Solar Energy Sustainability
I have joined the ranks of the sustainable energy producers. It has been quite a long process. A solar energy company launched a Solar Project in our area. Just like others in the state they were promoting the Solar Homes and Communities Plan (previously Photovoltaic Rebate Program). In January this year I paid my deposit and applied for the rebate. At this time the solar company assessed my roof for the potential site of the panels. They had to go on the rear, as the solar hot water system was on the north facing section of roof. I was also 'given' a Wattson Energy metering device (part of the deal). The Wattson shows you how much energy in watts that you are using at any moment in time. Now that the system is up and running it shows how much I am producing and also the nett amount. Initially, this helped identify where I was wasting/using energy and I subsequently turned off the television and computer at the wall and was very mindful of energy usage.
Upon approval of the rebate in late March, I had to wait for more people in my area to take up the solar offer for us all to qualify for the Solar Project. We received the final go ahead in late May. I paid the final amount on 2 June and the panels were erected on 5 June. The electrical work was completed on 8 June. I had applied for the Grid Connect Process through Country Energy in late May, not knowing that it would take five weeks for this approval to be processed (I should have applied for the Grid Connect earlier!). On 3 July Country Energy came to connect the two-way meter for the grid connection - a full month after the system was on the roof and ready! And for some unknown reason it has taken until now for me to receive my rebate, some 19 weeks later.
I applied to sell my RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) at the end of July and they were eventually sold and I received the money at the end of September. This also took longer than I expected.
I paid $12,547.00 minus $8,000 rebate minus $792 RECs (22). The whole system ended up costing me $3,755.
I have a 1080W (1.08kW) system including 6x180W Kyocera panels and a Latronic PVEW2500 inverter (for future expansion, possibly wind). I have included a few photographs from various angles. I have been taking readings from my two-way meter at the end of each month to compare my usage and production. Last month I produced 57% of what I used! With Summer fast approaching this will increase every day. I can't wait for my next electricity bill!