Solar Choice can help you choose the best solar panel installer for your needs and budget in the Gungahlin section of Canberra. The ACT is a good place to go solar thanks to the falling cost of solar installations and federal government incentives. This article is an overview of the benefits of options when considering solar power in Gungahlin, Canberra.
Generate your own solar power in Gungahlin
Depending on the size of solar system in question and the location where it is installed, power yield will vary. Systems installed in sunnier locations will generate more electricity than those located in less sunny regions–generally those located further from the equator. A Gungahlin rooftop will receive about 3.8 units of ‘peak sun’ throughout the day, averaged over the course of a year. This figure will be higher in the summer and lower in the winter, and power production from a solar energy system will be impacted accordingly.
Using on this 3.8 unit (commonly referred to as ‘kilowatt-hours’, kWh) figure, a 1 kilowatt (kW) solar system in Gungahlin can therefore be expected to generate about 3.8kWh of electricity on annual average. Larger systems will produce more power. Examples of power production of the most common solar system sizes are detailed below:
1.5kW (x 3.8 peak sun hours=) – 5.7kWh
2kW – 7.6kWh
3kW – 11.4kWh
5kW – 19kWh
These numbers can be compared to any household or commercial power bill, where electricity is also measured in kWh. The more power that a solar system produces, the less its owner needs to purchase from the power grid.
Solar PV system sizing in Gungahlin: How many kilowatts (kW) do I need?
The right system size for a Gungahlin resident is the one that produces just enough electricity to meet daytime electricity needs. This will depend on the household or business in question. Solar systems in the ACT are best-suited for those who use a significant portion of their power during daylight hours.
Federal government incentives for solar in Gungahlin
Thanks to the country’s Renewable Energy Target, up-front incentives from the federal government are available to all Australians who have a solar panel system installed by accredited solar installers using accredited components. The amount of this subsidy varies by system size and the market price of small-scale technology certificates (STCs, a type of renewable energy currency), but generally speaking it accounts for a discount of round 55-65c per watt off the cost of having a solar system installed.
Read more about solar system prices in Australia.
Solar Buybacks through ActewAGL
ActewAGL has recently introduced a ‘net metering’ scheme for ACT solar customers. Customers who own a solar system will now be paid 7.5c for every kWh that they ‘export’ to the electricity grid–i.e. that they do not consume on-site themselves. Since the retail electricity rate in the ACT is significantly higher than this, it makes more sense for homes and businesses to avoid purchasing pricier electricity from the grid by using as much of their self-generated solar power as possible to obtain the most benefit.
Compare solar system installation prices in Gungahlin
Solar Choice, as Australia’s free Solar Energy Brokering and advice service, assists our customers in finding the best deals possible on solar PV systems in their area. Request a Solar Quote Comparison today by filling out the form to the right of this page to compare solar installers who work in Gungahlin, Canberra. You can also call us on 1300 78 72 73.
Top image by Martyman via Wikipedia.
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