.5kW system?
Government rebates are only applicable for 1 packaged system per electricity meter. The rebates don¨t increase proportionally to the size of the system, so we have to compensate for that through our pricing of the systems which ensures the company is not operating at a loss.
How big are the panels?
The panels measure approximately 158cm x 81cm. For a 1kW system, you need 10sqm of roof space; for a 1.5kW system, you need 12sqm of roof space; for a 2kW system, you need 16sqm of roof space.
What is the ideal position for the panels?
The ideal position for the panels is a north facing roof with a 30＜ pitch. The next ideal position is west, then east. In Victoria, the south is not ideal for solar panels as it is not exposed to much sun. Below document from Clean Energy Council shows the Average annual daily total irradation (MJ/sqm) on an inclined plane could provide better understanding.
For more information, visit http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/cec/technologies/solarpv.html
Got more questions? Speak to one of our friendly solar consultants on 1300 998 487.
