All things Solar (merged threads)

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by xexr6t

Carnarvon became a case study for the issues that distributed generation can cause for small-scale electricity grids last year, when a stop was put on new solar installations due to grid destabilisation fears–the Carnarvon grid experienced issues with localised instances of voltage rises, solar PV system fires, impacts on planning strategies for the future of the grid, electrical ‘harmonics’ resulting from solar system inverters, plus a number of other problems.

They fixed all the issues by spending 77 million dollars on a gas fired power station. A city of less than 5,000 people needed a $77,000,000 fix due to renewables. Keep telling yourself that renewables don't add cost to everyone's power bills.

yep your right a city of around 5000 had a diesel power station as back up to the renewables system and now the back up is a 77 million dollar gas fired station for the whole gascoyne region
and one solar pv fire in the 6 years from pv start to the case study in 2012
and the case study points to/recommends higher involvement of pv systems
http://apvi.org.au/wp-content/upload...Case-Study.pdf

[wodahs]

oh and if its so bad why at christmass last degrussi copper mine site just south of kumarina built a simular set up
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/west...-storage-45689

[xexr6t]

The whole gascoyne region is only 14,500 people.

Solar peak was still only 13% of peak summer demand. The rest was diesel generators until 2014 they were replace by gas.

Carnarvon is not off grid and not totally renewable.

The report recommends maintaining spinning reserve. That is gas powered, a fossil fuel.

If Carnarvon is the future god help us.

[xexr6t]

You're not serious. They (Sandfire) spend 1 million for a 40 million dollar plant. Who wouldn't do that. It's still backed up by diesel generators, yep more fossil fuel.

[prydey]

Any solution will cost money in the initial set up phase. How many billions have been tipped in to traditional power stations over the years to get them to the point they are now?

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by xexr6t

You're not serious. They (Sandfire) spend 1 million for a 40 million dollar plant. Who wouldn't do that. It's still backed up by diesel generators, yep more fossil fuel.

I've got a backup diesel generator on the farm. Is that bad?

Wodahs. The Edwards lasted 18 years.
One little pinprick of a hole killed it. Great unit though.

The Rheem unit is 3 years old now.
You can still buy Edwards brand but are made by Rheem now.

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by xexr6t

It's still backed up by diesel generators, yep more fossil fuel.

why didn't I think of that so renewables are bad so we shouldn't have them and there worse when backed up by anything from the ground provided generation

so we need to go 100% on the grid every where and that's good !
or am I missing something in your ramblings against well everything but privatised owned grid or state owned grid

or are you saying we should live with out power and light/heat as fire also creates emissions

[my_gxl]

Originally Posted by prydey

just be careful and do your homework. i know here in sa, when you get solar installed, the system size is registered with your retailer, and if you exceed that size you will lose your FIT. not sure if the same rules apply nationally.

Only the inverter is the installed system. It regulates how much goes on, so no inverter upgrade-just have it at max potential for more hours of the day, by adding in the extra panels.
Energex sets the system size. I have changed retailers several times, as AGL gave the highest FIT.

Hope this new campaign can get us back in front again

People Power

[poppa smurf]

a couple of questions for the troglodytes that I already know the answers to and don't want answers from.

(1) once the solar F.I.T. is withdrawn from the general populace how long should we have to wait before the windfall of new hospitals and schools be rolled out, given governments at all levels are broke and very loathe to spend any further, except for input to the slush funds that ensures pollies retirement fund is healthy.

(2) is the price of power going to drop by the 100% that it has increased in the last 10 years, if so how quickly, happy days ahead, some may even get their power reconnected.

(3) how quickly will the attention be drawn toward the extermination wind generation given these are not owned by the multi nationals who possess our generating stations and are bound to be the next target given the model portrayed by Chinese with the silk trade and the english with the tea trade.

(4) how is the shortfall of power generation to be gained......where is the money coming from for new power stations, what construction method do you suggest, gas is about to skyrocket, coal is seen as dirty power, nuclear, well, can't see that getting up any time soon

maybe we could use all the hot air surrounding the poo pooing of solar to run a large wind turbine


a couple of questions to those of us that already have solar installed and are about to lose our F.I.T. that i would like answers to

(1) will you leave it on the roof

(2) will you leave it generating full time and thus giving your power away

(3) will you run the system until you reckon you have powered the home up to an equal amount to your daily use then shut it off

(4) will you outlay more cash and turn to battery technology as i will do


those thinking about solar........will you still purchase, given that state government has more in the pipeline yet to be revealed or just give it up

[wodahs]

I've been contemplating going battery for a while
Wether on or off grid

[Mercury Bullet]

I would like to look at batteries.

At the same time I'm hesitant to throw even more money at this.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

a couple of questions to those of us that already have solar installed and are about to lose our F.I.T. that i would like answers to

(1) will you leave it on the roof

(2) will you leave it generating full time and thus giving your power away

(3) will you run the system until you reckon you have powered the home up to an equal amount to your daily use then shut it off

(4) will you outlay more cash and turn to battery technology as i will do

due to the end of the FIT coming around sooner than i realised (obviously didn't pay enough attention 4 years ago) i haven't really given any thought to what happens after sept 30 this year.

the first 3 questions are pretty straight forward. no point taking it off the roof. its there now, and paid for, so may as well leave it there. i won't be in the habit of turning it on and off, so i will just try to be more strict on when i use the power in the house, trying to do as much as i can during daylight hours so as to use my own power first.

the 4th question i'm a bit like the previous answer above mine. not sure whether to continue to tip money in to it. the payback period on a decent battery setup (tesla powerwall) seems to be about the same length as the lifespan of the batteries.

i think i'll just see what happens with the bills for the next few billing periods. depending on the rates, i may even be better off turning it off and going on a 'non solar' tariff.

more research required on all fronts. unfortunately the hole in the bottom of the bucket is letting water out a fair bit quicker than what i can pour it in.

[poppa smurf]

I'm getting quotes on batteries as we speak.......Tesla power wall, 6.4 KW with retrofit inverter currently around $9,900 with 10 year guarantee.....I reckon a pair of them may be the go very shortly.

but I've put the feelers out, Im not giving my power away so some little git can make squillions from us and charge us like wounded bulls, I'll disconnect first.

[prydey]

Poppa, I'm assuming you were an early adapter to solar and your FIT runs until the 2028 cut off?

First thing i'll have to do is chat with AGL about tariffs. Solar customers are on a higher tariff than non solar, so if my system isn't working for me, and i turn it off, i'd want to drop down to the lower tariff also. The question is whether they would allow me to do that.

If they continue to offer me the 8c FIT then i'm probably still better off to keep the system running. better to pay 25c/kwh than 33c/kwh.

[poppa smurf]

just speaking to EM solar at the moment about the recharge time of these Batteries, one says three hours at 3 KW's per hour from 40% discharge another "specialist" states 5 hours. (I'm a bit sceptical but it sounds feasible)

if the recharge is only 3 hours then here in outback SA I still have another 3 - 4 usable summer solar hours after recharge, giving me the "float" of around $2 up to $4 per day with nighttime usage taken care of.

the only time I would actually "draw" from the grid is with the air-con and winter.....down the track i will install a bio fuel gen set to take care of that.

until then i will have some sort of hybrid system that will take little or nothing from the grid and still get paid until they shut off the the F.I.T.

but ATM it is all simp;ly a case study as to where I will go if pushed any more

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

if the recharge is only 3 hours then here in outback SA I still have another 3 - 4 usable summer solar hours after recharge

that there gets to the question id like to know the answer off

if you have more produce than storage and say go of grid or don't want to give to them at their profit
whats with the extra , so eg say
is there any problems if you produce more than you store and not on grid (or not prepared to give it away free)

[Blue Ice]

What's the maximum draw off rate of the Tesla storage compared to other battery storage? Any limits to how much you can pull out per hour, ect?

[CJR09]

Originally Posted by wodahs

so eg say
is there any problems if you produce more than you store and not on grid (or not prepared to give it away free)

It is easy with the controllers these days - they can automate and switch to various different productive loads within the system somewhere

[Mowdit]

Originally Posted by prydey

First thing i'll have to do is chat with AGL about tariffs. Solar customers are on a higher tariff than non solar, so if my system isn't working for me, and i turn it off, i'd want to drop down to the lower tariff also. The question is whether they would allow me to do that.

If they continue to offer me the 8c FIT then i'm probably still better off to keep the system running. better to pay 25c/kwh than 33c/kwh.

My plan with AGL recently expired, and i was FAR from happy with what they transfered me to.
I did some digging/research and "switched"
Next thing AGL send me a letter, i ring up and they offer me 35% off to come back, "oh wait you have solar, sorry can only offer you 25% off"
So we do get penalized for not using as much as our non solar neighbor's

[Mercury Bullet]

Received my bill today.

Home Tariff (A1) 23.36c per unit.
Supply charge 42.89c per day.

RE (renewable energy rebate) 7.13c for 78 units =$5.56cr
Net FIT 40.0c for 78 units =$31.20cr

There was an increase (of course!) on 1/7/2016.

New rate is
24.06c Tariff.
44.18c supply charge.

This is current pricing for WA.

If the FIT rate in SA of 8c is correct??? I would turn the bloody thing off...

I was a whole $36 in credit on a $235 bill at my rate, which I think is pathetic. I don't know how you guys haven't blown a gasket yet.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Received my bill today.


I was a whole $36 in credit on a $235 bill at my rate, which I think is pathetic. I don't know how you guys haven't blown a gasket yet.

Is that saying that your total electricity bill was $235 without the solar discount ?

[Mercury Bullet]

I wish.

$235 after rebates.

It's the lowest usage I have ever recorded, I've had to cut back on everything because the bills were getting way out of control.

It's like living in a 3rd world country now.
Can't wait until the grid is privatised here, then I can support those poor unfortunate Chinese too.

Anyway I guess my point was that we have it so much better than S.A
It beats me how anyone can vote in favour of privatisation after seeing their experience.

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Received my bill today.

Home Tariff (A1) 23.36c per unit.
Supply charge 42.89c per day.

RE (renewable energy rebate) 7.13c for 78 units =$5.56cr
Net FIT 40.0c for 78 units =$31.20cr

There was an increase (of course!) on 1/7/2016.

New rate is
24.06c Tariff.
44.18c supply charge.

This is current pricing for WA.

If the FIT rate in SA of 8c is correct??? I would turn the bloody thing off...

I was a whole $36 in credit on a $235 bill at my rate, which I think is pathetic. I don't know how you guys haven't blown a gasket yet.

What size is your grid?
My last bill (May to July) I fed in 330 units @7.135 for $23.54 (and $132 with the 40c FIT)

I'm fearful of my next bill with all the poor weather we had during late July and August; but I shouldn't complain as I've not had to pay since it was installed in 2011 and I hover around $400 in credit all year. (I don't draw the money out, I just leave it there)

If the FIT vanished, I'd leave it on and investigate battery based solutions a little more heavily.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

I wish.

$235 after rebates.

It's the lowest usage I have ever recorded, I've had to cut back on everything because the bills were getting way out of control.

It's like living in a 3rd world country now.
Can't wait until the grid is privatised here, then I can support those poor unfortunate Chinese too.

Anyway I guess my point was that we have it so much better than S.A
It beats me how anyone can vote in favour of privatisation after seeing their experience.

Yeah! not good here.......they tore into me this time, ripped me from $270.00 credit down to $9.00 credit......wife "felt the cold" this year more than others and stuck the heat up 25 degrees (ouch) so usage of the ducted air con was pretty heavy and we had extra cloud cover making the solar very glum.......good old Lumo increased our rates "in line with the cost of living" .........but with decent weather we should start rebuilding a bit from here on in.

I feel for the ones that are just getting solar on now......$0.06c per kilowatt FIT.....bit of a kick in the pants.

really not funny anymore.....poor buggers who have had no power at all through winter are the ones I feel for.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by DJL351

What size is your grid?
My last bill (May to July) I fed in 330 units @7.135 for $23.54 (and $132 with the 40c FIT)

I'm fearful of my next bill with all the poor weather we had during late July and August; but I shouldn't complain as I've not had to pay since it was installed in 2011 and I hover around $400 in credit all year. (I don't draw the money out, I just leave it there)

If the FIT vanished, I'd leave it on and investigate battery based solutions a little more heavily.

Mine is 1.5kw.
I really need to get more panels.

Had a look at the inverter today as it was the perfect generating day, low 20's and not a cloud in the sky. I was getting 1073w in a snapshot.
No where near good enough, this setup cost $10k back in the day.

Did a bit of reading on batteries today (Tesla) and it seems to me if you got in now you would be paying a fair price premium for being an early adopter.
Been there done that with my system and it doesn't leave a nice taste.

[Mowdit]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

There was an increase (of course!) on 1/7/2016.

New rate is
24.06c Tariff.
44.18c supply charge.

This is current pricing for WA.

If the FIT rate in SA of 8c is correct??? I would turn the bloody thing off..

WOW

I just spent hours over several days reviewing and "switched" in Sydney
Absolute best I could get was (found an older plan online)
24.26c per KWH (first 10kwh)
69.08 daily supply charge
6 cent FIT

Average here now is
27.61 per KWH
78.57 supply Charge
6 cent FIT

Did a check at my old address in Vic, now
30c per KWH
$1.10 Daily supply charge

[prydey]

SA rates are 34c/kwh ( rounding up, give or take) for first 11kwh then over 37c. Summer rates are higher.

Can't really blame privatisation. I think the Sa govt investing heavily in renewable energy is playing a big part.

[lgpking22]

the renewable energy in sa doesnt realy play a big part at all thats just a scare campaign by the energy companys who are ******* us

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Mine is 1.5kw.
I really need to get more panels.

Had a look at the inverter today as it was the perfect generating day, low 20's and not a cloud in the sky. I was getting 1073w in a snapshot.
No where near good enough, this setup cost $10k back in the day.

Did a bit of reading on batteries today (Tesla) and it seems to me if you got in now you would be paying a fair price premium for being an early adopter.
Been there done that with my system and it doesn't leave a nice taste.

So I'm double your size. (3.04Kw) I'm split over two roof spaces, north east and west; so my system is really two 1.5s in my eyes.

In 2011 ours was close to 15K installed. So I'm not even half way to breaking even. (based on $400 quarterly bills prior to solar)

I'm still not sold on the Tesla wall. (or any battery stuff) The cost is massive and the numbers on available usage and recharge seem to differ massively depending on who you talk to.
If the 3 to 4 hour charge (on a 3Kw system) is true, then I might be able to remove myself from the grid and hold my own. (based solely on very basic produced v's used numbers)
The cost to purchase and install would add another 12+ years to my break even and there are stories of battery life being only 8 to 10 in hotter environments - that is a major concern in my eyes (I'd need 15 to 20 years to make it viable)

[poppa smurf]

Don't be in too big a hurry to delve into Batteries as yet, I'm getting quotes and running some figures, the numbers given are not adding up.

someone is telling porky's in the industry.........I do custom installs on motorhomes which involve a lot of "off grid" power using solar/battery technology so I'm able to do a few sums, the ones preached by sales are not equalling mine