Is this what Sunwiz’s Solar Intelligence Officers look like?
Sometimes the mind boggles at the sheer scale of the solar energy revolution in Australia. A recent finding by SunWiz, the respected solar industry intelligence providers, has pointed to a potential massive increase in solar power generation in the country.
Putting aside the fact that “solar industry intelligence” brings to mind balaclava-clad, ASIO-style sleuths operating behind the lines on people’s rooftops collecting solar information, the findings are great news. According to the company’s report, the Australian PV market could crack a substantial 10 gigawatts — up from our current 2.5 GW — as early as 2017.
In addition the intelligence operatives at SunWiz have said we could reach a “saturation point” in some areas of the country for the owner-occupied domestic solar market. The study finds, tellingly, that while solar takeup rates are currently around 20 percent, many areas of the country are reaching 35 percent with some localities at 90 percent.
But the elephant in the solar-heated room is the commercial sector. Many factors decide whether the business sector takes advantage of the availability and popularity of renewable energy. One of the key areas is the way electricity utilities react to the solar power revolution, reports RenewEconomy’s Giles Parkinson.
Giles also points to the interesting fact that many investment banks are now referring to the solar sector as self sustaining, that is able to exist without government subsidies. Could we say the same for fossil fuel if full costs (eg environmental, health) were taken into account?
This may the subject of another article but I think the answer must be a resounding no.
The findings by SunWiz point to potential for huge growth in the solar market in Australia. This despite scorched earth solar policies employed by many state governments aimed (it seems) at supporting existing fossil fuel industries. Obviously Australians are reacting to rising electricity prices by installing domestic solar systems, which they see as saving money in the long run as well as “doing their bit” to save the planet. The point of interest now is whether the business sector will follow.
Either way the undenied charge towards PV is a big vote of confidence in solar power as the future for Australian energy needs.
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Hi.
Can you please advise what rebates are available world-wide for solar panel installations either for small factories or homes, or to feed into the grid. I’ve seen rebates of US$0,28 per kWh and mention of +/- US$0,79 in Kenya, but cannor find verification.
My intention is to install small systems wherever the rebate is highest.
Please help if you can.
All the best,
Mark.
South Africa
Mobile: +27 82 574 6688
Hi Mark,
the best thing to do, environmentally and financial, would be to look to replace diesel generated power supplies. To run a diesel generator cost in the order of 50ct / kwh. give or take 10ct on the lower side and 30 to 40ct on the higher side. depending on the generator and how expensive the diesel is and how far it needs to be transported to get there. If you offer htem a 10 – 20% discount on their energy price you could install a system with batteries and still make it cheaper for them. An other option is to look at a country where energy prices are 25ct plus per kwh. there you can install solar systems “inside the fence” meaning behind the meter box so that the customer uses the power before it gets in the grid. with solar pv systems now as cheap as $1.30 per watt installed( in Australia). How ever be savvy with what you buy. at the lower end (well any system really) you really need to do your homework as to what panels and inverters you are buying.
With about 40 percent of Australians renting and about to get higher, there’s nothing at all in solar for us. Why would a landlord spend thousands fitting out a house with solar? Then the tenants get hit with higher electricity bills to pay for the power purchased off owner occupiers. The great solar divide, and a huge lost opportunity for solar companies.
Mike,
Great point! Renters get a bum deal in Australia in a lot of ways.
Luckily, there are some innovative solar solutions coming out for renters – I will be covering them in a post soon!
Finn
Ther landlord is taking the risk in buying and then renting the property as an investment, howmany landlords get a bum deal from renters who then trash the property? reality is you get out of life what you put in, if you want solar buy it yourself. Its common semse, why should a landlord invest to benift the tenant when there is no gain for him, a landlord isn’t investing his / her hard earnt money to make life easier for the tenant… therefore the renter isn’t getting a bum deal the renter is getting out of life what they put in. For the record, I am a landlord of one house… I started life unemployed with an education of year 9….I joined the defence force and worked hard at a carreer as did my wife, we brought up 3 sons, worked and invested….theres no way we are going to put solar on a property so the tenant gets cheap electricity… again use common sense..
Rob, with respect about your calls to common sense:
1. I lived in a rental where the landlord make extra $ by putting solar on our roof & selling it back to the grid.
2. Many Tennants would pay a bit more for a Solar-house, as they are saving money on electricity.
3. I think the tenantoption was supposed to be “non-invasive”.
4. There is an issue of whether or not a person consider it a matter of personal responsibility or independencepe, other than saving $. You may not-that’s your freedom- it others do.
(I don’t have solar by the way).
Thanks Rob,
Felix
We rent with a 1.25kW PV system. As we work during the day about half of our generation is exported, the remainder powers appliances still connected (e.g. fridge) and the onsite sewerage treatment. The owner has kept the electricity account in his name in order to keep the 44c/kWh FIT, we would only receive 4c/kWh if the account was in our name. About $120 off the last quarterly bill. Not too shabby for a small system, and if we’re home we have a massive ducted A/C that the PV goes somewhat towards covering.
roal, and here I am selling and actively promoting off grid, generator backup up systems, to get people off the ripp off grid and the entire current solar installer scam. lol. Get rid of the CEC n the rebate system on installation. No need as solar is really really cheap, just not through any of the CEC accreditation systems which have a markup system similar to getting work done on a shop in major shopping centres, u know what I mean. Remove the sham n solar would rocket everywhere. Keep this artificial expensive solar and it will be slow and yeh expensive. It should be realy dirt cheap. It is if u avoid the CEC installers n their systems. Actually u can use the CEC accredited systems, just not their installers as thats where the rort is. What they quote as $12,000 and u pay $3000, really is only $3000 all up. U could actually claim the RECS urself n receive the cash into ur own pocket if u purchased and installed/ used licensed electrician to install/wire connect up the system and then get the inspector to sign off on it.
Let me be quite clear, I only installed solar panels because of the huge tax-payer funded government subsidies which make me a profit. It is ludicrous that I can sell electricity I generate and buy it back for a fraction of the price paid to me! Economics gone mad.
So you got in when the FIT was at its highest. Congratulations. Distributed generation, which you are contributing towards, still makes sense when considering the cost of a new power plant.
Also undercuts the cost of electricity to the home. Why do you think Origin and others are so anti?
The program may come unstuck like most of these wonderful ideas. Most people do not realise the big transformers are having their power wound down to cater for the extra incoming load to the grid through the day.But can’t be wound up again to cater for nighttime use.so in time supply will be sub 240 or 230 volts.Interesting times ahead….
Dave I don’t think you have it right. The taps (manual) on local transformers are only used to balance the voltage on the local distribution area. The next step up is the Zone substation where tap changing is fully automatic and will vary up and down as load changes. So as voltage drops off at night as solar input decreases the Zone transformers will lift the voltage to compensate. They actually work off load rather than voltage if I remember correctly. And there really is nothing wrong with 220-230 volts anyway.