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Solar Power

Misunderstanding still at the heart of solar

by LJW Solar on January 23, 2013

We work across a range of different markets in NSW within solar including : residential, commercial and rural. What we find  is that almost everyone we speak to doesn’t understand the full implications of a net feed in tariff.

A net feed in tariff means that the power you generate from solar is directed into your premises where if you have a load it will be used.

If you don’t have a load it is exported.

If it is used – it is worth to you whatever you would have paid for that power (currently from 28c/kwh – 47c/kwh for residential, and from 15c/kwh – 32c/kwh for commercial). So it is possible to work out the value of  the system in savings.

However, when it is exported, it is either lost or paid for at a small rate. (with commercial, you get no feed in tariffs. With residential  you’ll get from nothing up to 8c depending on who your bill comes from and who owns the grid where you are.

The implications of this are:

  • Putting on a system that exceeds your needs is a waste of money
  • “Exceeds your needs” is about daytime consumption, not overall consumption. 
  • You can’t offset power you use at night. If the solar is not producing, then you pay for that power, irrespective of how much you produced and exported during the day. 
  • It is almost impossible to completely offset a bill because you still pay for some power. Putting on a bigger system does not help.
  • Most people are talked into systems larger than they need by solar power companies who do not understand this, or don’t explain it.
  • If you are not using power during the day, solar is probably not the best bet for you.
Our goal is advising you to put on a system that is big enough, but not larger than you need.
In our experience, if you use all the power that a system makes it will pay for itself in about 5 years.
If you don’t use the power, ie your system produces but you don’t use it… then the payback may blow out substantially. We have seen houses that use a small amount of power during the day with a 5kw system. This is a wasted investment and the owners may not even know.
There’s three ways to work out your daytime power needs
  • An educated guess. Looking at your total daily consumption and working out what is daytime and what is nightime. Often it is 10-40% daytime. 
  • Taking meter readings morning and night. This is accurate and easy to do. 
  • Monitoring. We offer a service of data logging on your meter which tells us exactly when power is used. This is a paid service but is refunded if you go ahead with our system. 
If you would like to discuss the right size system for your needs please call Stuart Gordon on 1300 792 011.

 

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The importance of monitoring for commercial solar

by LJW Solar on January 23, 2013

One of the main reasons for installing solar for businesses is an economic return. When we propose solar to companies we are aware that it has to be a solid economic proposition – it has to provide a good return on investment, and it needs to compete with other projects that require capital.

So, we will include monitoring in our proposals to you for commercial solar (for residential it is an option).

One of the drawbacks of solar power is that you are buying an asset that you can’t SEE working. Because you still remain connected to the grid,and your power continues to flow in from the grid as you need it, then if your solar stopped working, your power would not stop.

You could wait until your power bills came in, and try and decipher if your consumption was more or less than previous.

Or you could look at your inverter and see how much it displayed it was producing at any time of day.

Or you could get a monitoring system.

Monitoring often costs from $1500-5000 and gives you real time information on what your system is producing. The systems will also store data for historical comparison.

The main reasons for wanting monitoring are:

  • Check that the system is doing what it should
  • Compare output v warranteed output
  • Share data with other stakeholders about the success of the system – for example: the public, customers, shareholders, staff etc.

 

There’s many providors of monitoring systems, and there are a few things to consider:

  • Is it made by the inverter manufacturers, or a 3rd party add on?
  • Does it have a proven track record?
  • What is the access to the information – web based? Secure or public?
  • How can the information be displayed?
  • What is the measurement method? (can be from actual electricity flow, or from internal inverter measurements). 

 

In commercial solar, we often specify SMA inverters because of their technical excellence and build quality (German stuff, say no more…)

SMA have their own monitoring solutions which work very well with their equipment and are a moderate cost (from $1500 including setup) – this includes an add on card in the inverter, wiring to a Sunny Webbox, and then either hard-wiring or bluetooth connnection to a company’s router. From there, the performance can be set as public or password accessed. For a greater investment you can add on separate monitors and ‘dashboard’ views using their free software called FlashView.

See this for some examples of SMA Monitoring systems.

 

Check this out for a real-time example of data from Baxter Healthcare using SMA inverters.

Click here for some more examples of data from commercial solar systems and a discussion about systems that also display power use (‘black data’) as well as solar power production.

For a discussion on how solar can help your business – and the free financial modelling that we provide – please call Stuart Gordon on 1300 792 011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Let us do a financial analysis for your business solar power needs

by LJW Solar on December 22, 2011

Financial Performance for Solar Power

If we told you that you could get a 5 year payback on commercial solar AND have it cash flow positive from the outset, you probably wouldn’t believe us.

So… let us show you! Let’s have a discussion about your bill, your roof and your situation.

We offer a full financial modelling service so that we can demonstrate with current pricing, the payback is just 5 years. AND we can offer finance to make it happen.

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Solar Update – NSW Pricing

by LJW Solar on December 22, 2011

The most important things right now with solar power are:
- Choosing the right size system (you are not rewarded for over producing power)
- Choosing the best quality components and warranties
- Choosing the right installer
- Getting the right price

The right size system can currently give a payback of 5 years.

Talk to us now about having a quote and a site inspection carried out.

System prices are around:
- $4280 for a 1.52kW system with 10 year inverter warranty and 25 year output warranty
- $5086 for a 1.9kW system
- $8190 for a 3.04kW system

For quick action takers, we are offering a free “upsize” – so for the cost of a 1.52kW system, you get a 1.9kW system. (10 panels for the price of 8 panels)
For the cost of a 1.9kW system, you get a 2.28kW system. (12 panels for the price of 10 panels)
For the cost of a 3.04kW system you get a 3.42kW system (18 panels for the price of 16)

For specifics – call Stuart Gordon on 0424 225 097 or email stuartgordon@ljwsolar.com.au

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News – AuSUS CEO John Grimes at 49th Annual Solar 2011 Conference

by LJW Solar on December 13, 2011

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New price for solar panels – new lower pricing!

by LJW Solar on December 11, 2011

If you have a price of ours from SolarChoice any time before 11th December… it is OUT OF DATE.

We have slashed thousands from our pricing due to falling panel prices – STILL for premium quality Suntech with the best warranty available.

Here’s what we are offering… check for confirmation though.

(Our prices include metering, and 10 year product warranties on panels and inverter, 25 year output warranties – combiend with our 28 years in solar power).

1.5kW – pay for a 1.5kW system and get a 2.09kW system. Around $4500 after STCs. This is a saving of thousands.
2.09kW – pay for a 2.09kW system and get a 2.66kW system- Around $5500 after STCs. This is a saving of thousands.

This means that a system will pay for itself in 5 years or less.

Please remember that the RIGHT size system is important. It is a lot like Goldilocks and the Three Bears… not too big and not too small… if you get a system that is too big, you are wasting money. For a discussion on what will work for you – call me personally on 0424 225 097.

Call me – Stuart Gordon – on 0424 225 097
stuartgordon@ljwsolar.com.au

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Canberra – ACT Large Scale Solar Power ramps up

by LJW Solar on December 4, 2011

See full article here

After the end of the successful small and medium scale solar schemes in ACT mid-2011, the only market which is ‘open’ in Canberra is the large scale scheme.

This will work as a reverse auction process, where bidders propose a tariff they’d accept. This part of the scheme allows for up to 210MW of capacity to be installed.

Here’s how the auction works.

A forerunner in this is the state’s own power supplier, ACTEWAGL proposing a system big enough to power 7000 homes.

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ACT mulls solar farms’ role in powering up to 7000 homes
BY NOEL TOWELL
17 Nov, 2011 12:01 AM
Canberra Times

Legislation that will enable vast solar farms to power thousands of Canberra homes will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly today.
The ACT Government will move to implement the last piece of its solar feed-in tariff jigsaw, designed to allow large-scale operators to build giant solar farms in the territory.

If passed, the Electricity Feed In (Large Scale Renewable Energy Generation) Bill 2011 would establish the framework for a feed-in tariff ‘‘reverse auction’’ for at least two, large-scale solar generation plants capable of powering 7000 Canberra homes.

The reverse auction process will require companies to make their pitch to the ACT Government about how they can provide the greatest amount of solar energy at the lowest cost.

The new legislation will outline a scheme to supply up to 210 megawatts in capacity, receiving support through a feed-in tariff and Environment Minister Simon Corbell said the first release would be 40 megawatts.

‘‘The first release under the scheme will deliver enough clean energy to power about 7000 ACT households and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 850,000 tonnes over the life of the project as well as provide about 14 per cent of the minimum electricity demand of the city,’’ Mr Corbell said.

‘‘The recent passage of the Commonwealth’s legislation establishing a long-term carbon price underlines the prudence of jurisdictions and communities in pursuing low carbon energy options,’’ he said.

The Government hopes its auction will attract large-scale solar power generators from around the country but ActewAGL said yesterday it believed it was the frontrunner to win the auction.

Company spokeswoman Dianne O’Hara told ABC Radio yesterday that ActewAGL had already selected a potential site at Williamsdale.

‘‘We’re confident,’’ Ms O’Hara said.

‘‘We’ve done a lot of work on this project over the last little while. We’ve identified some partners that we want to work with, we’ve identified a site, so we’re very determined to put in our best bid.’’

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Update: Solar Power Feed in Tariff in NSW

by LJW Solar on December 4, 2011

If you are wondering what is happening with the NSW Feed in Tariff, it may be worth checking out an overview on how things work HERE. Or read our guide to solar HERE.

The short version is that for power you consume as it is produced, you save buying power from the grid.

So, you could say that the power you produce is worth to you the prevailing rate that you pay for power. When you export power over and above your instantaneous consumption, you are paid between 0c / kWh or 8c / kWh. In other words, you are not paid a great deal for power exported. So, you are advised to choose a system that allows you to use all the power, but not extra.

So, what a lot of people have been waiting for is an update on the feed in tariff which is being investigated by iPart.

While their full report is not due until around April 2012, they have released a preliminary report which indicates the direction they will go.

It is not inspiring for solar!

Their brief, handed to them by the new O’Farrell State Government in the middle of 2011 is a tough one. They need to make recommendations on a system for a feed in tariff so that it does not cost existing power users or tax payers ANYTHING. This is all a knee-jerk reaction to the blow out over the admittedly generous 60c / kWh feed in tariff offered until October 27 2010. This explains why there was such a reaction to the 60c feed in tariff.

iPart is indicating a tariff of 8-10c per kWh. See a version of events here.Many are saying they are ignoring some good options available…

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Residential Solar Power In The Sunshine State

by LJW Solar on November 27, 2011

Residential Solar Power In The Sunshine State

The first question is usually how is business and then followed by are there still rebates for solar in Queensland?
Well I am very excited to tell you that the answer is YES – a big YES indeed!! Queensland you are the lucky state with an excellent Solar Rebate.

- Strong STC market = increase rebate discount available

- Legislated 44c net feed-in tariff (+6c offered at retailers discretion) = payback at a higher rate than the cost of power.

- Quality panels selling at record low prices = savings

- Quality High Output Inverters offering fantastic value = savings

- Great Value offers from REPUTABLE companies = savings and peace of mind for you and your family.

If you are buying a solar system now, or thinking about investing in a system in the near future, you will be very happy to know that NOW is the right time to do so. Not only would I consider it to be the right time now, but also POTENTIALLY the BEST TIME to do so.

Rising power prices means TODAY IT’S COSTING YOU MORE MONEY TO STAY AT HOME. We are using increasingly more and more, electrical goods in the home. Simply count the number of plugs into your homes power outlets. You will be amazed to see where all that power is going to use.

People asking me whether it is worth doing – getting a solar system installed. My question is Do you enjoy opening your power bill every quarter, only to find another EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH POWER BILL? Wouldn’t you rather receive a power bill where you see a SOLAR CREDIT BEING ISSUED TO YOU and offsetting your account?

The reason I say “potentially” is because there is a lot of cheap product on the market due to an oversupply in world markets, and Australia is receiving a lot of discounted stock.

The average shopper is a pretty savvy buyer these days when it comes to researching products thanks to the internet. However, solar panels are not something that the average person is very familiar with. Let’ face it, all solar panels look alike on the surface, and they all have a 25 year ‘Output Warranty’ on them. And with so many companies offering such ridiculously cheap deals, one could be easily led down the heavily discounted path hunting for the cheapest advertised price.

But Please… BUYERS BEWARE! Here’s why…

LJW SOLAR are NOW operating in QLD and getting people started in solar the right way.

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BIPV – Building Integrated Photovoltaics – an Australian success story

by LJW Solar on November 6, 2011

Building Integrated Photovoltaics

< See full article here >

Dyesol takes research to Japan and creates “solar steel” in Wales

Australia-based dye sensitized photovoltaic developer Dyesol has been awarded a prestigious Japanese research grant and announced the creation of world’s largest dye sensitized steel based module, in partnership with Tata Steel in North Wales.

Building integrated photovoltaics may be about to move away from the integration of solar modules and towards the full integration of solar energy capacity on an industrial scale, with two announcements from developer Dyesol. The company, which claims the dye sensitized solar cells (DSC) have the potential to be integrated into building materials at lower cost and with less energy demands than other photovoltaic technologies, announced late last week the results of their development with British based steel manufacturer Tata Steel.

While unveiling the steel integration developments, Dyesol and Tata Steel showed off a three meter length of “solar steel” that is one square meter in area. They claim it to be the world’s largest dye sensitized photovoltaic module. Both companies also claimed that the production process used is a, “continuous printing and coating for scaling up of the production of steel strips.” Important to this is that a single length of coated “solar steel” is produced, rather than separate cells connected together.

Sylvia Tulloch, managing director of Dyesol told pv magazine that while the exact timeframe of DSC steel commerical production steel isn’t yet public, that Tata Steel is in the process of making plans. “Tata Steel is in the pre-industrial stage, which is the stage you’re at where they design the factory, to take this product to mass production.”
From a construction perspective also Tata and Dyesol are confident that the “solar steel” will be accepted by engineers and construction firms and can be incorporated in the British based steel firm’s non-active roofing steel production. Tata Steel has also conducted research into the construction market and believes that, given the energy savings delivered by the DSC technology, it will be widely used.

“Tata has done those calculations based on electricity pricing across their target market. They’ve been out to their customers and ascertained that something like 20 percent of their output can be converted to solar steel,” said Tulloch. Given that Tata produces 200,000 million square meters of steel per year, Tulloch admitted to pv magazine, “we’re talking about big numbers!”

The “solar steel” announcement came on the back of Dyesol’s winning of a prestigious research grant from the Japanese Government to establish a research facility there. Tulloch explained to pv magazine, “it allows us to have better access to and to work with some excellent Japanese researchers and research groups who are developing the advanced versions of the Dyesolar cell.”

The research will be targeted at increasing efficiency and Dyesol will work with Japanese teams with a history in developing methods to attain some of the highest efficiency levels using DSC technology at an industrial level. Dyesol was one of five international companies to receive the grand which has a combined value of $30.7 million and was awarded by the Japanese Ministery of Ecnomy Trade and Industry (METI). The grant was made late last month with research facilities scheduled to open in July.

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