Looking for a solar power system in Nowra, NSW? This article covers (nearly) everything you need to know about installing solar panels in Nowra, including incentives, solar system size, system output, and system prices.
Should you think about installing solar panels in Nowra?
Electricity prices have risen dramatically in the past few years across the country, and are likely to continue rising in the long-term because of expected increases in the price of fuels like coal and gas. These days, these high power prices are already what drive homes and businesses to consider installing a solar system, especially with the cost of solar installations having fallen significantly in the past few years, making them more affordable & accessible than ever before. The value proposition only improves as time goes on. Once installed, solar panels will continue producing electricity for 25+ years–with no fuel input to speak of besides sunlight.
Solar’s new era of affordability has arrived in part thanks to federal government incentives for renewable energy systems. For quite some time feed-in tariffs were also a main driver of solar uptake in Australia–and NSW was no exception. Now, however, with the NSW Solar Bonus feed-in tariff scheme closed to new applicants, for Nowra residents to get the most out of their solar systems, they must focus on ‘self-consumption’ of their solar power. That is, using as much of the power that their panels produce while it is being produced–while the sun is shining.
To explain in a bit more detail, the current situation is this: If a Nowra resident with solar panels ‘exports’ their solar power to the grid, they will be credited to the tune of 6c per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on their power bill. However, if they self-consume the solar power (electricity from the panels automatically flows first into the electrical devices in the building/home and excess automatically goes to the grid), they will avoid having to pay around 20c/kWh–depending on what their tariff rate is. Obviously, using as much of the solar power as possible will save the system owner more money than allowing it to ‘leak’ out to the grid.
Should Nowra residents consider energy storage systems?
Installing an energy storage system is one way to increase self-consumption levels and use solar power even after the sun has set. Although not yet common in Australia, such solutions are anticipated to become a more regular sight in the years to come. Energy storage technologies can potentially increase self-consumption by 50%+, depending on their size and how energy is used throughout the day. (Solar Choice now includes energy storage options in its Solar Quote Comparisons when they are available.)
Sunshine & solar power system output in Nowra
The upper limit for solar power system output is the amount of sunlight that falls in the area in which it is installed. Australia gets a lot of sunlight, and Nowra is no exception. 1 kilowatt (kW) of installed solar PV capacity in Nowra will generate about 3.9kWh of solar electricity per day, averaged throughout the year (longer summer days mean more power produced, shorter winter days the opposite).
Below are some of the most common solar system sizes in Australia. Assuming that they are installed to optimise tilt, orientation, and that they use efficient, quality components, they will generate the amount of electricity listed after them, respectively. (As a means of comparison, the average 3-person home in Australia uses about 20kWh of electricity per day.)
1.5kW: 5.85kWh
2kW: 7.8kWh
3kW: 11.7kWh
4kW: 15.6kWh
5kW: 19.5kWh
10kW: 39kWh
What size solar system is right for my home or business in Nowra?
A recent power bill should show how much electricity your home or business used on a daily basis for the preceding months. Given that the export rate is so low (6c/kWh), it is important to make sure that the correct system size is installed. Generally speaking, this means a system large enough to meet only daytime electricity needs, without producing any excess power.
If you’re wondering what your daytime electricity needs might be, feel free to contact a Solar Choice broker for free and impartial advice: 1300 78 72 73.
Compare solar deals in Nowra
Check out what kinds of solar power deals are on offer in Nowra today by requesting a Solar Quote Comparison. Simply fill out the form to the right of this page, or speak to a broker on 1300 78 72 73. Your Solar Quote Comparison will include pricing & component information from a number of installers who operate in the Nowra area.
(Top image by Grahamec via Wikipedia)
© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd
