Considering installing a solar power system in Gippsland, Victoria? This article covers almost everything you need to know about having solar panels in stalled in Gippsland, including solar PV system prices, estimations of solar system output, and how to select the correct system size. Solar Choice can also assist customers in comparing the products & prices on offer from solar installers in Gippsland.
Why install solar panels in Gippsland?
Australia’s electricity prices are now amongst the most expensive in the world. Gippsland and the rest of Victoria are no exception. This trent is likely to continue into the long-term future, even if there are periods of remission in the interim. The high cost of electricity has many homes and businesses across Australia looking at ways to reduce their energy costs, and rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have become one of the most popular ways to do this.
The cost of installing solar panels has fallen significantly in the past few years, due primarily to a sharp uptick in global solar panel production. Federal government incentives for small-scale solar( through the renewable energy target (RET)) have also played a massive part in making solar PV investment-worthy & accessible to ordinary homes and businesses. Thanks to the RET a discount of approximately 71c per watt of installed solar power is available to anyone who installs a system under 100 kilowatts (kW). This translates into around $3,550 for a 5kW solar PV system. This discount is ordinarily automatically worked into final solar PV system prices by installers.
Are solar panels still worth it in Victoria without a feed-in tariff?
With the slashing of Victoria’s solar feed-in tariff, many are doubtless wondering whether solar PV is still worth it. Electricity from solar panels is consumed by appliances in a building first, and is then automatically exported to the electricity grid. Previously, with a feed-in tariff in place, solar system owners were rewarded for the power they exported, These days, though, the solar buyback rate is only about 6c per kilowatt-hour (kWh)–compared to upwards of 20c/kWh typically paid for retail electricity from the grid.
This means that ‘self-consuming’ 1kWh of solar power will save the solar system owner as much as 4x more than exporting it would. Self-consumption is therefore critical in making sure that the system owner gets their money’s worth. It also means that solar systems should be sized appropriately to the needs of the home or business they’re attached too–they should not produce more power (see below).
Should you consider installing an energy storage system?
One way to increase your rate of solar energy self-consumption is to install an energy storage device with your solar PV system. Energy storage systems are growing in availability and affordability in Australia and may soon be a realistic option for ordinary homes and businesses. Depending on the size and how electricity is used throughout the day, energy storage technologies can potentially increase self-consumption by 50%+. (Solar Choice now includes energy storage options in its Solar Quote Comparisons when they are available.)
How much electricity will a solar system produce in Gippsland?
Many factors play a role in determining solar system output, but of course the most important factor is how much sun the panels see during the day. Australia is a sunny country, and Gippsland catches its share of solar rays. 1 kilowatt (kW) of installed solar PV (a typical panel these days is around 230-250W) in Gippsland should produce about 3.5kWh of solar power per day. In the summer this number will of course be higher, while it will be lower in the winter.
Systems are typically available in the sizes below (although larger systems are increasingly more common). Daily output figures for each system size if installed in Gippsland are listed after each one.
1.5kW solar system: 5.25kWh
2kW solar system: 7kWh
3kW solar system: 10.5kWh
4kW solar system: 14kWh
5kW solar system: 17.5kWh
10kW solar system: 35kWh
What is the right solar system size for a Gippsland resident?
Anyone thinking about going solar in Gippsland should ensure that their system is only large enough to meet their daytime electricity needs, aiming to keep self-consumption rates at 70-80% of solar system production. If you don’t know how much electricity you use, having a look at a recent power bill should show you your daily or monthly consumption. How much electricity you use specifically during the daytime is a bit more difficult to work out, but can be roughly deduced by looking at these figures.
You can speak to a Solar Choice broker for free and impartial advice about system sizing by calling 1300 78 72 73.
Compare solar power installers & prices in Gippsland
Solar Choice has assisted tens of thousands of homes and businesses in selecting a solar power system that is right for their needs. If you’re located in Gippsland, Victoria, you can request a free Solar Quote Comparison today by filling your details into the form to the right of this page. Alternatively, you can speak to one of our brokers on 1300 78 72 73. Your Solar Quote Comparison will include pricing & component information from a number of installers who operate in the Gippsland area.
(Top image: Old growth forest in East Gippsland- by Pengo via Wikipedia)
© 2013 Solar Choice Pty Ltd
