Grid-connected PV systems
FAQ's
Why go Solar?
The real question is why not?
The underlying advantage of solar energy is that the fuel
is free, abundant and inexhaustible.
The total amount of energy irradiated from the sun to the
earth’s surface is enough to provide more than 10,000
times the annual global energy consumption.
Yet these benefits remain largely untapped; most energy
decisions taken today overlook solar power as a modular
technology which can be rapidly deployed to generate electricity
close to the point of consumption.
Phasing in solar photovoltaics therefore requires a shift
from centralised to decentralised power production, offering
far greater control to individual consumers.
A solid international consensus now clearly states that
business-as-usual is no longer an option if we are to prevent
dangerous climate change, and the world must move into a
clean energy economy. Solar power is a prime choice in developing
an affordable, feasible, global power source that is able
to substitute for fossil fuels in all climate zones around
the world.
How effective
is a Grid Connect solar power system in terms of value for
money?
The system keeps generating free electricity from the sun
for a lifetime with exceptional life expectancy of system
components and no batteries. It involves extremely low maintenance
(washing the dust off the panels once in a while).
A Grid Connect Solar System appreciates in value and at
the same time turns your energy bills into credits. This
situation is about to get even better with the new "Feed
In Tariff" system implemented in South Australia where
grid connect energy producers are paid double the rate for
producing real excess green electricity into the grid.
Is buying "Green Power"
effective in reducing CO2 emissions?
Grid Connect solar is proven throughout the world to be
the most effective action individuals can take to make a
significant reduction in CO2 emmissions by directly offsetting
thier coal fired energy consumption. This is especially
the case for Australians who have twice as much sunlight
as Germans for example who are the world leaders in the
number of installed systems. Individuals know their energy
is green by becoming green energy producers themselves.
How does a solar power system work?
During the day sunlight falls onto the photovoltaic solar
modules & an electrical charge (Direct Current) is produced.
This charge is transmitted to either an inverter and fed
into the electricity grid in a grid-connect system. Find
out more
Is Grid Connect solar power the same
as solar hot water?
No. Solar hot water uses heat from the sun to heat water,
a basic principle. In a Grid Connect System the Photovoltaic
(solar) panels convert photons in the solar spectrum into
Direct Current (DC) power. This is possible due to the electrical
characteristics of silicon. The DC power produced is converted
into Alternating Current (AC) by the inverter and the energy
is available as standard 240 volt power in the home.
What happens when the power company has a failure?
Most of our systems do not incorporate batteries, so the
system will not generate power when the grid is down. We
can also include a battery back-up into your package, but
this increases the cost and maintenance factors. Battery
back-up systems will switch to battery power instantly when
the grid goes down, and re-connect to the grid when it comes
back online.
Do I need batteries for a grid connect
system?
No, solar energy is collected on your roof and fed into
the electricity mains via your inverter. You have the convenience
of using electricity from the electricity grid while the
renewable energy you produce spins your meter backwards
while you are not using electricity, & slows it down
when you are using less electricity than you are producing.
A Grid Connect System is low maintenance. An occasional
wash of the solar panels with a hose is all that is required.
It is possible to have a battery storage system for use
as an uninterruptible power supply in the event of a blackout.
This is when a battery storage bank is added.
Is it legal for your electricity meter
to ‘spin’ backwards?
Yes. As long as you have notified your energy retailer
of your system (some retailers require an interconnection
agreement) it is legal and in most western countries it
is actively encouraged with large feed in tariffs.
Can I increase the size of my Grid
Connect system at a later date?
Yes. Most Grid Connect systems installed by iSustainQLD
have room for additional panels to be installed depending
on which system size you choose and the capacity of the
inverter. If you wish to increase your system significantly
at a later date it is better to install a larger inverter
now.
Are my solar panels covered under my home and contents insurance?
Yes. Ask your insurance company to add the system on your
policy.
How efficient is my system?
In Australia, your solar power system is very efficient,
generating near its peak all year round. Your system will
generate 54% more energy than a system installed in Europe.
For example, Germany has an irradiation level of 751 KWh
for every square meter per year, and Canberra's irradiation
level is 1386 KWh of sunlight for every square meter. Germany
has around 250,000 Grid Connect Systems installed, whereas
there are only approximately 3000 systems installed in Australia.
Our abundance of sunlight is there waiting for us to utilize!
How much CO2 will my solar power system
save?
An installed 1kW iSustainQLD grid connect system will save
an average of 1650kG in QLD.
If I am concerned about 'payback',
how long does this take?
For the average system installed by iSustainQLD the payback
period is 12-14years. This is a very conservative estimate
as it allows only a very low increase in electricity prices
per year. The actual increase in electricity has been on
average 8%, this does not take into the account the feed
in tariff system, where solar energy producers are paid
44c a kW/h for their excess green power. The standard rate
of electricity to the consumer for using coal fired electricity
is increasing.
Is it worth it?
Yes. From $6000 (GST Exclusive), you can be generating
your own, free energy from the sun. Your electricity bills
will be reduced or cut completely and your investment will
help to ensure that our children have a cleaner world in
which to grow up in. If each household took up this initiative,
the very real issue of climate change (especially in Australia)
can be addressed significantly. We need to start acting
now and this is a great way to do it.
How much maintenance is required?
Very little. You should keep the solar panels clean. Other
than that, you have clean, free solar electricity, with
inverter and panels lasting over 20 years.
Who installs the system?
We do. Installation by our licensed electricians and certified
installers will take about half a day, and we will show
you how to ensure optimal operation at all times.
Where can my solar panels be mounted?
Bearing in mind that you want maximum sun, minimum shading.
The panels can be installed on your roof or be free standing.
iSustainQLD will provide the information and make recommendations,
then you decide. It is recommended that the solar panels
face north at a approximate angle of 17-22 degrees to the
horizontal. The inverter will be located near your electrical
switchboard.
How much space does the system need?
You need roughly eight square metres of roof space for
each kilowatt-peak of installed solar generating capacity.
For that space to be suitable it should be unobstructed
and unshaded. The roof can be flat or sloped and it can
be at any orientation other than south. A north orientation
is ideal but north-eastern and north-western facing roofs
can still capture over 80% of the power of a true north-facing
roof. Western and eastern-facing systems also generate significant
amounts of power.
Do the panels need 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). Ground mounting is ideal
if you have limited roof space, or your roof is subject
to regular shading.
Are the panels fragile?
Not at all. The panels are made with a tempered glass face,
and they are specifically designed to withstand hail up
to a certain size. The aluminium frames are annodized for
extra strength also.
How many solar panels do I need to
power my home?
Every house is different, depending on your appliances,
how energy efficient you are (ask us for tips)! We tailor
each package to meet the customer’s needs, so bring
your last bill to us and we will show you how to bring it
down.
How much power will the system produce?
Once again, every house is different, and systems installed
in the northern states are generally more efficient than
southern states. We use the Sunny Design program, which
uses real Bureau of Meteorology data to estimate what your
particular system will produce per year, based on your location
in Australia.
What is ‘Net Metering’?
Net Metering is the ability to get credit from your provider
for the excess electricity you produce. All companies now
offer to credit you for the excess you produce, but the
rate will change for each company, so check with them first.
We install a bio-directional meter, so when you are out
during the day your meter will spin backwards, building
credit against your bill. Some companies will offer to pay
you for your credit and others won’t, so once again
you will need to check with them.
What happens if the panels are shaded?
The solar panels will still put out a reasonable amount
of power in partial shade, for example from a tree branch.
The panels have a diode built in, so if one side of the
panel is in shade, the other half will still produce power.
Forget about ‘shade tolerant’ solar panels,
they are a solar panel, so they need sun to operate!
Can the panels be damaged in a storm?
You would have to be very unlucky! As mentioned before,
they are designed to withstand the most harsh weather conditions
possible, the only thing that could pose a problem would
be a direct lightning strike.
Is there a financial incentive for
installing solar power?
Absolutely! The Federal Government (through the Australian
Greenhouse Office) has recently upgraded its PVRP (Photovoltaic
Rebate Program) from $4.00 to $8.00 per watt. This is capped
at 1kW, so the rebate on our iSustainQLD Energy Grid Connected
Solar Power 1000w Kit and the iSustainQLD Energy Grid Connected
Solar Power 1500w kit is the same ($8000)
Each solar panel, solar hot water system, or wind turbine
also has a number of Renewable Energy Certificates (R.E.C’s)
attached to it. These are a form of electronic bond you
can use as a credit for offsetting carbon emissions.
If I sell my property, do the solar
panels affect the sale price?
Of course! Grid Connected Solar Power Kits lose very little
value over a 10 year period, and when you factor in the
$8,000 rebate, your solar system will probably be worth
more than what you paid for it! You could take the system
off the roof and take it with you, but it is a very costly
and lengthy procedure. When you factor in the resale value
of the property, a Grid Connected Solar Power 1000w Kit
is a very wise investment, and the price of mains power
is only going to rise in the future.
How long does it take to install a
solar power system?
For most packages, we will start early in the morning and
be done by tea time. Some packages can take 1.5 days, and
houses with a tin roof are much quicker to install than
a tile roof. The biggest delay at the moment is getting
the rebate pre-approved, due to the overwhelming number
of people who are installing solar PV systems. Waiting time
is approximately 4 weeks to get approval for the rebate.
Will the installation require half
my house to be ripped apart?
Houses that do not have up-to-date wiring can encounter
problems when it comes to electricians doing their work
according to Standards so if your house is old or has old
wiring then this can be a problem.
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 and
mount the frame to the beams inside your roof, then replace
the tile as if it was never removed).
What will a system power?*
450 Watt System all your lights, TV, video, microwave and
toaster
900 Watt System your lights, TV, video, microwave, toaster,
fridge and dishwasher (3 uses per week) as well as your
computer for two hours a day.
1,500 Watt System This system will provide you with a Green
Kitchen. A Green Kitchen includes running your fridge, microwave,
dishwasher (3 uses per week), oven/grill, stove, toaster
and kitchen lights. It will also run the rest of your lights,
your TV, video, stereo and radio. Alternatively, this system
can run all your lights, your TV, video, microwave, toaster,
fridge, dishwasher (3 uses per week), oven/grill, stereo,
radio, washing machine (3 uses per week), vacuum cleaner,
iron and your computer for two hours a day.
2,250 Watt System Now we're getting into the "Solar
House" category. With this system you will have a Green
Kitchen (fridge, microwave, dishwasher (4 uses per week),
oven/grill, stove, toaster and kitchen lights. You will
also have a Green Laundry (washing machine (4 washes per
week), clothes dryer (1 use per week), iron and laundry
lights. The system will also power all of your lights, your
TV, video, vacuum cleaner, stereo, radio, power tools, clock
radios, answering machine, sewing machine and your computer
for four hours a day.
3,000 Watt System With this size system you virtually have
a Solar House with everything the 2,250W system powers as
described above plus the addition of a large appliance.
One example is an air conditioner for 6 hours a day in the
three summer months.
*All figures are based on average household usage. Usage
times have been given for appliances that vary greatly in
usage (like the computer and washing machine).
