Bunbury WA, just south of Perth, is a great place to install a solar PV system, even after the withdrawal of the state’s Solar Feed-in Tariff last year. With electricity rates rising, solar PV installation prices falling, and significant potential up-front financial subsidies through the Federal Solar Credits rebate scheme, now is a great time to find deals on solar PV systems in Bunbury.
Why is Bunbury a good place for solar power?
Financial benefits of the Bunbury sunshine
Bunbury has an annual average of around 4 hours of sunshine per day. 4 hours of peak sun means that, with a 1.5kW solar PV array, a home will generate 6kWh per day on average throughout the year. A 3kW system will produce around 12kWh per day, and a 5kW system will produce around 20kWh per day.
Household electricity consumption and PV system generation
Household demand varies by the size of family and the appliances used and how frequently, but as a ‘base case’, the average 3-person home uses 20kWh per day, averaged over the course of a year. This means that with a 5kW solar system, the home’s energy consumption is just about covered by the system’s output. Since Bunbury residents are not currently eligible for any significant Solar Feed-in Tariff or Solar Buyback Scheme (currently, Synergy customers are offered only 7c/kWh for electricity exported to the grid), the best strategy for residents of Bunbury and its surrounds is to consume as much of the power that the system generates as possible. Solar households try as much as possible to make sure that timing of electricity consumption coincides with solar PV system production.
Up-front Federal Government Solar Rebates for Bunbury
The amount of the Solar Rebate depends on a number of factors. Under the Federal Government’s Solar Credit Scheme, households are awarded a greater or smaller number of Renwable Energy Certificates (RECs, also known as Small-scale Technology Certificates), depending on their location, the size of the system that they install, and the REC price agreed on between the customer and solar installer. (REC prices fluctuate–although customers do have the option to hold on to the RECs generated upon completion of their installation and wait for the price to rise, most usually opt to have their solar power system installer take on the liability in order to receive upfront discount on the system installation.)
A 5kW solar PV system in Bunbury, located in REC Zone 3, means a base number of 103 RECs/STCs, but when the Solar Credit REC Multiplier is taken into account (currently 3x until 1 July 2012), the system would pick up an additional 62 bonus credits, bringing the grand total to 196. With an assumed REC price of $30, this means an up-front discount of $5,880. With solar PV system prices at unprecedented lows across Australia and the world thanks to increased competition and a glut of stock, solar systems are becoming an increasingly attractive investment.
Savings on electricity bills via solar PV systems in Bunbury
Depending on the electricity usage of the household, a solar generator could save Bunbury residents a significant amount of money on their power bills. It is important to keep in mind, however, that electricity consumption time management is the key to getting the most financial benefit of solar power. Since the Feed-in Tariff is only 7c/kWh, Bunbury residents get will want to avoid exporting to the grid as much as possible; solar electricity consumed at home is in effect worth as much as the the rates that they pay for electricity from the grid.
How can I find the best deal on Solar Power in Bunbury?
Solar Choice, as Australia’s free Solar Energy Brokering and advice service, connects solar PV customers with installers who service their area. We provide comprehensive quote comparisons of solar power installations throughout the country–including in Bunbury. With a bird’s eye view of the solar power market, Solar Choice is uniquely poised to identify the best deals on offer and facilitate our customers to find the solar system that best suits their needs and budget. Request a Solar Quote Comparison today by filling out the form to the right of this page, or call us on 1300 78 72 73.
Download a Solar Power System ROI Calculator for Bunbury, WA
How to use the calculator*:
1. Go to the Solar Choice Bunbury Solar PV ROI calculator in Google Docs (must be signed in to a Google account),
2. Go to ‘File’ menu, ‘Make a copy’,
3. Request a Solar Quote Comparison of the solar system installers in Bunbury to obtain system prices,
4. Visit SwitchWise or a similar site to find the best deal on solar electricity,
5. Find out which electricity retailer is offering the best solar Feed-in Tariff rate in WA,
6. Alter the variables in the light blue boxes (system size, system price, etc) in column B to calculate system Return on Investment (ROI).
(You may also open the file in Google Docs if you have a Google account.)
*Calculator outputs are indicative only–please keep in mind that electricity rates, as well as WA’s Feed-in Tariff rate, may change over time.
© 2012 Solar Choice Pty Ltd
(Top image via Wikipedia)
He is now the communications manager for energy technology startup SwitchDin, but remains an occasional contributor to the Solar Choice blog.
James lives in Newcastle in a house with a weird solar system.
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