Solar Power - Frequently Asked Questions
Solar Power - Frequently Asked Questions
How much roof area does the system need?
The crystalline solar modules in the higher quality systems are relatively compact. For each 1.5kW of system size (8 panels) you would need an area of approximately 6.5m wide x 1.6m tall for a landscape layout, and 3.25m x 3.2m for a portrait layout.
For example:
| Landscape: 6.5m x 1.6m | Portrait: 3.25m x 3.2m |
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You are not however restricted to just the portrait and landscape formats. The layout of the panels can be configured in almost any way to meet your available roof area. Please contact us for a tailored solution.
Do the panels have to be mounted on my roof?
Most systems are mounted on the roof but we can also mount them on the ground (using a pole mounted into a concrete base). Ground mounting is ideal if you have limited roof space or if your roof is subject to regular shading. We can also supply and install ‘tracking’ systems, where the panels are mounted on a pole and the panels move during the day according to the position of the sun. They can provide an extra 3 hours of effective sunlight per day, but are considerably more expensive compared to fixed mountings (it is usually more cost effective to install extra solar panels) and can present maintenance problems inherent in any device with moving parts.
Can I mount the panels on any roof, no matter which way it faces?
Facing due north is the ideal orientation, but panels facing more east or west can still provide a high percentage of available power (perhaps 10-15% reduction). The optimum tilt angle of the solar panels is 20-25 degrees which makes standard roof pitches ideal, but if you have a low angle or flat roof we can use adjustable tilt frames to bring the panels up to the ideal angle.
No. The panels are made with a low-iron tempered glass face and are specifically designed and certified to withstand large hailstones. The aluminium frames are anodized for extra durability and long life.
How many solar panels do I need to power my home?
Every house is different, depending on how many people are living there, how efficient your appliances and lighting are and how you use them. It is more cost effective to reduce your energy use first and then install a smaller solar system than to try and cover all the energy use of an inefficient house. We can help you to identify and improve the inefficient aspects of your home with advice, an eco audit, and a wide range of products.
A 1.5kW system (8 panels) is the best value for money system, and will produce around 50% of the average home's power consumption.
How much power will the system produce?
Every location is slightly different but a 1kW solar system will produce approx 4.2 kilowatt hours (kWh) per day, averaged over the year. We use the Sunny Design program to estimate what your particular system will produce per year, based on your location in Australia and using data from the Bureau of Meteorology.
How long will the system last?
All of our solar panels come with a 25 year power output warranty. This is as long as any warranty offered on the market. Most other system components have a 5 year warranty (including installation on our Premium Package), and all inverters have an upgraded 10 year warranty for no extra cost. The usable life of solar systems is typically quite a bit longer than the warranty period, as proven by many systems installed in remote areas of Australia.
What happens when the power company has a failure?
Your solar power system will instantly shut off if the grid fails. This is Australian law and is designed to protect electrical line workers. When the grid power is shut off, the workers expect the lines to be 'dead' so they can safely repair faults without being electrocuted. If your system keeps producing electricity, it can risk the lives of the line workers. This also protects any electricians doing work within your home.It is prohibitively expensive to provide long term battery backup, but we can design a small system (incorporating a solar panel, battery and inverter) that you can use for emergency situations. This is ideal for keeping food cool, and especially for sleep apnoea (CPAP) machines.
Do I need batteries with the system?
No. Our grid-connected system effectively uses the electricity grid as a storage system, which means if you are not home during the day any excess power flows into the grid, and spins your meter into credit. You then consume power as per usual when you come home at night and you will only be charged for the extra power you consume over and above what your solar panels have produced.
Can I install solar panels and disconnect totally from the grid?
It is not feasible to build this system, if you are in a grid-connected area. The cost for batteries and other components would be far too expensive. Having a connection to the grid also means you can ‘export’ your excess solar electricity.If you live in a remote area, you can install a Solar Power system and claim a cashback under the Solar Credits Scheme. This is a new rebate program, see the next page for more information.
What happens if I produce excess electricity?
Some power companies will actually pay you for excess produced, others will simply credit it against your bill, to be used at another time. Check with your current energy retailer and shop around for a better deal if you are not happy. We install a bi-directional Smart Meter that keeps track of energy flowing out of your house into the grid, e.g. when you are at work on a sunny day, as well as energy flowing into your house from the grid as usual.
What is a ‘feed-in tariff’, and how does it affect me?
In 2009, the new ‘feed-in tariff’ law will come into effect. This means that when you produce excess electricity you will get approx 4 times the price paid by you to the electricity company. The standard price of electricity is currently around 16c per kilowatt hour (c/kWh). With the feed-in tariff, you will be paid 60c/kWh for the excess. This dramatically reduces your payback period for the solar power system. Ask us if you require more detailed information.
Does the system affect my existing roof?
The frames for the solar panels are connected to your existing roof, so nothing will need to be altered. For a tile roof, we remove some of the tiles, attach our brackets to the rafters in the roof, and then the tiles go back into place. For a tin roof it is even easier because the frames are mounted directly to the roof. All of the framing systems we use are certified for cyclone weather conditions.
What happens if the panels are shaded?
Solar panels obviously require sunlight to produce electricity, but a certain amount of minor shading won’t impact the system dramatically. We always design our systems to avoid shading at every time of day, which is why we conduct a free assessment at your home before we provide a quotation. If you are concerned about shading on your roof, please contact us for more details.
Can the panels be damaged in a storm?
You would have to be very unlucky! A direct lightning strike is about the only weather likely to do significant damage. As mentioned before, they are designed to withstand the harshest weather conditions possible.
Do I need to clean or maintain the panels?
Our solar panels have a glass face. This means they rarely need to be washed or cleaned, but it is advisable to wipe them down with hot, soapy water perhaps once a year. Small collections of dust, dirt and bird droppings won’t have much affect on the output, but over time this will build up and reduce the effectiveness of the solar panel.
Is there a financial incentive for installing solar power?
Absolutely! A new generous rebate system has been introduced called the Solar Credits Program, which will assist in the upfront costs of installing a solar electricity system. This rebate is not means tested, which means that everyone is eligible!
The Solar Credits program is based on Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s), which are allocated to households and businesses installing renewable energy. They are a kind of carbon credit you receive for being a green energy producer. The REC’s system has been around for a few years now, but under the new Solar Credits program the Federal Government has stated that people will now receive five times as many RECs than they used to (for the first 1.5 kW they install). For any excess above 1.5 kW you will get the old RECs amount, as well as the five times amount on the first 1.5 kW. What this means is that at the current RECs value you may receive around $6000 in RECs back for a 1.5 kW system.
When combined with the new Feed-in tariff, installing Solar has never been more rewarding!
If I sell my property, do the solar panels affect the sale price?
Of course! Recent property sales have proven that a 1kW solar system loses very little value over its life, and when you factor in the Solar Credits and Feed-in tariff your Solar PV system will probably be worth more than you paid for it! You could take the system off the roof and take it with you, but this is a costly and difficult procedure. A Solar Power system is a very wise investment, especially considering the rising price of mains electricity.
How long does it take to install a solar power system?
For most 1kW and 2kW systems, we will start early in the morning and be done by tea time. Some larger systems can take the best part of 2 days, but houses with a tin roof are much quicker to install than a tile roof. The biggest delay used to begetting the rebate pre-approved, but with the removal of the rebate program, we can now install your system immediately, instead of waiting up to 12 weeks for therebate approval.
Will the installation require half my house to be ripped apart?
All of our hardware is installed with virtually no modification to your house. The framing kits are incorporated into your existing roof (with a tile roof, we remove the tile, mount the frame into the rafter, then replace the tile as if it was never removed). We also run the cables inside the roof and walls, and use conduit as a last resort, so you can be sure that the system will have very little impact on the aesthetics of your home.
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EnviroGroup is proud to recieve the Power Partners Gold Dealer Award for 2009.
This award is for the installation of up to 100kW of BP Solar modules during the 2009 year.
EnviroGroup would like to thank Power Partners and BP Solar for their support.