We put in PV - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: wasyoungonce
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 02:05:08 am
content: Well I live down 37 degrees south so not the best for Solar collection but our state government gave $2.2K AUD subsidy’s so we installed 6.6Kw (22 x300watt) panels and 5Kw inverter. 12 panels north, 10 west. We need more West !We consume a lot of power during the daylight hrs ( I mean a lot) and are hoping to offset some. Not unusual in summer to see 40-50Kwh used per day.Of course not all is daylight usage. So far we are producing 40-45Kwh per day good days bad days ~35Kwh.Which is so far offsetting 2/3+ daylight hrs usage. So it’s helping. We get a feed back Tariffs of $.12 per KWh so the idea is to use what we make.Cost of pwr is~ $.28 KWh but it’s not just that there is first xxKwhrs at $xx then $xx cost upwards etc. So difficult to value what we make except to say I think it’s worth it.Just wish storage batteries were cheaper. The Tesla power wall went up $2K+ due to $AUD drop but suffice to say at around $13K (AUD) they cost too much atm. We would need qty 2 and more panels if using batteriesAnyway thought I’d throw it out there use of PV in Australia is gaining momentum. Harmonic power line noise is a by productI reckon in 2 years I’ll know if it was worth it. Oh by the way I’ve seen 340 watt panels .... not bad but they do cost quite a bit more. By the time batteries are cheaper these panels should be up to 400w+Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 02:55:15 am
content: With such high electricity prices and a general abundance of sun I'm surprised solar isn't nearly ubiquitous. It wouldn't really work for me as my house is surrounded on 3 sides by tall trees and our electricity is only about 8c/kWh but I'm starting to see more of it around.

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 03:06:57 am
content: Quote from: wasyoungonce on December 29, 2018, 02:05:08 amWe are 32° South (Perth) and have a very similar system 6.6kW with 23 panels (roughly even mix of E, N & W facing) with a 5kW inverter installed about 18 months ago for $4500.You're getting a good output.Our typical output:June - average 18kWhr per day with 2 or 3 days of 5kWhr from storms / clouds.October - average 30kWhr per day.January - average 38kWhr per day.Our best daily output has been 41kWhr.2018 output was 9.1 MWhr total.I wish we got the 12 cent FIT we only get 7 cents.

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 03:40:26 am
content: Australia seems perfect for solar. On larger scale they also have large desserts for cheap land usage cost.

author: wasyoungonce
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 04:52:30 am
content: Yes Australia is perfect for solar installs. But even though tech has got better....cheaper panels with higher output (340W); cheaper more reliable inverters; it wasn’t until some states started giving subsidies that take up has increased.I’ve always said we would need ~6Kw+ of panels it’s only recently their cost has become affordable.We have hundreds of year of coal underground which can provide cheap power but it’s environmentally unpalatable these days to continue this. Despite the current governments push for so called “clean coal” ( no such beasts) the electricity producers have a captive market and our cost per KWh is high....$.28+ AUD.The providers are waiting for the government to decide What to do Re: future provision to invest more for cheaper production.There have been no major electrical generation plants (anywhere near 2000Mw) built for the last 30 years!Our grids are straining now unless there is investmentsSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 05:29:46 am
content: There is perhaps less dirty coal, but certainly not clean and it's not possible to filter out the CO2unless using some form of carbon capture and storage. CCS is controversial and besides is so expensive that the alternatives become cheaper; the low cost is the only real advantage to coal so CCS makes little sense. Australia also have a lot of uranium underground, it is the 3rd largest exporter of uranium after Canada and Kazakhstan...Solar should be the first choice though, as long as you can get around the fact it only produce electricity during the day.

author: wasyoungonce
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 07:22:33 am
content: That’s where Australia’s problem is. Baseload. We either develop new tech like solar to liquid salts to turbine but storage limit is at best a few days.Understandably we cannot live without reliable baseload burning coal make the nuclear option look relatively clean.Funny enough Australia had the worlds 2nd working nuclear reactor and planned one a long time back in Jervis bay.... never went ahead. Never will with current public opinions. Pity it’s something we need.But on small scale household solar in Australia is a damn good idea it’s just the costs.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: wasyoungonce
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 12:21:28 pm
content: Quote from: apis on December 29, 2018, 05:29:46 amI’m surprised that due to Australia’s geological stability and vast uninhabited areas we don’t take other nations waste for storage .....for a price of course.Aka rent storage space .....send it back if storage rent isn’t paid. Could be a very lucrative money spinner.Yes I know there is really no perfect storage but as said given vast areas of remoteness like woomera range is so geological stable .... won’t change for hundreds of thousands of years.Could be a big money earner?Sadly at present we cannot even agree to store our own low level waste....states all bickering. There is absolutely no consensus here.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 02:18:30 pm
content: Quote from: apis on December 29, 2018, 05:29:46 amCapturing the CO2 is as easy as planting some trees. Dealing with all the other pollution is somewhat more difficult.

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 04:25:28 pm
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on December 29, 2018, 02:18:30 pmActually, deforestation is responsible for about 20% man made green house gas emissions.QuoteThere are probably newer reports from IPCC now though.https://www.ipcc.ch/search/?search=land+use