What are the benefits of solar panels?
The benefits of renewable energy, including solar panels, are far-reaching. Renewable energy is inexhaustible and will never run out, unlike fossil fuels that have taken millions of years to be created by natural processes and have taken only 100 or so years to come close to exhaustion. The negative impacts of fossil fuels are well known - they are polluting and cause human health problems, create greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change; mines damage landscapes, require huge areas of cleared land and use a lot of water; and transportation impacts including oil spills, to name just a few. Also, once oil, gas, uranium and coal runs out, it's gone forever!
Renewable energy is non-polluting and doesn't create greenhouse gases, free once installed, isn't dependent on fluctuating oil prices or vulnerable to political instability, and best of all, you can be assured that you are contributing to the ongoing wellbeing of our planet and future generations! Installing solar panels on your roof will have the added benefit of reducing your electricity bills.
What is an inverter?
An inverter is a small box that converts the low DC voltage generated by the solar panel system to the normal 240V AC household supply. It also monitors the operation of the system to control how much electricity is drawn from or fed to the grid.
If there is a blackout, will I still have power?
No. If you have a grid-connected PV system and there is a blackout, your inverter will automatically shut itself off within a few milliseconds, to avoid the potential of a dangerous "brown-out" in your home and to prevent back-feeding the grid.
Doesn't the energy used to make solar panels offset the benefits of the energy created by solar panels?
The embodied energy of a panel varies, but an installed panel only takes about 18 months to offset the energy used to create it.
What rebates are available?
As of July 1st 2009, a Federal Government program known as Solar Credits started rolling out. This is not means tested and is not a rebate per se, but offers householders an increased rate for the sale of their Renewable Energy Certificates. The value of RECs can vary slightly and so the payment is not a set amount. The RECs multiplier is currently set at 3.
The Western Australian State Government recently 'suspended' its net feed-in tariff. It is unknown if or when this will be re-introduced.
What does a home sustainability assessment involve?
A home sustainability assessment (HSA) is the first thing every household should do before installing solar panels as it is much easier and cheaper to firstly reduce your energy use and invest in energy efficiency than it is to invest in renewable energy technologies! Even if you aren't installing panels a HSA is a useful tool for households to reduce their impact on the environment and save electricity, gas and water bills. A HSA will help you get more out of your panels and pay less for your electricity use. A HSA takes an holistic view of your electricity, gas and water consumption: a 1.5-2 hour visit with our accredited assessor will help you identify your major energy and water sinks and provide recommendations on how to reduce usage.
What brand solar panels and inverters do Geographe Green use?
Geographe Green does not have ties to any particular brand of panels or inverters and can source most brands on request. However, we generally offer four brands of solar panels: Sharp, Solarfun, SilexSolar and Astronergy. All brands provide excellent quality panels and come with similar warranties. Our preferred inverters are SMA, Latronics (Australian-made with a three-year warranty), Fronius (European-made with a five-year warranty that can be extended to 10 years) and Aurora.
How big are the panels?
A 6-panel system will take up about 8sqm on your roof.
Do solar panels/inverters require any maintenance?
Solar panels are installed on an angle so that any leaves, dust, debris etc. that falls on them generally slides right off. A light rubbing over with a dry cloth every now and again will help keep your solar output to an optimum level.
Where should my solar panels be installed?
Ideally, your solar panels should be installed on your north facing roof and won't be shaded out by trees, neighbouring properties etc.. This can be on your home, granny flat or shed. Panels can also be on a separate ground-mounted frame if needed.
Where should my inverter be installed?
Depending on the inverter you purchase, it can either be installed outside in the elements, or protected under an eave, in your garage or other appropriate space. Inverters do make a very small amount of noise when starting up and shutting down for the day (with the rise and set of the sun), but this is negligible.
How much will my solar panels reduce my bills by?
The answer to this question depends on many things, such as whether your panels are shaded at any time during the day, where your panels are angled and obviously how much electricity you currently consume. A great way to reduce your bills even more is to have a Home Sustainability Assessment.
How much do solar panels cost?
The cost of solar panels depend on many things, including:
- How many solar panels you want; do you want to receive all of your energy from the sun or just partially offset your bills?
- If you want to expand your system in the future.
- If you have a tiled roof, or double storey home (this adds a small amount to the installation cost).
- What brand of solar panels you choose.
- If you are eligible for Solar Credits.
- If you choose to sell your Renewable Energy Certificates, and timing of sale.
How many solar panels will I need?
The number of solar panels you need (to cover your electricity costs) depends on the amount of energy you use; the more energy your household consumes, the more panels you will need to cover this. Many people choose a 1.5kW (as this is the maximum capacity that Solar Credits are eligible), which is usually 8 or 9 panels and on average over the year (more in summer and less in winter) produces 8kWh (8 units) of energy per day. Generally, this provides about 1/2 - 1/3 of the electricity use for an average household, although this can vary greatly depending on a household's energy habits. If you have energy-efficient habits and do not regularly use energy-hungry appliances, a one or two-person household can easily cover their electricity bills with a standard 1.5kW system.
What are Renewable Energy Certificates?
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are a form of "currency" that can be earned when you install renewable energy equipment and are used to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Government's mandatory renewable energy target.
However, if the owner does not wish to go through this process, they may transfer their right to "create" the RECs to another person, called an Agent. Geographe Green can create RECs on behalf of householders that we install panels for.
More information can be found here.